Linen is one of the oldest textiles available in the world. Worn for thousands of centuries, linen is known for its quality, breathability, and is an environmentally friendly and all-natural fabric.
When you’re looking to buy linen bedding, premium European linen should be at the top of your wish list. We uncover some commonly asked questions in this ultimate guide to buying linen.
Why is Linen Good for Bedding?
Whether you’re looking to invest in a complete bedding set or just a duvet cover or flat sheet, linen is the perfect fabric for bedding.
- All-natural with little processing
- Keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter
- wicks away moisture
- Linen fabric becomes softer to the touch the more it’s used
- Anti-static
- Environmentally friendly
- Durable and long-lasting
- Ideal for people with skin conditions and allergies
- Stronger than cotton
Is Linen Natural or Synthetic?
Linen is a natural fabric. This is in comparison to non-natural (synthetic) fabrics such as nylon, spandex, or polyester. Synthetic fibres (often found in duvet covers) are man-made, whereas natural fabrics come from natural sources such as cotton and hemp seeds, silkworms, and, of course, flax (which is what we use for our linen collections).
The main benefit of choosing a natural fibre bedding is that the fabric is entirely biodegradable. Linen can also be recycled and reused, making it one of the best environmentally friendly fabrics available on the market.
How Long Does Linen Last?
Linen can easily last for decades in the past and is often handed down through generations as a family heirloom. This is because the flax fiber is naturally tough, which makes linen durable, often stronger than cotton, and with each wash, linen bedding becomes softer.
The lifespan of linen can vary based on the quality of yarn, weave and weight. It is normal to see some wear and tear after a few years of use, especially on pre-washed linen. Other contributing factors may be settings of washing and drying temperature, harshness of water and type of detergent used, as well as high frequency of rub or abrasion from use. In most cases, linen turns out to be one of the best long-term investments one makes.
Is Linen Warm In Winter?
When the cold nights set in, it makes sense that you’ll be looking for a materials that you can throw over your bed and keep you nice and warm. Linen is the perfect material due to its naturally insulating fibers. Linen will retain heat and when layered properly, can become one of the warmest fabrics available.
How Breathable Are Linen Sheets?
Linen is also one of the most breathable fabrics on the market. The weave and lightweight fibres ensure that the airflow is continuous, therefore leaving you cool in the summer. An additional benefit is that linen will naturally wick away sweat, leaving your body at the optimum temperature to ensure a good night’s sleep.
Is Linen Wrinkle-free?
Linen has many benefits, including being natural, breathable, and environmentally friendly. However, linen is not wrinkle-free.
Personally, we prefer the laid back, relaxed style that wrinkled linen brings to a bedroom. But if you want that clean-cut image on your linen bedding you can always iron it when it’s slightly damp. But of course, through general wear and your body being in contact with the bedding, wrinkles will appear.
You may be asking “why does linen wrinkle?” The answer is because the fibers from flax that makes linen fabric are more rigid and have a tendency to crease and gather, instead of bending back into its original shape. When the fibres break entirely, this causes linen to permanently wrinkle, giving the fabric its well-known ‘worn’ look.
Need more help buying your linen bedding? Get in touch with us, we’re here to help.