The Reed family pioneered sales of so called ‘Beetle Finished’ bed linens in the early part of the last century. After normal bleaching, the cotton fabric was soaked with Sago starch and then fed through a Beetling Machine for up to sixty hours. The heavy beech wood fallers (over a tonne each) pounded the cloth to give it a leathery feel with an individual watermark, and the ultimate appearance and handle. Few beetling machines have survived, and none would pass today’s environmental factory noise laws. Above is a beetle at Larkhall in Scotland.

Kassatly’s have sold fine Madeira hand embroidered linens in Palm Beach for over 85 years. Their store on the famous Worth Avenue promenade is a landmark shopping destination for the consumer who appreciates the very best in linens. Reed Family Linens have been constant suppliers to Kassatly’s for many years through their subsidiary Imperial Linens. Exquisite hand embroidered bed linen sets and table cloths are available from this unique source where heirlooms of tomorrow can be purchased today.

Reed Family Linens are proud to have recently designed and supplied banqueting cloths for the Presidential Suites at the luxurious Sandton Sun hotel in Johannesburg. Under cloths, top table cloths and napkins were bespoke made to fit the dining tables in each suite in our linen union fabric with a combination of white and taupe fabrics. This iconic property in the central business district of Sandton is a leading destination for politicians and business leaders from all over Southern Africa, and is gearing up for the World Cup.