The iconic 620 Chair Programme by Vitsœ recently introduced their line to a linen variation, while the leather still remains an option. Whether you choose the robust softness of linen or the durable patina of leather, the true delight of the 620 comes when you take a seat. Both are natural materials, one being the woven product of zero-waste agriculture, the other being an ancient example of the use of a by-product. They are available in a limited color palette to ensure certainty of future supply.

Linen is made from the cellulose fibers that grow inside of the stalks of the flax plant, or Linum usitatissimum. There are (almost) perfect places to grow linen and France, Belgium and the Netherlands are amongst them, growing over 75% of the world’s linen flax between them. Linen responds well to the particular balance of sun and rain in Western Europe. Sewn and grown tightly packed, the best flax grows tall, with as few branches as possible. This yields the long fibers that make linen such a strong and durable fabric, one that stands up to wear, washing and weathering.

Photography by Dean Hearne