What is BEETLING?

Beetling is a mechanical process that involves fabric being pounded by wooden hammers on beetling engines, a process that takes up to 140 hours to complete and results in an unmistakable sheen. This ancient and time-honoured method is a true labour of love; the traditional process involves submerging the linen cloth in potato starch before it's pounded. The pressure tightens the weave creating an exceptionally flat fabric that develops a character sheen as the linen dries out during the process. 

At William Clark & Sons we offer both Wet Beetling and Dry Beetling.

A PROCESS RICH IN IRISH HERITAGE

Amazingly, this unrivalled sheen is normally hidden from sight as it's intended use is in tailoring for seam reinforcement. Traditional tailors still love this fabric due to the fine nature of the product making it virtually invisible when used in seams while offering the strength that flax fibre provides. Increasingly over the years designers have come to love the lustre that beetled linen creates, a sheen that modern production equipment struggles to replicate. Thanks to our team at William Clark, the ancient craft of beetling lives on. With commercial beetling mills dying out, we are the last company in the world to practice this painstaking manufacturing process on a commercial scale.

YOUR FABRIC, OUR EXPERTISE

Looking for a fabric finish like no other? Contact us to discuss what this unique process could do for you.