Flax Fiber Provides “Environmentally Friendly Alternative” for Musical Instruments
Tim Duerinck, a contemporary luthier in Belgium, has developed an eco-friendly, plant-based cello made from flax fiber. Claiming to bring new possibilities for environmentally friendly instrument design, the flax fiber design is durable and able to obtain the same acoustic qualities as the endangered woods often used in string instrument production. As first reported by The Strad, the flax fiber cello will soon be on display at Belgium’s museum of textiles and flax in Kortrijk, and was made with pieces of mirror-twilled fabric layered with natural flax to create the patterns used when producing traditional wooden cellos. As almost every industry continues to re-evaluate its effect on the environment, Duerinck felt he should explore greener alternatives to traditional instrument making. Display “Cello made from flax …
