The Laundress and Fog Linen

We are SO excited about our new collaboration with Japanese designer and owner of Fog Linen Work, Yumiko Sekine.  We both share the art of simple and clean living. 

The collection is made of 100 percent Lithuanian Linen. Linen is the most durable fiber - which also makes it the most washable and actually gets more absorbent with every wash- easy to reuse with less waste. 

We asked Yumiko to tell us her favorite spots, tips and about Fog Linen Work!

What are your favorite spots in Tokyo?

“My new office and store”.

Japanese Folk Art Museum

Cicoute Cafe... "a very cute cafe in my neighborhood."

  

"This is a beautiful ceramic store."  Zakka Home

What are your favorite things to do in NYC? 
"Meet a good friend of mine Lotta Jansdotter."

Jansdotter

"Love to shop at Erica Tanov."

Erica Tanov

"Every time I am trying to eat at Blue Hill."

Blue Hill Farm New York

 

"I usually stay at the Cooper Square Hotel."

The Cooper Square Hotel

What are some of YOUR home cleaning tips? Is there a special way that you clean something in your home or how you clean, etc. that is interesting.

“Clean and wash every morning and also most of the nights! If you find something dirty, don't leave it , wash and clean immediately, often you can do it in a minute.”

How has your cultural background influenced your design sense?
"I think I got influence from my mother.  She has used much linen at home and also wore linen, so it was normal for me to have linen items around me and I LOVE them!"

 
Why do you prefer Lithuanian linen? Is it better than Belgium, etc.?
"When I was searching for the linen products, Belgian linen was quite expensive.  I couldn't afford it for my normal life.  When I traveled to Lithuania, I found that it is the place to grow flax and also they have a history to export linen products to European countries since middle age, good skill and not so expensive, also quality is same as Belgian ones."

About Fog Linen Work:

Yumiko Sekine started her first business in 1993 importing used books and house ware from Europe and America to Japan. In her search for more products, she could not find affordable every-day linens that she had used during her childhood. She visited Lithuania, a country that grows flax, whose fibers are spun into linen, and has been producing and exporting linen products to other European countries since the Middle Ages. She was disappointed to find that there were no linen products for daily use available in the stores there. This led her to contact several linen producers and started to have them produce her own product designs in Lithuania. Her first collection started with only seven items. Today, the company has one shop in Tokyo and sells all around the world.