Define Linen Fabric

Linen is one of the oldest and most luxurious of textiles. Favored by ancient Egyptians, who used it as wrappings for royal burials, linen has a history thousands of years old. Linen is used to make clothing, luxury bed dressings, table settings and even as a high-end upholstery fabric. So what exactly is this fabric that has endured through the centuries, always retaining its aura of luxury?

Definition

Linen is, by definition, a fabric woven out of natural fibers taken from the stalk of the flax plant.

Strength

Linen is considered to be up to three times stronger than other natural fibers such as cotton, and this is due in part to the fact that the fibers used to make linen are extremely long: up to 50 inches.

Characteristics

Linen is expensive to make, but it is very absorbent and is a good conductor, keeping heat away from the body. In its natural state, linen can be cream, ivory, gray or tan - it is only through bleaching that linen can achieve a white color.

History

Linen takes its name from the Latin word for the flax plant: linum. There are fossil records of linen dating back at least 3,000 years.

Production

The highest quality linens have been made in Western Europe for centuries and are still made today in Ireland, Italy and Belgium.