Material Guide: Linen
Linen, linen, linen. Yes, we love linen. It’s breezy, beautiful, fashionable and sustainable, right? Well, compared to many other textile fibers, linen is a winner! Especially when it comes to durability and sustainability. In order to create a sustainable closet we believe it’s important, almost crucial to know what your clothes are made of and how that fibre was produced. Keep reading to find out more about linen and why it’s a good choice!
When comfort is key
Linen is stylish yet comfortable. It’s perfect for hot summer days since it’s breezy, light and doesn’t expose possible sweat marks on your clothes that easily, but at the same time it absorbs moisture without holding bacteria and dries quickly. It’s natural and humble for the skin and works perfectly well to wear during winter months too, since it retains the heat and prevents the body from freezing.
Better for the planet
Linen is one of the most biodegradable and stylish fabrics in fashion history. Will it ever go out of style? We don’t think so. This summer we’ve seen the material in collections from Fendi, Jacquemus, Maison Margiela and Dior among others. Linen is strong and therefore long lasting, naturally moth resistant, and when untreated (i.e. not dyed) it’s fully biodegradable. Its natural colours include ivory, ecru, tan, and grey. Linen is made from flax plant fibers which is one of the most versatile and resilient plants on earth. Every part of the flax plant is being used to create textiles, linseed oil, paper etc, nothing goes to waste. The production of linen requires far less water than cotton for example. According to the European Confederation of Linen and Hemp, “Across its lifecycle, a linen shirt uses 6.4 litres of water” compared to 2,700 litres for a cotton shirt. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation states that flax production uses 13 times less pesticides than potatoes, but is only approximately 1% of the world’s apparel fibre consumption. Why is this so, you ask? Linen has so many great benefits and is therefore, without doubt a textile we should increase demand for.
Easy to take care of
Linen is easy to handle and when it’s done right, your linen clothes will last forever.
The fabric is naturally wrinkly but when ironed, it gets softer yet gives it shine.
Don’t wash when not necessary. If needed, use ecological washing detergent, wash with similar colors and avoid hot water. Even better: hand wash your linen clothes!
Air dry on a drying rack or let flat dry. If you want to use the tumble dryer, set it on low heat and take out the garment when it’s still damp.
Reduce wrinkles by using the iron but make sure it’s set on low to medium heat and that the garment is damp.
In short, if you want to invest in sustainable linen, look for organic certifications such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Class 1 certification, European Flax® certification and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or for ethical brands that trace the product all the way back to the crop, and try to go for its natural colors since the garment then haven’t gone through several rounds of bleach and dyeing.
