And while we all recognise the contemporary delightful summer look and feel of linen, there are five aspects of its core characteristics and history that we find most curious.  Don’t worry, reading them will not break linen’s summer spell.

1. The flax plant is a beautiful flower.

Linen is made of the tall, thin stem of the flax plant.  It sprouts from our favourite (and most nutritional!) flax seeds and grows to maturity in less than a hundred days.  It flowers beautifully with the most delicate blueish-purple blossoms.  Once fully grown, the flax plants are pulled by their roots from the ground, not cut, so that the longest unbroken fibers could be extracted for the most durable, smooth, high-quality linen fabric.

2. Linen’s homeland is Europe.

Unlike many other plant-based textile fibers that originate in areas far and wide, linen’s homeland is Europe.  The flax plant thrives in cooler, wetter climates and it was a second skin to Europeans for millennia on end with Ireland becoming the traditional expert in growing, harvesting, and weaving linen into high-quality linen fabrics used by the European elites.

3. It takes mastery to weave linen.

Weaving linen is hard work and requires refined skills. The long and sturdy linen stem is difficult to bend and weave (especially compared to the cotton thread or one spun out of wool), while splitting it in thinner fibers takes even more skill.  This is the reason why even in contemporary times the cultivation and textile production of linen fabric is constrained to a few areas in the world and fine linen fabric being of limited supply and high demand is a luxury even for true fabric connoisseurs.

4. Linen is exceptionally durable.

In addition to the benefit of its exclusivity as a product of fine craftsmanship, the linen fabric, because of the sturdiness of the flax plant fiber, is also highly durable.  Did you know that some of the ancient Egyptian mummies preserved until today have been wrapped in fine linen fabric?

5. Linen is compostable.

And did you ever think of plant-based textile as an agricultural product? It is one, and when grown organically and woven without any synthetic solutions and dyes, the linen fabric can become a very nutritional ingredient of your garden’s soil once your linen bed sheets or tablecloths have fulfilled their mission in your home.  Just cut the fabric in small pieces, scatter it evenly over the soil and let it be a natural fertiliser for the next generation of flax seed sprouts.

Feeling inspired? At ODAYA Home we have been keenly exploring the history of flax, but also the best places for cultivating and weaving it today.  We source our linen from traditional European weaving mills and are proud to have the designer’s magic wand that puts the final touch to the fine textile products that will enter your home – kitchen textile (tablecloths, table runners and napkins) and bed linen.  Recognising linen’s rich history and its many functional benefits, we can take steps to ensure a better, more harmonious, and environmentally-conscious lifestyle today.