About linen

What is linen?

Linen is an extremely strong, lightweight fabric made from the flax plant. The word “linen” comes from the Latin name for flax, “linum usitatissimum.”

Linen is a natural fiber, like cotton, but it takes longer to harvest and make into fabric, as flax fibers can be difficult to weave. The fibers are extracted from the plant and stored for long periods of time to soften the fibers. Linen is a common material used for towels, tablecloths, napkins, and bedsheets. The term “linens” still refers to these household items, though they are not always made out of linen fabric.

About our linen

We strive to use the finest fabrics in all our products. Our stonewashed linen is pre-shrunk and pre-washed and has a density of 150-190 gsm.

For our waffle linen products, we use 2 types of fabric with a density of 250-305 gsm - 100% linen (softened waffle fabric), as well as softened waffle fabric, which contains 54% linen and 46% cotton (ideal proportion for moisture absorption and thermoregulation.

This material is durable and wear-resistant; so that it retains its original appearance as long as possible and does not lose its excellent properties, please read our Linen care guide. If you have any questions regarding fabric or care, feel free to contact us at any time.

We use an eco-friendly fabrics that require less water and no chemicals that are harmful to the environment. 

The environmental friendliness of the fabrics we use is confirmed by the international OEKO-TEX certificate, which can be viewed here. Also you can check its validity here.

Eco-friendly fabrics should be considered fabrics that do not have a harmful effect on nature, the environment, and humans. These are fabrics made from natural materials and fibers, grown without the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. At the same time, in the production of natural eco-friendly fabrics, substances that pollute the environment should not be used: harmful dyes, bleaches that pollute nature not only during the production process, but also after entering the landfill.

What is the difference between cotton and linen sheets?

Cotton has a little more stretch and flexibility than linen but is not as durable. Linen is much more rigid but lasts longer because the cellulose fibers in linen yarn are slightly longer and wrapped tighter than those in cotton yarn.

Cotton sheets are very soft right out of the box and can last around five years, but linen sheets become very soft after several washes and last longer, up to 30 years.

Both cotton and linen are hypoallergenic; however, linen is slightly better for people with allergies as the lower thread count and the loose weave is less likely to trap dust and particles. Linen is also naturally hypoallergenic which means sweat is less likely to break down the linen fibres, as it would in cotton. Cotton does not conduct heat; linen flax fibers are hollow, making it very cool for the summer and warm for winter. Unfortunately, cotton cultivation damages the ecosystem, mainly due to the huge amount of water consumption. Also, in the process of manufacturing cotton fabric, pesticides and other chemical fertilizers are used and retained in the fabric itself. 

Why does linen have a lower thread count?

The linen fibre is derived from the middle of the flax plant, so it will be naturally thicker than the cotton bolls from the cotton plant. An average linen fabric used for sheeting has a thread count of between 80 and 150, which would be considered low for a cotton sheet. Cotton percale starts at around 200 thread count, a result of the finer yarns used. It is easier to fit a higher number of yarns into an inch if they are fine cotton. You can only fit so many bulky yarns into that same inch if they are linen, so the results can vary substantially.

The thread count is not an indication of quality, as linen fabric has a much lower thread count but is considered by many to be a far superior fabric quality.