not PERFECT LINEN: Perfectly imperfect linen

By Signe Hansen | Photos: not PERFECT LINEN

Lithuanian design brand not PERFECT LINEN has built its identity around a simple idea: linen should be allowed to behave like linen. Made to order on site, the family-run company offers clothing that values natural texture, comfort and durability over polish and speed. Behind the company stands a mother-daughter team, determined to make clothing that respects both the wearer, the material and the world surrounding it.

One of the defining traits of not PERFECT LINEN is that it does not try to force linen into the smooth, uniform finish expected of many modern garments. Instead, the design work begins with the qualities of the textile itself. “Linen is a fabric that lives very naturally – it wrinkles, softens, changes with time, and carries traces of real life,” says co-founder Simona Rimkiene. “Instead of trying to fight those qualities, we wanted to embrace them. A completely wrinkle-free linen often means the fabric has been heavily altered, blended, or treated to behave differently from its natural state. To us, those soft creases are not flaws – they’re part of what makes linen feel alive, relaxed, and real.”

That approach has helped shape the company as it has grown from a small family venture into an international business with customers well beyond Lithuania.

not PERFECT LINEN: Perfectly imperfect linen

A shared love for textiles

That not PERFECT LINEN would one day be shipping products far and wide was not part of the original business plan. In fact, the foundation of the brand did not include a business plan at all; it was built through work and passion, quietly developing and growing over the years.

Although trained as an engineer, Rimkiene’s mother spent most of her life working with textiles, drawing a deep-felt satisfaction from garment-making and sewing. Rimkiene herself took a very different route, studying law and working as a consultant. Still, she found herself drawn to the world of textiles.

“The original idea behind not PERFECT LINEN came very naturally, almost quietly,” she says. “For a long time, I believed I needed to choose a more serious path for myself. But I would constantly return home after work and help my mother with fabrics, orders, ideas, and design discussions late into the evening. It never felt like work – it felt natural.”

Over time, however, the company grew beyond the two of them. Other family members gradually joined, each bringing different skills and perspectives that helped shape the business and its identity.

not PERFECT LINEN: Perfectly imperfect linen

Made responsibly and close to home

The company’s production model reflects its origins. Everything is designed, made, packed and shipped from the studio in Lithuania. Fabric comes from a nearby manufacturer, and packaging is also produced locally. “For us, timeless design is very closely connected to responsibility. We’re usually much more interested in longevity and emotional attachment than in constantly chasing trends,” explains Rimkiene. “Ethical production also becomes easier to protect when you stay closely connected to the making process itself. Decisions feel much more human when the people creating the garments are not distant or invisible to you.

not PERFECT LINEN: Perfectly imperfect linen

That closeness begins with the fabric itself. not PERFECT LINEN uses OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 and EUROPEAN FLAX® certified linen, produced entirely in Europe and woven locally to reduce transport and overall footprint. In the studio, the garments are then made by skilled local women artisans, whose work ensures the level of quality and durability the brand aims for in every piece.

not PERFECT LINEN: Perfectly imperfect linen

Respect as a business principle

Another defining feature of the brand is its commitment to working on a pre-order basis. From the outset, the aim was to avoid a system built around stockpiling, discounting and unnecessary waste. Instead, each garment is made because someone has actively chosen it and is prepared to wait for it – a model that, according to Rimkiene, changes the entire energy of the process.

That choice shapes the relationship with customers as much as it does the rhythm of production. Waiting may run against the logic of fast retail, but Rimkiene has found that many people drawn to linen are equally drawn to a slower and more thoughtful way of living.

Co-founder of not PERFECT LINEN, Simona Rimkiene.

In that sense, the slower pace is not simply a practical decision, but part of a wider company ethos centred on respect – for the material, for the making process, and for the women who wear the clothes. “More than anything, we hope women feel respected when they wear not PERFECT LINEN. Respected through the quality of the fabric, the thoughtfulness of the construction, the comfort of the garment, and the care behind every small detail,” Rimkiene says and concludes: “We believe that clothing should never feel disposable or temporary. The way something is made reflects how much value and dignity we place on the person wearing it.”

not PERFECT LINEN: Perfectly imperfect linen