Belfast’s Linen Legacy: Reviving an Old Industry to Shape the City’s New Identity

In Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, the boutique Kindred of Ireland is showcasing artfully oversized linen blouses and tweed jackets, demonstrating how the city is embracing its historic textile roots. Half a century after the Troubles, linen—a fibre that once made Belfast the so-called Linenopolis—is reemerging as a symbol of renewal and identity. Amy Anderson, designer at Kindred of Ireland, notes that linen holds deep significance for locals, connecting generations to the city’s past while supporting a modern, architectural aesthetic.

The revival of linen is supported by a diverse group consisting of fashion designer Sarah Burton, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Charlie Mallon, who is growing and working with flax in a regenerative way on the heritage farm he owns. This is done by reviving old equipment and using techniques such as beetling to maintain the integrity of the fiber, which will give linen its original properties, opposing the modern and mass-produced version of the material that is often processed in China.

Apart from manufacturing, the resurgence of linen in Belfast also involves culture and fashion. Sarah Burton used Belfast’s factories as a source of inspiration for designing apparel that was showcased on the Paris catwalk, while the interest of the Prince and Princess of Wales in linen shows its international significance. The ‘Ashes to Fashion’ exhibition curated by the Ulster Museum is another instance of Belfast’s history of fashion and revival, which includes clothing from 18th-century silks to contemporary garments designed by Irish fashion designers. From the point of view of business, Kindred of Ireland plans to establish pop-up shops to promote its business further.