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 first start wearing it, it softens with every wash. Its breathability makes it ideal for warmer months, while its natural weight means it layers well into cooler seasons. A fabric built to be worn all year round.

What is linen?

Linen is a highly durable fibre made from the fast-growing flax plant. It is a natural bast fibre, meaning it comes from the outer layer of the plant's stem, in the same family as hemp and jute. Flax can grow in many climates but thrives in the cool, damp conditions of northern Europe. All our linen is farmed in France and Belgium, where the climate suits it perfectly.

The blue-flowering plant is naturally robust and pest-resistant, which means it needs few or no synthetic pesticides to grow. A plant that largely looks after itself.

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How is the linen made?

Flax is usually sown in March, when spring arrives. Within about two months, the flowers appear, but only for a few hours at a time, which looks truly stunning. When mature, the plant stands about three feet tall. The taller the plant, the longer the linen fibre, and the stronger the yarn it produces.

After pollination by bees and other insects, the flowers drop to leave pale brown seed bolls behind. The plants are then harvested, either by hand or with a specialised machine.

To separate the fibre from the stem, the flax is retted. For European flax, this happens in the field itself. The harvested stems are laid out and left to break down naturally through contact with rain, dew, and soil microorganisms. No water tanks, no chemical processing. The field does the work. Once retting is complete, the fibres are separated, cleaned of impurities and seed pods, and prepared for spinning. When spun into yarn, they are ready to be woven into fabric, and eventually into your new favourite piece.

Is linen sustainable?

Yes, and here is why we use it.

European flax grows on natural rainfall alone and requires few or no synthetic pesticides, a crop that asks relatively little of the land it grows on. It is also one of the more efficient plants when it comes to what gets left behind. The long fibres become linen yarn. Shorter fibres go into industrial textiles. The woody core of the stem is used in construction materials. The seeds become linseed oil. Very little of the plant goes to waste.

The three-foot fibres give the fabric its natural strength. The longer a fibre, the stronger the yarn, which is why linen is so durable. It blends well with other natural fibres to further extend the life of a garment, and it is naturally moth-resistant, which helps it last even longer in the wardrobe. A good linen shirt, properly cared for, can be with you for decades. Prepare that shirt to be in your wardrobe for quite some time.

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes, you can wash your linen pieces. We recommend handwashing or using a gentle machine cycle at low temperatures (30ºC) with a mild, eco-friendly detergent.
Absolutely. Linen is a lightweight, breathable fabric – perfect for keeping cool on warm days.
Like other natural fibres such as cotton or hemp, linen may shrink slightly when washed. To minimise this, wash it at low temperatures and skip the tumble dryer.