Linen: our European champion

Lightweight, absorbent and durable. All terms to describe one of the oldest textile fabrics in the world: linen. Especially in Europe, the luxurious linen fabric has been used for centuries. Although linen can feel quite textured when you start wearing it, it softens once it has been washed a few times. Because of its temperature-regulating properties, it will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Bring on those seasons and wear it all year round!

What is linen?

Linen is a highly durable fibre made from the fast-growing flax plant. It’s a natural bast fibre, similar to fibres from flax and jute. This bast fibre can be found in the outer layer of the plant’s stem. Flax can grow in many climates but prefers cool and damp conditions. All our linen is farmed in Europe, in France and Belgium, to be exact.


The blue flowering plant is low-demanding and naturally pest resistant. Therefore, it needs few to no pesticides. The linen fibre gives your clothing a nice fresh, crisp and richly textured feeling.

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https://a.storyblok.com/f/165464/1454x2048/d77b48f3bd/linen-field-2.jpg

How is the linen made?

Usually, the flax plant is sown in March, when spring is in the air. Within about two months of plant growth, the flowers appear for only a few hours, which looks truly stunning! When mature, flax is about 3 feet tall. The taller the plant is, the longer the linen fibre will be.

After pollination by bees and other insects, most flowers will drop to leave pale brown seed bolls behind. Then comes the harvesting of the plants, manually or with a specialised machine. To separate the fibre from the stem, the plant is retted. The stems are soaked in water to soften in this retting process. After soaking for a while, the fibres are separated into individual fibres. Impurities and seed pods are removed, and the fibres are ready for the next step: spinning. When the fibres are spun into yarn, they can be used to weave a fabric. Ready to be turned into your new favourite item!

Is linen sustainable?

Yes, linen is sustainable. Let’s explain why we use this fabric. We like many things about linen. The flax plant needs little to no pesticides to grow. Unlike cotton, it is happy to grow in poor soil. No sicknesses or insects can get it down!

 

Because linen is quite a fast grower, it uses far less land, water and other resources compared to other crops like cotton. It grows in humid areas that need no extra irrigation since it needs less sun and warmth. You could also call linen low to zero waste! The whole plant is used for processing, from flax seeds, flax or linseed oil to flax ropes.


The 3 feet long fibres give the fabric its natural strength. The longer a fibre is, the stronger the yarn will be. Therefore, linen is very durable. It blends easily with other textile fibres to improve the durability of a garment and give it a signature linen look. The linen fabric is also naturally moth-resistant, contributing to a longer lifecycle. Prepare that shirt to be in your closet for quite some time!

"Linen is a fast grower, it uses far less land, water and other resources compared to other crops like cotton"

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