What is Linen

Embark on a journey of linen exploration! Discover its fascinating origins, the art of crafting this exquisite fabric, and the reasons behind its soaring popularity. As ardent linen enthusiasts, we’ve delved deep into its world and are eager to unveil its wonders to you. Join us to unravel the secrets of this authentic and remarkable textile.

Let's begin and delve into the fundamentals...

Linen: An absorbent wonder.

Linen, crafted from flax fiber, is a moisture-absorbing champ. It can soak up to 20% of its weight in water, making it ideal for sarees, dresses, duppatas, and stoles

Linen: A fabric that breathes.

Linen‘s magic doesn’t end at absorption; it quickly releases moisture too. With its excellent air permeability, linen dries fast and never clings to your body. Plus, it’s a natural insulator—keeping you cool in summer and cozy in the cold.

Linen: Hypoallergenic and cozy.

Linen boasts health benefits too. Some say it promotes faster wound healing and aids in easing skin conditions like eczema. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic, making it ideal for sensitive skin and allergy sufferers.

Discovering the process behind linen production.

Linen, derived from the flax plant, boasts remarkable natural qualities. Cultivated in various regions, the flax plant’s growth cycle is relatively short. Nonetheless, turning flax seeds into linen fabric is a complex and time-consuming process. This is why linen is valued as a luxury item with a higher price compared to cotton.

Ever wondered about the process behind our premium linen sarees and fabric? Let’s take a closer look!

FLAX BLOOMING SEASON

Linen is sowed in March, harvested in July. During bloom, the field turns sky blue for a single day, creating a magical spectacle.

FLAX HARVESTING SEASON

After the bloom, flax is harvested by pulling it up from the roots to maximize fiber length for various product uses, unlike mowing other crops.

FLAX RETTING PROCESS

Harvested flax undergoes retting, where it is exposed to moisture to separate the fibers from the stem. Careful timing is crucial, as under-retting hinders fiber separation, while over-retting weakens it.

FLAX SCUTCHING PROCESS

Scutching separates woody stem from flax fibers. Tow fibers for paper, twine, rope; longer fibers for high-quality textiles like sarees, clothing.

LINEN SPINNING PROCESS

Linen fibers are spun and woven into fabric, which can be bleached and dyed. Additionally, our linen undergoes stone-washing for maximum softness, using pumice to achieve a lived-in, supple feel.

Thread Count: While buying a linen saree, you have been probably told to pay attention to the thread count. Thread count for sarees refers to the number of horizontal (weft) and vertical (warp) threads per square inch. Generally, higher the thread count, softer will be the fabric, and more likely it will be wearable or become softer over time. An average linen saree is counted between 60 to 80 count & till 120. So the thread count is an indication of only the texture of the linen saree. Thread count is not an indication of the Quality of the saree. Myth Broken!

Linen as a fabric is stronger: The tensile strength of linen is twice as much as cotton, and thrice as much as wool because the fibre is derived from the middle of the flax plant, so it will naturally be stronger. So interestingly, linen is far more superior in quality and strength than you think!

Warp or Weft based: Linen is warp based saree where all the warps are made up of only Linen yarn. If we use linen yarn in both the warp and the weft, they are called linen by linen. Other options include combinations using linen as the prime yarn in the warp and using 30% – 40% cotton or silk or khadi with linen in the weft making them linen by cotton or linen by silk or linen by khadi respectively. Linen is breathable but has the tendency to be stiff. When linen yarn is combined with cotton, khadi, and silk the texture of the saree changes accordingly. Interesting right!

Linen is wearable throughout the year: Linen is one of the best fabrics. It is comfortable and has sweat absorbing properties. The main benefit of wearing linen during summer is that it allows easy air flow and reflects heat better. In hot weather, people dressed in Linen were measured to be 3-4 degrees cooler than people dressed in silk or cotton. Everybody thinks Linen is only for summer, but the fact is it can be made heavier with the warp-weft tricks and can be made wearable even in the winters too. Woot Woot!

Here in Loomfolks, we offer you with the most exquisite and trending Linen sarees with unique designs directly from weavers. Just flaunt with confidence and utmost comfort by picking your favourite ones from our Linen Collection.

what is linen