5 Amazing Things to Know About Linen to Up Your Fabric Game

Linen is one of the most common fabrics, and hence it’s a wonder why most of us still don’t know much about it. In today’s era of artificial materials, which is well past the age of cotton, all laundry always gets referred to as linen. This fabric was once so precious that it was used for wrapping the bodies of mummies in Egypt. It contributed to the preservation of ancient treasures. Linen is procured from the flax plant and is extremely sturdy, durable and highly absorbent. Like other materials, this fabric can be embroidered or printed on to create different designs and patterns according to the creative vision of fashion designers.

History & origin of linen

The earliest evidence of linen being manufactured dates back 4000 years to Egypt. Due to the difficulties faced in the production process, clothes made out of this fabric could only be afforded and worn by wealthy members of society. The Egyptians traded with the Phoenicians, who were responsible for supplying linen to the Mediterranean region.

Later on, through the trading process, this fabric reached Ireland, where the most systematised means of producing flax took place. Linen filtered to England and eventually came to India during British rule. India started producing this fabric as well to cater to the needs of the British.

Benefits of linen

People often get confused between linen and cotton, but linen is 2–3 times stronger and dries faster than cotton. It also has a porous nature, which makes it the perfect fabric for summer clothes and bedding. It also has a reputation for holding dye colours together better than any other material. Therefore, the diversity of colours it is available in is undeniable. The best part about linen is its anti-bacterial nature, because of which it is popularly used in home decoration too.

There are a few downsides to this fabric as well. It has little elasticity, because of which it can wrinkle, and it’s a bit more expensive than cotton. However, linen remains a favourite and a smart choice for many, as it was when it was discovered centuries ago.

Uses of linen and how to wear it

This fabric is widely embraced by designers in the fashion industry to create garments like dresses, shirts and ethnic wear like sarees, salwar kameez, kurtas and more. Linen is considered a crisp and refreshing fabric to wear in the hot temperatures of a subcontinent like India. Hence, wearing linen palazzos, loose-fitting pants or pyjamas is ideal for summers in India.

This material has a fantastic fit and fall, which is best suited for formal wear. It’s also more aesthetically pleasing to pair minimalistic wooden jewellery with linen, which has a rough, natural look to it. Apart from clothes, this fabric is used in making shoes, bags, commercial and home furnishings, industrial products, bath and bed fabrics and so on.

Linen maintenance & care

This fabric has a notorious reputation, as it wrinkles fast. However, if you want to avoid this situation, then all you need to do is use high heat while ironing your linen clothes. You can even make use of spray starch along with ironing to get a smooth and crisp texture.

Make sure that the fabric is completely dry before you wear it, as the wrinkles get more exaggerated when the material is damp. Just like cotton, linen also shrinks while washing. Hence, it’s advisable to wash the fabric in hot or cold water. Dry cleaning is a must if you want your linen clothing to look its best.

Interesting facts about linen

Dyed fibres of flax were found in a cave in Georgia that date back before the modern world, indicating that flax has always been used for making clothing. In ancient Egypt, linen was not only used to preserve the bodies of mummies but was also used as a currency by wealthier families. This material was used in the middle ages as a shield and gambeson. It was also used as a bowstring because of its durable nature.

Today, linen is used to make clothing, curtains, pillows, rugs, ropes and more. It is even blended with cotton to make the sturdy paper-like substance used to create dollar bills. If you are convinced that this is the fabric for you, then wait no more. YourLibaas has a wide array of linen ethnic clothing waiting to be added to your shopping cart.

– Posted by Anushka Batra