Linen Clothing Guide
One of the oldest textile fibres in the world, linen has been made and worn by humans for thousands of years. In our guide below we talk you through how linen is made, its environmental benefits and how to best care for your linen products.
What is Linen?
Linen is an exceptionally strong, hardy and sustainable fabric, made from the very fine fibres of the flax plant. It is typically used for summer garments, thanks to its cool and fast-drying properties.
How is Linen produced?
Linen is the natural fabric derived from the flax plant. Flax is an incredibly versatile, lower impact crop; requiring no harsh synthetic fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides and only rainwater to grow.
Zero waste, durable and long lasting, linen is one of the most sustainable fabrics around.
Where does Finisterre's Linen come from?
From present day Georgia to Swiss lake dwellings and ancient Egyptian burials, evidence of linen use has been found in many ancient European and Mediterranean cultures, and was also produced in India.
Environmental impact
Linen is considered one of the most sustainable fabrics available today. As mentioned above, flax can be a very low impact crop; producing high yields with very few resources and even adding biodiversity where it’s grown. It’s also a zero waste crop. The linen fabric is made from the cellulose fibres found inside the stalks of the flax plant, but the whole plant can be used; for textiles, food, paper and bio-oils.
The linen produced is versatile and strong, lasting for years and cutting down on excessive consumption. So – linen is zero waste, low impact, and lasts for ages. We’d say that’s pretty sustainable.
Breathable, temperature regulating and comfortable, linen is perfect for summer adventures.
Benefits of Linen clothing
As well as its wide ranging environmental credentials, linen is a fantastic natural fabric that is both comfortable to wear and surprisingly durable. It’s breathable, lightweight and softens with age – as well as coming from a 100% natural and renewable source.
1. Soft, breathable & temperature regulating – the perfect fabric for warm weather adventures.
2. Durable, long lasting and softens over time, ageing with you.
3. Lower impact crop, needing fewer resources and only rainwater to grow.
4. Zero waste – every part of the plant is used
How to care for Linen clothing
Whilst great to wear in warm weather, linen reacts badly to high temperatures when washing and drying.
To properly care for your linen, wash at cool temperatures of 30°C or below and do not tumble dry, as washing or drying at hot temperatures will cause garments to shrink. Dry flat and try to keep out of direct sunlight to keep your linen going for as long as possible. Cool iron for a crisp finish.