One of the most prized qualities of linen is how long it lasts. Linen is a plant fibre (as opposed to an animal fibre) that needs very little fertiliser or pesticide to grow. This natural fibre causes no allergies, and its ability to regulate temperature is much appreciated!
It is a natural material (we use no synthetics at all at nähen!), lovely to the touch and easy to live with, all the more so once it has been "washed". "Washed" refers to the process of putting the linen through several washing stages to make it softer and more comfortable.
Linen keeps the warmth in during winter and the cool in during summer. That is why so many clothes for very young children are made of linen: beyond being comfortable, it holds the right temperature.
Linen is a hard-wearing fibre, woven into household linen, table linen and also outdoor canvas. It stands up to water and to light, which makes it a fibre regarded as strong, high in quality and long-lasting. The proof turns up in the attics of old houses, where linen from another age is often found without a mark on it.
Finally, for everyday use, linen is valued for table linen because it is absorbent and easy to machine wash. Our washed linen products, for instance, go in the machine at 40 degrees (on a gentle spin).
Our linen comes from Europe and all our products are then made up in France. The French linen industry, which had largely faded away, is being reborn. A great many initiatives are under way to revive it! We hope to be able to offer French linen at nähen before long :) To go a little further and learn more about French organic linen, here is a report on organic farming production in France
Photo: Diane Moulenc
