Linen

Linen is a natural fabric produced from fibres of the flax plant. Linen textiles have a long history dating back centuries, and yet it remains a truly contemporary fabric because the linen industry has been quick to embrace new technology, giving it the flexibility and turn around time required to service an increasingly demanding world of fashion and textile markets. The linen manufacturing process is complicated and requires great skill in turning flax in to fabric. New techniques are continually being developed to give the final fabric new properties. Recent developments in finishing include softwash, aero finishes for a relaxed look and easy care finishes which cut down the linen's creasability . This allows the fabric to be fully washable and tumble-dry friendly. Linen’s popularity is not diminishing, it is growing with each year.

THE PROPERTIES OF LINEN

The secret of its popularity lies in the unique and highly valuable qualities of linen:

~ Being breathable linen creates a feeling of freshness in hot weather and comfort warmth in winter. It is due to high thermo insulation qualities of the linen.
~ Linen is renowned for its spectacular durability and long life.
~ Linen fibres are naturally hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-mycotic. The fabric is ideal for individuals with sensitive skin.
- Linen reduces gamma radiation nearly by half and protects the human body from solar radiation.
~ Linen fabric does not create static.
~ Linen rejects dirt and does not get teaseled.
~ Linen is easily laundered in hot water, can be boiled and dried in the sun.
~ While ageing and with careful use, it will improve in looks and feel. The more linen is washed the softer and smoother it becomes.
~ It has the ability to absorb and lose water rapidly. Linen can absorb up to 20% of its own weight in moisture without feeling unpleasantly damp to the skin.
~ Eco-Friendly Linen requires less water to grow, fewer resources to process and has more uses for its by-products. It also has a chemical-free finishing compared to cotton, these are all the reasons why linen is one of the greenest fabrics commonly available.
~ Being 100% biodegradable it is recyclable.

Linen is in the top ten most expensive fabrics in the world, which offers quality and style! The significant cost of linen derives not only from the difficulty of working with the thread, but also because the flax plant itself requires a great deal of attention while growing.

WASH AND CARE

~ Machine wash in hot water (up to 70°C (158°F) (except for fitted sheets*);
~ Do not bleach;
~ Iron at high temperature;
~ Tumble dry, low heat, delicate setting;
~ Do not dry clean.

Always remember to follow the manufacturer's care label as these instructions take account of several variables such as the type of yarn, the fineness and composition of the fabric, the dye, the finishes and stain-resistant or crease-resistant treatments. Linen is relatively easy to take care of, since it resists dirt and stains, has no lint or pilling tendency, and can be dry- cleaned, machine- washed or steamed. It can withstand high temperatures, and had only moderate initial shrinkage but a 60°C wash is usually effective as the smooth surface of the flax fibres allows stains to be released easily. As linen is highly absorbent, (it can absorb twice its weight in water before it drips), it soaks up more water during the wash cycle than most other fibres. It therefore washes better when the washing machine is not packed to capacity. As with all fabrics, wash dark colours separately. Stains should usually be treated right away with soap and water or a specific linen cleaning product. The fabric can react badly to many chemical cleaners and stain removers, it’s really important to read the labels on the linen and avoid using cleaning solvents to minimize the risk of damage to the fabric.

~PRE WASHED 100% LINEN TEXTILE~

Wash this textile separately in plenty of water at 40°C or hand wash. We recommend using only a small amount of natural detergent. For this fabric you can use normal spin cycle, then dry it.

BEDLINEN CARE

*Note: Due to elastic present, fitted sheets require lower washing water temperature - not higher than 60°C (140 F).

Normally white 100% linen bed sheets withstands hot water quite well. Hot water helps to kill germs, remove dirt from between threads and thoroughly clean fabric.

However, when colours are present, washing water temperature might be either required to be lowered or not, depending on the manufacturing process used to produce dyed fabric. The manufacturing process that was used for fabric we offer does allow washing linens in hot temperatures.
Linen becomes softer after multiple washings and can withstand many washing cycles as linen fibres are stronger than some other commonly used fibres - for example, cotton.

BLEACHING

Do not use bleach on linen as it can destroy the natural fibers easily.

DRYING AND IRONING

Linen dries quickly. It should not normally be tumble-dried as this can over-dry the fibres. However, some easy-care finishes have overcome this - products made from these fabrics will be clearly marked with the tumble dry symbol on the manufacturer's care label. White linens can be kept white by line drying them in direct sunlight and flat drying delicate items can help prevent creasing. Always iron linen when damp, first on the wrong side to eliminate creases and then on the right side to enhance the fabric's natural sheen. If the linen has already dried out before ironing, use a water spray to redampen it. A good steam iron will work best on pure linen but ironing can be difficult because of how easy it is to accidentally add new wrinkles. Spritzing the fabric to create steam can help in many cases. Nevertheless, the tendency to wrinkle is often considered part of linen's "charm".
No dry cleaning is allowed for 100% linen linens.