Linen – God’s Gift To Mankind

By Author: Ackley Cooper Shaw
Total Articles: 211
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Linen is an amazing natural fabric. Made from the flax plant, Linum Usitatissimum, and produced in various parts of Europe, linen is famous for its beauty, smoothness and softness.
Linen has a long legendary history behind. Linen was believed by the Egyptians to be a gift from God. It was regarded as sacred and used in holy ceremonies as a symbol of cleanliness and purity. Linen was also used by Egyptians for mummification. It was found that linen cloths on mummies remained perfectly intact even after years of mummification.
The endurance and durability of linen knows know bound. Linen’s characteristic smoothness gets smoother and smoother with every use and wash. The Silica present in the flax fiber makes it absolutely immune to decay. It is, in fact, the strongest natural fabric used in textile industries.
Apart from unbelievable longevity linen has some other unique qualities of its own. Its heat regulating property makes it a wonder fabric. Linen clothes provide a cool and fresh feeling to the wearer’s skin throughout the day as it absorbs body heat and perspiration. In winter, on the other hand, ...
... it retains body heat and keeps the wearer warm.
Moreover, linen is characterized as being lint-free, anti-allergenic as well as anti-static. It has a natural pH balance and it is non-irritant to the skin. It does not attract dust particles and detergent residues and also permits healthy perspiration of the body.
Linen protects the wearer from ultra violet rays of the sun. So as long as the skin is under the shield of linen it is prevented from the possibilities of tanning and sun allergies that the harmful UV rays cause.
Linen’s anti-bacterial and UV-protective properties coupled with its natural breathing and moisture-absorbent tendencies make it unique and better than any other fabric in the world.
Even all these special features, linen has one major limitation. That is, it wrinkles very easily. So while ironing proper care should be provided to linen clothes. Ironing should be done while the cloth is damp. When the wrinkles are gone, the clothes should be hung until it is dry.
Linen is used not only for making clothes but also various other items like table cloths, curtains, bath towels, bed sheets and pillow covers, etc and other upholstery items also.
Linen, an admixture of beauty and utility has always been valued in fashion and textile industries. Even a simple linen shirt or dress allows the wearer make a style statement of optimum fashion and elegance. A white linen shirt, indeed, is a classic wear for both men and women.
Linen, however, is quite expensive as it involves a huge number of labors at the time of manufacture. But with all its unique and wonderful qualities, linen garment is worth a buy.
Linen garments have always been famous in western textile industries but in India it was first introduced with Linen Club, a brand by Aditya Birla Group.
Flax which is used in making linen grows in many parts of the world, but the best quality flax is cultivated in west European countries like France, Belgium and Ireland etc. Straight from Belgium and France, the raw fibers are sourced and with the finest European technologies of spinning, weaving and processing, Linen Club items in all over India.