Linen is from the flax plant; the oldest cultivated plant known to man. The flax plant’s Latin name is Linum Usitatissimum, which is where the name linen comes from. Linen is a strong and sturdy fabric, because of this it has been used in many industries. Linen has been used for books, table cloths, bed linens, canvases, upholstery, and much more. Today, more and more people are becoming interested in linen, not just because of its strength and longevity but also because of its eco-friendliness.

Why Linen

1. Linen is stronger, more durable and also more lustrous than, for example, cotton. It is also quite crisp and absorbent.

2. Linen typically wears rather cool, because the weave is a little looser than most cotton or wool fabrics. Because of that, linen fabric usually feels more porous, and a lot of people appreciate its heat- and moisture-wicking abilities.

3. Typically, high-quality flax fibers are between 18 and 30 inches long. While it makes them durable, it also means they’re not very likely to relax, which means linen is a very wrinkly fabric. Unlike the wrinkles in cotton, the really pronounced characteristic wrinkles of linen are a sign of a sophisticated casual style.

4. Because linen doesn’t stretch much naturally, it pays to have garments to cut a little wider. But when you do that, over time the fabric becomes softer and you’ll cherish the garment even more.

Types of Linen

Irish Linen

Generally, the most popular linen used for clothing is said to be Irish linen, and it’s typically about 10 to 13 ounces heavy. Ireland does however produce linen of all kinds of weights and weaves.

European Linen

Another common linen is European linen, which is usually about 8 to 9 ounces heavy, which means it shows more wrinkles than heavier linen. Generally people that like this linen because it wears a bit cooler.

Cambric Linen

An even lighter linen option is Cambric linen, which is usually about 6 ounces heavy. Because of this it’s popular with shirting fabrics as well as pocket square fabrics.

Styling Linen

Suits & Sports Coats

Because it is typically a warm-weather fabric, most linen suits will have a single-breasted silhouette–simply because you have just one layer of fabric rather than a double layer of fabric over your chest and belly. Because linen is prone to wrinkling, it typically is worn in more casual settings

Pants

Because linen fiber is not flexible it doesn’t stretch. You will want linen pants to be cut slightly on the looser side, they’re just more comfortable that way. The extra room works great for a casual summer look.

Shirts

Some people also like linen for shirts including dress shirts or things like Henley shirts or popover shirts. Overall, it’s a very casual shirt so make sure you have a very soft collar and soft cuffs and skip the stiff interlining. If you are unsure about the wrinkling with linen, a linen shirt probably isn’t for you.

Caring For Linen

Linen fabrics don’t have lint and they’re not prone to pilling. To clean, a warm hand wash or delicate machine wash is best.

Ironing Linen

Linen wrinkles a lot, and therefore it’s best ironed. Fortunately, you can iron it with very high heat and you don’t need an extra cloth, like you would need with wool. It’s best ironed with a steam iron or ideally when it’s still slightly moist so you can remove all the wrinkles from it. Keep in mind, though, that linen will always wrinkle and it’s just part of the charm of the fabric. Don’t fight it, embrace the wrinkle!

At UWM we have linen options including jackets, pants and shirts. Summertime is the best time for linen, drop by the store today to pick up some linen to add to your wardrobe!!