Homewares brand French Consul has released its latest collection, showcasing centuries-old French and Irish linen artisanry of French Consul’s makers.
The Heritage collection was launched last week and is made from 100 per cent unbleached, natural linen with a heavy weave and a textural slub. The linen is grown in France and woven in Ireland. The soft-washed Heritage linen is soft to touch and visually reminiscent of antique farming grain sacks.
“Provenance is so important—where was an item made? Customers want to know, what’s the heritage and craftsmanship behind this product?” says French Consul founder, Karen Miles.
“So, I created a new rustic Heritage collection. Our collection’s insignia 17ème siècle ‘17th Century’ is sewn by our Irish sewing team to every piece like a mending patch, paying homage to the formal start of the Irish linen trade led by French linen master, Louis Crommelin, in the late 1600s. It’s our signifier of world-leading quality, craftsmanship and provenance.”
The new collection includes the brand’s three most popular cushion sizes, a raw-edge table runner and tea towel with a signature grain sack stripe hanging loop.
“The Heritage collection dovetails beautifully with our existing grain sack stripe collection, both in colour palette and in the retelling of the story of farming life centuries ago,” she adds.
Covid played havoc with many companies that rely on supplies from overseas and for French Consul it meant switching to a different service.
“Our biggest issue due to Covid is freight. Ireland essentially stopped all parcel postage to Australia for two years (2020/2021) and has only just resumed in 2022 but in a very limited box size and at a higher cost than a courier. In 2020 we had no choice but to switch to a courier service which has doubled our costs but halved our delivery time for stock.”
Miles splits her time between life in Sydney’s north and her heritage property in Oatlands, Tasmania, where she is restoring an 1830s convict-built cottage.
“Oatlands is the largest sandstone village in Australia. Work began late 2020 and we can’t wait to share it with everyone as a French Consul styled Georgian Airbnb we’ve named Petit Chateau. Follow IG @petitchateau_au for the launch notification and @frenchconsul for all our reno updates.”
While she aims to launch the French-styled Airbnb this year, she is still very much focused on French Consul “and who knows, maybe we will introduce another grain sack stripe colour”.
