Founded by an environmental engineer looking for a practical response to waste, Vala Alta makes reusable everyday handkerchiefs from 100% Irish linen. The Hudson River Valley company sources flax from Western Europe, has it woven in Northern Ireland, and cuts and sews the finished handkerchiefs in the United States through small-batch manufacturing partners. Its design centers on replacing short-lived paper tissues with a durable linen item made for years of daily use.
European Flax
Masters of Linen
LibecoSince 1858, Libeco has woven Belgian linen in a sixth-generation family business rooted in the historic flax region between Caen and Amsterdam. Its Meulebeke weaving mill combines inherited craft knowledge with modern technology, turning predominantly European-sourced yarn into fabrics and finished linen goods, including made-to-measure collections for hospitality settings. The mill has operated carbon-neutrally since 2014 and uses renewable energy.5TH AVENUE, NY
ECOBAGS / Eco-Bags Products, IncFounded by Sharon Rowe in 1989, ECOBAGS makes reusable shopping, market and produce bags designed to replace single-use plastic. Its original pocket-sized string bag remains a best seller, now made from recycled cotton and ethically handmade in India, while the company also offers custom printing and made-to-order designs. Eco-Bags Products is a certified B Corporation and has built its business around responsible sourcing, fair labor and durable goods that reduce waste.BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY
Ulster WeaversEstablished in Northern Ireland in 1880, Ulster Weavers makes home textiles and coordinated homeware, with its signature Irish linen tea towels carrying more than a century of textile knowledge into modern kitchens. Its in-house design teams create hand-painted patterns for products intended for everyday use, while production spans sites around the world, including Northern Ireland. The company has expanded from linen spinning and weaving into a broad homeware business serving markets in Europe and the USA.GARDEN CITY, NY
bzb designsbzb designs is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based textile designer that creates handwoven recycled accessories for you and your home. The company makes woven goods from salvaged t-shirts, slicing them into continuous strips and weaving the t-shirt yarn on an upright tapestry loom. The woven fabric is then sewn into pillows, purses, rugs, or mounted for wall hangings.HYATTSVILLE, MD