FAQ

French Consul products are made from 100% flax grown in France and are MASTERS OF LINEN® & EUROPEAN FLAX® certified. Our linen also meets the human-ecological requirements of the Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® and is woven in Ireland and is IRISH LINEN GUILD certified. Our Tote bags and Madie cushion covers are made in Australia and are AUSTRALIAN MADE certified (License no 11204).

Yes! Your decision to purchase French Consul linen homewares directly supports four small business owners:

1. Our family-run linen mill in Ireland
2. Our Irish sewing team
3. Our Australian sewing team
4. and us, French Consul HQ!

Yes!

Our Le Marche Tote, Septembre Tote, and Madie cushion covers are all certified Made in Australia (License no 11204).

Linen is made from the flax plant and while it grows all over the world, the highest quality flax plants are grown predominantly in Western Europe due to its climate and history of linen making. Our linen is made from flax grown in France, up to the Belgium border.

With centuries of expertise, Western European countries like France, Ireland, Belgium and Italy weave the highest quality linen and our linen is woven in Ireland where linen has been made since the 17th Century.

You will love the difference in the look, feel, weight and longevity of our linen.

Quality linen is:

1. Opaque – not flimsy or guazy
2. Soft – it’s not scratchy on your skin
3. Even – in colour
4. Grown – in Western Europe eg: Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy
5. Woven – in Western Europe eg: Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy
6. Longevity – it lasts for many years, often decades, in your home

1. You can see slubs, small bumps, throughout the weave of the fabric.
2. Fabrics pretending to be linen are flat and very even in appearance and are made from polyester (plastic) or cotton (a smooth fabric).
3. Linen has a loose, imperfect weave – look up close and you’ll see the beautiful texture.

They’re two very different terms and they are deliberately used by some linen companies to mislead you.

‘FLAX’ and ‘LINEN’ are not the same thing.

‘Flax’ is a plant farmers grow, from which linen can be made.

‘Linen’ is a fabric made in a linen mill.

If you see the words “French flax linen” it means the ‘flax’ was possibly grown in France (they need certification to prove it) but the ‘linen’ fabric was not made in France, otherwise, they’d use the term “French linen”.

“French flax linen” is a misleading marketing tactic to trick you into thinking the linen/the whole product was all made in France. Companies that promote their brand as “100% French Flax Linen” are often actually made in China, India or Eastern Europe.

The only linen products that can claim they are “French linen” are those that are wholly made in France – that is, the flax plant was grown in France, and the linen fabric was made in France.

For example: If a linen product was made from flax grown in France but the flax was then shipped to say China or India to be made into linen, then the product is made from Chinese linen or Indian linen.

Always read the product label (not the marketing or packaging) as this is where companies are legally required to declare where the product was made.

As we know, where a product is made is so important. It affects the quality, pricing, conditions, hours, and age of workers, how much workers are paid and how they’re treated, and how the environment is cared for in the process.

French Consul’s flax is certified as grown in France and our linen is certified as made in Ireland.

We do our very best to display as accurately as possible the colours of our products. Every photoshoot delivers slightly different results in our product photos as elements like lighting, interior/exterior light have an effect on colour. Because our products are grown in nature and are unbleached, the colour of our linen fabric can also change slightly with every new linen roll. Lastly, as device screens vary, we cannot guarantee that your monitor or phone’s display of any colour will be completely accurate.

You’ll be assured to know that our linen colours have never been an issue to date for any of our customers or stockists.

If you are browsing our website in Australia, US, UK, NZ or Europe, prices will be displayed in your local currency. All other countries, prices are displayed in AUD – Australian dollars.

After you have added all the items to your cart, please go to PROCEED TO CHECKOUT. You will then have the option to add your discount code to your order in the section called COUPON. Please note, only one discount code can be redeemed per order. Any troubles, email the team hello@frenchconsul.co

French Consul respects your private information and only uses such information to provide you with the best customer service possible, that is, for the processing of your inquiries, orders – your payments, refunds or discounts – and product reviews. We do not share your private information with any third party. We will also never knowingly send you electronic messages like newsletters without your consent because nobody likes a spammer. Any questions, please email the team hello@frenchconsul.co

We want you to be completely satisfied with your online purchase. If you change your mind for any reason, we’ll gladly accept a return of any full priced or sale item subject to the following conditions:

– The item must be returned within 14 days of receipt of your purchase together with original proof of purchase.

– Items must be returned in original condition, unworn, unaltered, and unwashed.

We reserve the right to reject any request for returns that do not comply with the conditions above or do not fall under Australian consumer law.

If you have any questions regarding your return, please contact hello@frenchconsul.co

First, please read our Returns Policy above.

To return an item, please post items to French Consul, PO Box 132, St Ives NSW 2075 Australia

Upon receipt of the items, they will undergo a quality review and once cleared, you will receive a refund for the purchase price (excluding original shipping cost) directly to the original method of payment used for purchase. We endeavour to process refunds as soon as they are received but please allow up to five business days for returns to be processed. You will receive email notification of the status of your refund once finalised. We do not refund initial shipping charges for items returned, other than for faulty items. French Consul is not liable for the loss of items being returned. We recommend using a traceable delivery method and taking note of your tracking number.

We’re so sorry if an item you received is not in perfect condition. Please email hello@frenchconsul.co and attach photos of the fault. We will meet our obligations under the Australian Consumer Law or similar legislation which may include replacing the item if the stock is available or giving you a refund upon receiving your faulty item back. We reserve the right to reject any request for returns that do not comply with the returns conditions above or do not fall under Australian consumer law.

If you have received an item you did not order, please email us at hello@frenchconsul.co so we can resolve this for you.

Subject to our obligations under the Australian Consumer Law or similar legislation, for any return you will be responsible for shipping and handling charges to return any unwanted items. If the package does not reach us safely we will not be able to complete the refund. We recommend sending via a traceable method and to retain proof of postage until you have received confirmation that your return has been processed.

Upon receipt of the items, they will be checked to make sure they meet the return conditions above and once cleared, you will receive a refund for the purchase price (excluding original shipping cost) directly to the original method of payment used for purchase.

We endeavour to process refunds as soon as they are received but please allow up to five business days for returns to be processed. You will receive email notification of the status of your refund once finalised. We do not refund initial shipping charges for items returned, other than for faulty items. We are not liable for the loss of items being returned. We recommend using a traceable delivery method and taking note of your tracking number.

Due to the limited nature of our pieces, we do not offer exchanges on any items. If you would like a different item, we recommend purchasing the new item and following the returns process for a refund.