Discover 10 surprising facts about linen that you probably didn't know (unless you're an expert)!
Linen, a robust and eco-responsible material, is mainly grown in France. But did you know that its particularities go far beyond these salient features? In this article, dive into the fascinating world of linen with unusual information. Prepare to be amazed and enrich your textile culture!
1- Flax, an astonishing plant : in just 120 days, the stem of the flax flower reaches a height of 80 to 120 cm. Although flowering usually begins around June 15, harvest occurs a month later when the flowers turn yellow.
2- Growing flax, an eco-responsible choice : unlike cotton, growing flax requires little water and pesticides. This plant thrives on the warmth of the sun and rainwater. However, its optimal development depends on weather conditions, particularly in temperate regions close to the sea, such as in Normandy.
3- Flax and the environment : although flax is mainly grown in Europe, it is often processed in China, leading to high environmental costs due to transport and transformation processes using polluting energy sources. Opt for “Masters of Linen” certified linen for a more ecological choice.
4 - The absorbent properties of linen : with its moisture absorption capacity of up to 20%, linen is ideal for summer clothing. Despite its advantages, it represents only 2.4% of global natural fiber production, compared to cotton's 75%.
5 - Flax, an ally of the environment : did you know that one hectare of flax retains up to 3.7 tonnes of CO2 per year? Impressive, isn't it? Use this fact when discussing the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
6 - The linen manufacturing process : from sowing to transformation into fiber, linen goes through several key stages, including flowering, plucking, retting, scutching, spinning and finally weaving or knitting depending on its destination.
7 - A thousand-year-old history : fragments of linen dating back 36,000 years, modified by humans, were discovered in Georgia in 2009, making linen one of the first textiles worked by humanity.
8 - A timeless fashion : used by the Egyptians to mummify their dead and by the Gauls to make boat sails, linen remains a popular material throughout the ages, worn even by the Druids, considered fashion influencers of their era.
9 - Linen at the court of Louis XIV : during his reign, Louis XIV popularized linen by wearing it and incorporating it into the decoration of his court, thus making this fabric a real trend.
10 - Linen in all its forms : in addition to its use in clothing and furniture, linen is also used in various sectors such as the automobile industry, electronics, sport and even in the manufacture of banknotes bank and cigarette papers.
Linen is a multifaceted material that will never cease to surprise you. Enrich your wardrobe with quality linen pieces, made in France, available at L'Appartement Français.
Discover the diversity and sustainability of linen today!
Article written by Anaïs.