What can I say about the fields of flax in my native Normandy? These delicate purple flowers, which in June give the countryside a fleeting hue, have such an interesting environmental footprint. 

Moisturised exclusively by rainfall, flax plants require no irrigation. What's more, there's no wastage or unfortunate waste when it's harvested right down to the roots.

As for the qualities of its fibre, they are exceptional: resistant, thermoregulating, antibacterial and hypoallergenic. No wonder it has been used by mankind for thousands of years.

The idea of working with animal skins has never appealed to me, but when cork isn't suitable for the object I'm creating, I opt for coated cotton, which has the advantage of being recyclable and biodegradable, or synthetic leather. Its ecological footprint is not ideal, I readily admit, but it is machine washable. And for a mum like me, that's an argument that still carries weight. 

Today, my hopes are pinned on Piñatex: a vegetable leather made from pineapple, developed by the Spaniard Carmen Hijosa. It's still expensive, it's delicate to care for, but its aesthetic qualities are breathtaking. Cultivated in the Philippines and then processed in Spain, Piñatex is an almost local material, since the Ananas Anam company is less than an hour from my workshop! 

And of course cotton, which is essential in my workshop. As you know, cotton is not neutral in terms of soil pollution. That's why I make sure I choose GOTS-certified organic cotton or cotton guaranteed free from harmful substances by the Oeko-Tex 100 label. 

I may, however, make exceptions to this rule to ensure the recycling of forgotten fabrics, for example, or when my local suppliers are not available. 

In all cases, the composition of Æmilia products is always carefully displayed in the Composition tab of the product sheets.