LINEN

WHAT IS LINEN

Linen  is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is laborious to manufacture, but the fiber is very strong, absorbent and dries faster than cotton. Garments made of linen are valued for their exceptional coolness and freshness in hot and humid weather.

Linen fabrics are heavier than their cotton counterparts, and they are approximately 30% stronger. They often feel more crisp initially, though through time and use, linen fabrics become soft and supple to the touch. Linen boasts longevity, luster, and lovely drape. As linen fibers are thicker than cotton fibers, a lower thread count is necessary to guarantee high quality, enduring linen fabric

HOW LINEN IS MADE

Linen fabric is made from the cellulose fibers that grow inside of the stalks of the flax plant, one of the oldest cultivated plants in human history.

Flax is an annual plant, which means it only lives for one growing season. From seed-planting, it is ready to be harvested in about a hundred days. Unless the weather is particularly warm and dry, flax requires little watering or attention during this time. It grows to about three or four feet tall, with glossy bluish-green leaves and pale blue flowers, though on rare occasions, the flowers bloom red.

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BRIEF HISTORY OF LINEN:

FROM PRE-HISTORIC CAVES TO MODERN MARKETS

The earliest discovery of linen was made in 2009 when archeologists unearthed the fabric in a prehistoric cave in Georgia. This linen is the first known textile produced by man, dating to 36,000 BC. Flax growth and processing does indeed have a long and rich history. A discovery of linen that dates back to 9,000 BC was recovered perfectly preserved wrapped around the mummified corpse of Pharaoh Ramses II. Its longevity as a staple throughout history seems matched by its durability.

Ancient Egyptians endowed the cloth with symbolic significance as a representation of purity and called it “woven moonlight.” They considered linen to be a symbol of “purity” and “light.” In addition to its use for mummification, linen was also used as a form of currency. The image above shows flax harvesting on Sennedjem’s Tomb from ancient Egypt.

Today, linen fibers are primarily produced in Western Europe. Linen is produced in Poland, Austria, France, Germany, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Britain and Kochi in India. The primary center for linen production is Ireland. The Phoenicians brought linen to Ireland before the Common Era, but an established system for linen production was not fully developed until the twelfth century C.E. In 1711, the government established the Board of Trustees of the Linen Manufacturers of Ireland, and as a center for fine luxury linen production, Belfast earned the name “Linenopolis.”

BENEFITS OF LINEN

1.)Can gain up to 25% its weight in water Less likely to cling to skin as a thicker fabric would

2.)As it dries out it becomes cool and billows, so the skin is continually being touched by a cool surface, perfect for hot, humid, and dry weather

3.)Doesn’t stretch and is resistant to abrasion Very durable and strong, one of the few fabrics that is stronger wet than dry

4.)Resistant to moths and carpet beetles

5.)Easy to take care of because it resists dirt and stains

6.)Can withstand high temperatures with only moderate initial shrinkage

1.No Ironing Required

Linen is one of the few fabrics where you actually want to see a few creases throughout the fabric, it’s part of its charm and complements the naturally textured look of the fabric. If you choose linen bedlinen, put away the iron and embrace the creases, the result will be a relaxed, lived in look that is effortless to create and looks beautiful.

2. Static Free

Linen is one of the few fabrics not to accumulate static electricity, which is great news for your bed hair. Studies have shown that fabrics need to include just 10% linen in their composition to eliminate the pesky electric charge. Linen sheets are also far more resistant to pilling, meaning you won’t experience the frustration of those little balls forming on the surface of your sheets.

3. The Good Kind of Absorbent

Linen fabric can absorb as much as 20% of its weight in moisture before feeling wet, so your linen bedlinen will always have a pleasant, fresh feeling when touched or slept on. This also means you won’t wake up to that clammy feeling and the fabric is less likely to cling to your skin if you perspire.

4. Suitable All Year Round

Linen bedlinen is the perfect choice if you’re looking for something you can use all year round, not just for one or two seasons. Its temperature regulating properties keep you cool in Summer and warm in Winter. This is also good news if your partner is a hot sleeper and you tend to get chilly, or vice versa.

5. Allergy Friendly

Linen is hypoallergenic meaning it is suitable for those with allergies or sensitive skin. This stems from the fact that linen fabrics are usually made from materials that are not exposed to harsh chemicals or pesticides.

6. Environmentally Friendly

Linen is a natural fibre made from the flax plant. It doesn’t require any pesticides or any additional water other than rain water and every part of the plant is used. Linen is also organic, biodegradable, recyclable.

When blended with other fibers, characteristics of linen are then transformed to acquire some characteristics of the joining fiber:

LINEN BLENDS

• Linen/Rayon – Rayon blended with linen creates a substantially softer fabric with more fluid drape and a subtle sheen from the rayon.
• Linen/Cotton – Cotton softens linen but keeps the fullness of linen and reduces the wrinkles drastically, while keeping a crisp look.
• Linen/Polyester – Polyester helps linen to wash better, wrinkle less, and retain color-fastness. Depending on the type of fabric, polyester usually softens the feel of linen as well, but in a synthetic way

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