Consumer guide

Linen on the line

Linen (or flax) is one of the oldest fibers besides wool. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather.

 Textiles in a linen-weave texture, even when made of nettles, hemp, jute, kenaf and other non-flax fibers are also loosely referred to as "linen". Such fabrics generally have their own specific names other than linen; for example, fine cotton yarn in a linen-style weave is called Madapolam. Linen is the strongest of the vegetable fibers and has 2 to 3 times the strength of cotton.

Bast fibres like linen grow well on land unsuitable for food production

The production of linen commonly uses agricultural chemicals and in particular fertilizers and herbicides to control weeds. For top quality fibres, the climate must be very moist but mild and as irrigation is not normally required, the environmental impacts associated with water consumption, pollution and build-up of salts in soil are avoided. Bast fibres like linen grow well on land unsuitable for food production and may help recultivate soils polluted with contaminants such as heavy metals. 

Creamy white to light tan, this fiber can be easily dyed and the color does not fade when washed. Linen does wrinkle easily but also presses easily. Linen, like cotton, can also be boiled without damaging the fiber. Highly absorbent and a good conductor of heat, this fabric is cool in garments. However, constant creasing in the same place in sharp folds will tend to break the linen threads. This wear can show up in collars, hems, and any area that is iron creased during the laundering. Linen has poor elasticity and does not spring back readily.

The selection of optimum quality flax fibre has traditionally been done by hand, which makes the process costly, but with enviornmental benefits. Nowadays, there are plenty of products on the market made of “organic linen” or “eco-friendly linen”. While some of these products may be made from flax fibers, many of them are made from other fibers. Organic linen refers to linen that is made from plant fibers where the plants have been grown without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers. Since the word linen often refers to table-cloths, bedding and towels - there is some confusion around the word.