| Fabric name | Linen |
| Fabric also known as | Flax fabric |
| Fabric composition | Spun fibers from the stalks of flax plants |
| Fabric possible thread count variations | 200-2,000 |
| Fabric breathability | Highly breathable |
| Moisture-wicking abilities | High |
| Heat retention abilities | Low |
| Stretchability (give) | Low |
| Prone to pilling/bubbling | Low |
| Country where fabric was first produced | Prehistoric Europe |
| Biggest exporting/producing country today | China |
| Recommended washing temperatures | Cold, warm, or hot |
| Commonly used in | Bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets, dish towels, bath towels, wallpaper, upholstery, skirts, shirts, suits, dresses, luggage, thread, aprons, bags, napkins, tablecloths, diapers |
What Is Linen Fabric?
Linen is a type of fabric made from the fibers of the flax plant. Unlike cotton, which comes from the cotton plant, linen is produced using fibers from the stems of the flax plant.
Garments made from linen are often preferred in hot, humid climates. Linen dries faster than cotton, which means it doesn't retain moisture against the skin. This helps linen wearers stay cooler in overly warm conditions.
However, manufacturing linen takes more time and resources compared to cotton. This led to linen becoming less popular after the invention of the cotton gin, which made cotton production much more efficient. Still, linen has unique properties that have kept some level of global production ongoing. Certain countries, like China, continue to produce sizable amounts of linen fabric.
Although evidence from prehistoric eras is scarce, it seems that Neolithic people in Europe were producing textiles from linen as long ago as 36,000 years. Thus, linen is one of the most ancient manufactured fabrics, and its origins may extend even further back than the earliest proof found by modern archaeology.
The next evidence of linen use comes from ancient lakeside dwellings built in Switzerland around 10,000 years ago. According to archaeologists, linen was first domesticated in ancient Mesopotamia. While linen garments were mostly limited to the ruling class in Mesopotamia, linen use was much more widespread in Ancient Egypt.
Due to the hot Egyptian climate, clothing that resisted sunlight and enabled rapid cooling by sweating was necessary. Since linen is naturally white, it was an obvious choice, and its breathability and lack of moisture retention quickly made it the most popular and valuable textile in Egypt.
In fact, Ancient Egyptians sometimes used linen as an actual form of currency. This fabric was also used to make the burial shrouds and wrappings for mummies.
Ancient Greeks used linen to make clothes and household goods, and the Phoenicians later brought linen production to Western Europe. However, historical records indicate there was no effort by European powers to regulate flax production among farming communities until the 12th century AD.
Later, Ireland became the center of European linen manufacturing, and by the 18th century, the town of Belfast was known as "Linenopolis" due to its thriving linen trade. Linen remained popular throughout the colonial period, but as cotton production became cheaper and easier, the central role linen once held in Europe's textile economy gradually diminished.
Linen Today
In modern times, linen is mainly a specialized product that continues to be made for a small number of textile goods. Even with its long history, linen is not popular anymore because of the difficult and time-consuming methods needed to produce this fabric. Interestingly, manufacturing problems originally discouraged linen making thousands of years ago. While the issues facing linen makers today are not the same as in ancient times, this material is still tricky and costly to make.
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The raw material for linen cloth is cellulose fiber from the stems of flax plants. As with many comparable plants, flax stalks have a wooden, reed-like interior and a fibrous, stringy exterior.
To get ready for making linen, manufacturers first take out the flax fibers from the woody flax stem core. Historically, they did this by soaking the raw flax stalks, but nowadays, chemicals may be used for the same purpose. Before spinning flax fibers into yarn, these chemicals are rinsed off, however some toxic residues could linger on chemically-separated flax fibers.
1. Planting
Flax plants need roughly 100 days to mature before they can be harvested. Since flax does not tolerate heat well, it needs to be planted during the cooler part of the year to prevent the crop from dying.
2. Growth
Nowadays, flax seeds are typically planted by machines. As flax plants do not effectively stop weeds from growing, herbicides and tilling are generally utilized to prevent reduced yields.
3. Harvesting
Once the flax stems turn yellow and the seeds become brown, the plants are ready for harvesting. While harvesting flax by hand is possible, machines are typically used for this process.
4. Fiber Separation
After the flax stalks are harvested, they go through a machine that removes the leaves and seeds. Then, manufacturers separate the fibrous outer stalk from the soft, woody interior - a process called retting. This step must be done with expertise, otherwise the delicate fibers used for textiles could become damaged
4. Breaking
Next, the decomposed stalks are broken up, separating the unusable outer fibers from the usable inner fibers. To do this, the stalks are fed through rollers that crush them, and rotating paddles then remove the outer fibers.
