Linen, from Plant to Fabric

This is the flax plant, where it all begins...

Linum usitatissimum, an annual herbaceous plant of the Linaceae family.

Its fibers are 20 to 50 cm long, green in color, and ivory/gray when ripe. They are rigid and naturally lustrous. Watching cultivated fields sway in the wind is like gazing at a sea of silk.

Properties:

Linen is a non-stretch fabric, rigid but not harsh on the skin, which wrinkles easily.

Breathable, antistatic, and antibacterial, it can withstand high temperatures, staying cool in summer and warm in winter.

It absorbs and releases moisture, doesn't pill, softens with washing and with body heat, making it perfect in contact with the skin, especially in summer when we sweat more and wash clothes more frequently.

Sustainability:

Completely biodegradable, its environmental impact is almost zero, both in cultivation and production. It requires zero pesticides and very little water (often only rainwater is enough to water it).

Production:

The linen production chain is short; it is often grown near the spinning mill. It is harvested at the end of summer, the stem is separated from the waste which is then buried to nourish the soil, it is combed, thinned to the thickness of a hair, and then spun to obtain a single skein.

Choosing linen garments therefore means building a more sustainable wardrobe, but also one that is more natural and suitable for our skin. Given the increase in summer temperatures, it is useful to wear natural fabrics that allow the skin to breathe while protecting it from the sun.

At Lino & caffè you can find linen shirts and garments specifically designed for this purpose, handmade all year round and customizable to your measurements!