In the 8th century, King Charlemagne imposed flax weaving on every household. Centuries later, Louis XIV made the fiber trendy by wearing linen shirts. After World War I, flax culture took off again in Normandy thanks to the local temperate oceanic climate and the Belgians who had fled the conflict. Today, flax is deeply rooted in Norman traditions to such an extent that the region covers 80% of national production. France stands out as the world's leading flax producer, with 160,620 acres (65,000 ha) of fields and 90,000 tons of fibers produced each year. Established in Saint-Pierre-le-Viger in the Seine-Maritime department, the Terre de Lin cooperative is renowned worldwide for the premium quality of its linen fibers.