5. Combing
Now that the inner fibers are separated from the other fibers, they can be combed into thin strands. Once combed, the fibers are ready for spinning.
6. Spinning
Spinning flax yarn used to be done by foot on a flax wheel, but today flax producers use industrial machines. To spin the fibers, the short combed fibers are connected with spreaders into strings called rovings, which are then spun.
7. Reeling
After being spun on a spinning frame, the resulting yarn is reeled onto a bobbin. To ensure the yarn stays together, this reeling is done in wet, humid conditions, and the spun yarn is run through a hot water bath to further bind it.
8. Drying
Finally, flax manufacturers dry the finished yarn and reel it onto bobbins. The yarn is now ready to be dyed, treated, and made into apparel, home goods, or other textile products.
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How Is Linen Fabric Used?
Throughout history, linen was a very popular fabric around the world. Ancient Egyptians and medieval Irish wore and used linen products extensively. Nowadays, linen makes up a much smaller part of the global textile industry. Also, cotton has replaced linen for many common uses like clothing.
However, in hot climates linen is still widely used for everyday clothes. The moisture-wicking and heat-reflecting properties of linen make it ideal for equatorial regions.
Linen can be made into most products commonly made from cotton or wool. This includes shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, underwear, and many other casual and formal garments. Linen remains popular for lingerie and nightclothes too.
Outside of clothing, linen is still popular for household items. Especially table linens like napkins and tablecloths. While cotton is more common now, linen is still used for some towels, sheets, and pillowcases. An advantage of linen bedding is its durability at high thread counts. One main industrial use of linen today is for artist canvases.
Where Is Linen Fabric Produced?
China is the biggest producer of linen, like with most other textiles. However, making high-quality linen goods is still an integral part of the culture in many European countries. Ireland, Italy, and Belgium continue to be major linen manufacturers. A considerable amount of linen mainly used for household items is also made in the United States.
How Much Does Linen Fabric Cost?
Specific pricing data for unprocessed linen yarn is unavailable. However, prices for linen fabric vary from $5 to $12 per yard. At these costs, linen is among the most costly natural fibers globally. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that linen continues to be highly sought after for particular specialized uses.
What Different Types of Linen Fabric Are There?
While all types of linen fabric are derived from processed and spun flax fiber, there are four main variations in weaving techniques that result in different types of linen fabric:
Damask linen
This linen is woven on a jacquard loom into ornate, delicate patterns reminiscent of embroidery. Damask is not suitable for daily use, but is commonly used decoratively.
Plain-woven linen
The second type is plain-woven linen, which has a loose weave that makes it very durable. Plain-woven linen is often used for dish towels, hand towels, and other utilitarian textiles that need to withstand frequent use and laundering
Loosely-woven linen
Loosely-woven linen is the third type. With its very open weave, loosely-woven linen is highly absorbent. This absorbency makes it useful for products like reusable diapers and feminine hygiene items. However, the loose weave also makes it the least durable form of linen.
Sheeting linen
The fourth type is sheeting linen. With its smooth, untextured surface and tight weave, sheeting linen is well-suited for apparel. It usually has a higher thread count than other linens. The close weave makes it soft yet durable enough for clothing.
How Does Linen Fabric Impact the Environment?
The primary environmental issue with linen production is the release of chemicals used during retting into nearby ecosystems. Retting, which separates flax fibers from the woody stem, often utilizes alkali or oxalic acid. While chemical retting is faster and more efficient, both substances are toxic even at low levels.
As a result, water retting of flax is preferred for ecological reasons. To be certified organic, flax typically must be water-retted, but this increases costs, making organic linen less affordable.
Beyond chemical pollution, growing flax may degrade soil, causing erosion and agricultural expansion into undeveloped areas.
Additionally, most textile workers worldwide endure inhumane conditions and insufficient wages, limiting their economic contributions and environmental stewardship.
However, linen remains one of the most eco-friendly fabrics. Unlike synthetics, natural fibers like linen biodegrade within years, and do not release microplastics.
If produced sustainably, linen does not significantly harm the environment. But to meet demand affordably, most linen relies on cheaper, often damaging processes.
Linen Fabric Certifications Available
There are several linen fabric certifications that guarantee linen fibers are made sustainably and ethically. Linen can receive organic certification from both the US Department of Agriculture and the EU's organic certification program if it meets their organic farming standards. Another organization called OEKO-TEX certifies that linen products meant for consumer use are free of toxic substances. OEKO-TEX does not offer organic certification; it only verifies the absence of harmful chemicals in linen intended for customers.