History
Continuing with my blog about flax I am making a post about linen the
fabric that is produced from flax yarns. The linen textiles are one of the
oldest ones in the world. The history goes back many thousands of years. There
were found fragments of seeds, fibers, yarns and multiple types of fabrics
which date back to 800 BC they have been found in Swiss lake.
Characteristics
The production of linen is labor intense but the manufactured garment
has properties of coolness and freshness in warm weather. The explanation to
this fact is that it evaporates water very quickly and before giving the
feeling of being wet, linen fabric can absorb as much as 20% of its dry weight.
The linen fabric weight is usually labeled as handkerchief weight, medium
weight or heavy weight:
·
Handkerchief
weight 3-4 oz. = 85-113 grams.
·
Medium
(shirt) weight 4.5-6.5 oz = 127-184 grams.
·
Heavy
or “bottomweight” 7-8 oz. = 199 – 227 grams.
Linen also has antiallergic properties it absorbs
water very well. And the negative
downside effect of linen is the high level or wrinkling it is due to the fact
that the yarns are strong and not elastic. The interesting thing is that after
each washing the fabric becomes softer and less wrinkly. The recommendation for
ironing the linen is to do it inside out.
The long flax fibers have a natural vegetable wax coating therefore it
creates a subtle sheen when woven together in a textile. Linens natural
off-white color tolerates dyes well and retains its color without fading. The
natural fibers of flax make the woven textile a bit bumpy with a smooth finish.
Linen fiber dry very fast therefore fabric has not only the property of coolness
but as well as the warmth property therefore it is used for the bed linen and
pajamas. Linen fabric also is known for it being “skin” friendly duo to the
fact that it is best for the kin microclimate, for example it is permeable to
air, absorbs dampness and sweat very quickly. Flax cells are highly compatible
with human cells therefore it produces a benevolent effect on human organism.
Linen used as bed linen reduces fatigue and lifts spirits furthermore according
to medical testing’s and studies bed-ridden patients do not develop bedsores
where linen bed sheets are used, also wearing linen clothes helps o get rid of
some skin diseases like common rash or chronic eczemas.
Lines has high air permeability and conductivity properties, the heat
conductivity of linen is five times higher than wool and 19 times as silk, so
in hot weather those who wear linen clothes are found to be 3-4 degree C below
of the cotton cloth wearing. Person wearing linen clothes perspire 1.5 times
less than people who are dressed in cotton clothes and twice as less than the
ones who wears viscose clothes. Furthermore in a cold weather linen clothes are
ideal warmth keepers.
Also an interesting finding that is not connected with fashion or the
clothing industry is that linen is resistant to static electric load therefore
it is being used for protective garments of the astronauts and for the
protection of spaceship outside. Flax fabric is a very good filter for
protection from the chemically aggressive medium, noise and dust. Linen reduces
gamma radiation nearly by half and has a property to protect human organism
against solar radiation. The study showed that the flax fibers from
contaminated soils appear not to have even traces of radiation.
In some way linen is similar to cotton so therefore I have found some
facts in which linen fabric is more positive than cotton and the facts are:
·
Linen
fabrics are three times stronger than cotton fabrics.
·
Linen
fabrics are five times more resistant to rubbing than cotton fabrics.
·
Linen
fabrics absorb dampness and sweat better than cotton fabrics.
·
Linen
fabric is more ecological than cotton, Linen is the product which does not
leave waste and does not make that significant harm to ecology and nature.
Linen is naturally Eco friendly duo to the fact that flax requires less water
and fewer pesticides than cotton. Being a natural fiber, linen is recyclable
and biodegradable.
I
Linen
costs varies widely and the cost of it mostly depends on the fiber quality ad
the density of the weave. From 2010 the lower-end linen which is rougher than
fine woven linen costs aprox 13$ per yard. The type of garents that would be
produced out of this linen would be everyday household linens and clothing.
The
linen that is more finely woven would be lighter, smoother and has more sheen
has a remarcably higher price of 99$ price per yard. This type of linen is used
for example in the high-end fashion clothing, baptismal gouns and heirloom
household items. [1][2][3][4][5]
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