Sème introduces linen jeans made in France
The move to make the most of existing resources and rethink supply chain dynamics is at work at Sème, a new brand launched this year. It is the brainchild of Agathe Schmitt, daughter of Pierre Schmitt, who has acquired a group of textile companies over the years. These include velvet and flats maker Velcorex and spinning facility Emanuel Lang, both based in Alsace. Mr Schmitt has recently invested in a dry spinning production line for linen that is now running at the Emanuel Lang facility. France is Europe’s leading producer of linen but all spinning facilities had closed over the years. There are now a handful of projects underway to fill the gap.
The possibility of creating jeans that are made from linen grown in France and entirely manufactured in the country inspired Agathe Schmitt to launch her own brand, Sème. From start to finish, all manufacturing processes take place within a 770 km perimeter. The linen fibres are grown in Normandie, then shipped to Alsace in the northeast of France for spinning and weaving. The fabric then returns to Normandie for cutting and sewing at jeans-maker Kiplay, and then to laundry Couleur Stone, located 126 km away in Montbizot.
Sème is launching two styles, a mom cut for women with a mid to high waist and slightly tapered legs, and a semi-slim fit style for men. The brand is seeking early adopters on French crowdfunding site Ulule, where the two styles are offered at a reduced price of €165 instead of €195. The first jeans will be delivered this September.
Through her prior experience in fashion and retail, Agathe Schmitt had found the fashion system to be broken: “I saw the limits of the current apparel industry’s globalised supply chain and wanted to promote the beautiful fibres and fabrics that are made right here in France.”
Image courtesy Sème
