Linen: What, When, and Why

Silk linen, hemp linen –people rave about the versatility, availability, and comfort of such fabrics; but very few know much about their origins.

Linen, of the true and natural source, is fabric woven from flax –a plant grown primarily within the vast region stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to New Zealand. Flax requires very low amounts of fertilizer or pesticide for its cultivation, and every part of the plant is used for some productive purpose or another. While the fibres of the plant are used for weaving, the seeds either have oil extracted from them (linseed) or are eaten. Additionally, flax cultivation is labor-intensive; which in turn means that it generates a living for many people.

Linen is perhaps the earliest fabric known to civilization, reaching all the way back to the mummification practices of the ancient Egyptians some 4000 years ago. As further proof of the fabric’s sustainability, when Howard Carter uncovered King Tutankhamen's tomb in 1923, he found the original linen curtains surrounding the sarcophagus to be completely intact; nevermind that both archeological finds were over 2500 years old!
While the pocket-handkerchief is no longer the fashion statement it once was, linen has made a vast comeback in the fashion industry. Having the ability to remain cool and fresh even in hot and humid climates, linen has become a popular material in the manufacturing of several articles of clothing; such as wedding gowns, scarves, skirts, and undergarments. Being of the “natural” variety, pure linen is not only environmentally but sensitivity friendly –limiting your body’s exposure to harmful toxins.

So before you go perusing the salon racks for the perfect dress, ask a sales assistant to point you in the direction of the pure linen products. It will be a worthy investment for years to come.