Linen offers a huge range of benefits and is a fabric that has been loved for hundreds of years! Linen, created from flax seed, is the luxury fabric choice you need to know about. Used centuries ago in both ancient Greece and ancient Egypt - if it was good enough for the gods, it’s good enough for us! In fact, the oldest dress in the world was created with linen in 2800 B.C. Thousands of years later, we still can’t get enough of the stuff! Below is a quick list of our top 5 benefits of wearing linen. We hope you fall in love like we have!
1. Longevity & Strength
The biggest positive linen has going for it is its longevity. Linen is a special kind of fabric, much more durable and lasting than so many other options. In fact, its dubbed to be 30% stronger than cotton and with potentially 20 years of wear, this fabric is a long-standing investment in your wardrobe.
Linen also boasts the ability to get softer and supple as the more you wash and wear. Whilst cotton and other synthetic materials are usually considered easier to make, the demand for linen has never wavered, proving it a popular choice during any fashion era.
2. Non-Allergenic
Linen is a hypo-allergenic fabric, meaning it’s a best friend to those with sensitive skin. Whether its eczema or hay fever, the natural fibers won’t be responsible for flair ups of any allergy attacks.
Linen is also believed to have soothing properties, with many believing it’s lightweight and breathable texture helping their sunburns, rashes and other ailments. Not only have we seen popularity in fashion but home wears including bedding have been selling out all over the country! By helping you keep cool, linen also has the ability to deter dust mites. Allergy sufferers have loved this material and there’s no wonder why! Not only is it hypoallergenic, its also considered naturally insect-repelling, non-static and almost completely lint free. Ideal for the Australian environment!
3. Absorbency
One of the reasons why you might be strongly considering linen (or if not, why you should be) is its absorbency abilities. Linen is able to absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture, whilst still remaining dry to the touch. Being able to wick moisture from the air makes it popular within dresses and shirts, keeping the breezy and lightweight feel flowing.
Even when worn in suits, linen has proved an exceptionally popular choice. One study showed wearers of linen dress shirts saw up to two times less sweating than their cotton wearing counterparts. When wearing linen, the material will literally absorb any perspiration from your skin, and swell. Once its absorbed as much as they can, it releases the moisture back in the air, effectively having its own self-cooling process with evaporation.
4. Perfect For All Weather
However, if you think because of the great absorbency that this would be a strictly summer-only fabric, you’d be mistaken. This versatile material can take you through all the seasons. While its lightweight and dry feeling can be great for summer, linen is also fantastic at maintaining your body temperature in the colder seasons. Its durability allows this to be a staple wardrobe item all year round. The hollow fibers of linen make it almost like your own personal insulator. Linen is the perfect base piece for your winter ensemble.
5. Better For The Environment
If you like to keep environmentally conscious of your fashion choices, you’ll be pleased to know that linen is an eco-friendly choice. The flax-plant seed that linen is derived from uses a very small amount of water and energy to grow, and the plant leaves behind no waste footprint.
As well as its eco-friendly way of being made, linen itself is naturally biodegradable and recyclable. Linen is so versatile, in fact, that some recyclable linen materials are even transformed into paper and insulation materials for car companies.
Linen has truly proved itself as not just a popular material through the ages, but a versatile and beneficial one. If you’re ready to enjoy all the benefits that linen has to offer, add amazing and stylish linen pieces to your wardrobe today.