Purepod
Sustainable Clothing Collection
Linen
Linen fabric is made from the flax plant. Like hemp, linen is a bast fiber, derived from the inner bark of the plant stalk. The flax plant also produces flaxseed oil (a health supplement full of omega-3 fatty acids) and linseed oil.
Woven linen is crisp, flowing, and lightweight. The fibers are inelastic so the fiber doesn’t drape much, but the crispness is what makes it so elegant.
Linen is absorbent, and it conducts heat away from the body, making it an ideal fabric for warm weather.
Because of the length of the fibers, linen fabric is very strong (much stronger than cotton).
Linen wrinkles easily, and creases can be hard to remove. It’s easier to iron when slightly damp.
Linen fabrics are machine washable, and soften over time.
Mildew and perspiration can damage the fabric, but it is resistant to moths.
Conventional vs. organic linen
In order to remove the long flax fibers from the plant stalks, the stems are “retted” (rotted), which can be done with chemicals, in water, or with dew. After the fiber is retted from the stalk, a labor-intensive process of cleaning and straightening the fibers begins, and finally the fibers are spun into yarn.
The retting process is often done in rivers, lakes or man-made ponds, and is very environmentally damaging. If the leftover water is returned to rivers or the ground, it carries chemicals with it that contaminate the water and endanger wildlife. Western Europe now permits only dew-retting due to pollution.
Organic linen is dew-retted, using only moisture and sunlight. The process takes longer and is more labor-intensive, but it’s worth the effort.
In addition, organic linen doesn’t use herbicides to control weeds (flax is susceptible to weeds).
