Technical Abstract: A series of enzyme and chelator was tested for flax fiber yield and properties using a recently developed enzyme-retting system on Ariane flax grown as a winter crop in southeastern South Carolina. Chelator level determined the fine fiber (i.e., Shirley-cleaned) yield. Fiber strength, measured by Stelometer, was inversely proportional to enzyme level and not affected by chelator level. Fiber fineness measured by air flow methods was better with higher enzyme levels, and within enzyme levels the higher chelator levels tended to produce fibers with the highest degree of fineness. Relative cost calculations, taking into account fiber yield with costs of enzyme and chelators, provided a framework for determining retting efficiency and fiber quality. Results indicated that fiber properties can be tailored by enzyme or chelator levels. Further, commercial enzyme mixtures and chelators effectively retted flax and could serve as a basis for large scale retting tests