Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is very strong and absorbent and dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and also very much comfortable in winter also is valued for use in garments. linen acts as a natural insulator, keeping you cool in the summertime and warm in the dead of winter. The flax plant has been cultivated in just about every country in the world and has been used to make fiber for over 6,000 years. To extract the fibers, the plants are either cut or pulled by hand from the ground (it’s said that pulling creates finer linen). The seeds are then removed through a process called winnowing or ripping, followed by retting which removes the plant stock from the fibers. Once the fibers are separated to collect the longest pieces, which can be up to 20 centimeters long, they are then spun into yarn and eventually woven into fabric.
The Benefits of Linen
The resulting linen textile is dries at a much faster rate and two to three times stronger than cotton.
The fabric is available in almost any imaginable color because the natural fibers also hold dye colors better than other material.
Linen is also naturally anti-bacterial.
Linen Care
Linen is notorious for being wrinkly. You have to prepare to do a lot of ironing if you want to keep wrinkles. Using a high heat on your iron and a touch of spray starch (especially on collars) will get you the smooth and crisp results.