What is Irish linen for planes?
Originally developed for covering the wings of airplanes, it is also referred to as boiled or brown linen. This lightweight, unbleached, unsized Irish linen has a very high thread count (152 threads/inch,) is very tightly woven and exceptionally strong. Between the early 1900s and 1970, employment in Irish linen production declined by 50%. During this time, cotton and synthetic fibers dominated the global market, as they were cheaper to produce and aligned with the shift toward a more casual lifestyle—replacing linen’s longstanding image of elegance.So, when can you wear linen? The answer is, anytime you want. Linen’s versatility shines through in its adaptability to different seasons and occasions. From the sizzling summer days to the cool, crisp winters, linen is a fabric that you can count on.Linen Today These days, linen is primarily a niche product that remains in production to manufacture a handful of textile products. Despite its rich history, linen is no longer in vogue due to the laborious and time-intensive processes used to make this fabric.Closely woven linen Closely woven linens are one of the more popular linen types as their remarkable softness lends itself perfectly to all bedding items like your sheets and duvet covers.Maintaining the beauty of an Irish linen garment or household product over time is a very easy task as they are generally fully machine-washable and easy to iron, if line dried and not tumbled.
What is the difference between linen and Irish linen?
The only difference between European and Irish linen might be that one comes from Ireland and another one from Belgium. So the curtain fabric is traveling to your living room about the same distance. Irish linen is a unique and highly prized fabric that has been produced in Ireland for centuries. The fabric’s exceptional quality, durability, and softness, along with its breathability and versatility, make it an ideal choice for a wide range of products.The Irish Linen Guild has defined Irish linen as yarn which is spun in Ireland from 100% flax fibres. It is not required that every stage from the growing of the flax to the weaving must take place in Ireland.Irish linen (Irish: Línéadach Éireannach) is the name given to linen produced in Ireland (including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland).
What is so special about Irish linen?
Durability: Irish linen is known for its exceptional durability. The fabric is incredibly strong, and with proper care, it can last for decades. Softness: Despite its strength, Irish linen is also known for its softness. The fabric has a luxurious feel that only gets better with age. Overall, the limited availability of flax plants plays a significant role in the higher cost of linen clothing. The scarcity of this natural fiber, combined with the labor-intensive processes involved in its production, contributes to the premium price tag of linen garments.No. While both linen and cotton are natural fibers that come from plants, they are not the same. Cotton fibers come from the cotton plant while linen comes from the flax plant. Once woven into fabric, linen retains some of its crispness and stiffness longer, needing repeated use and washes to reach its full softness.Linen is a natural fiber prized for its lightness, breathability, and elegant appearance. However, it has one well-known characteristic: it wrinkles easily. For many, these wrinkles are part of its charm, but sometimes you still want to wear a perfectly smooth linen garment.
Why is Irish linen so expensive?
Exceptional Fiber Quality and Sourcing While flax is no longer primarily grown in Ireland due to climate optimization, Irish linen maintains its superior quality through careful sourcing from the finest flax-growing regions of northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Libeco: Belgian Masters of Authentic Linen (Belgium) Every yard of Libeco linen is produced using European flax, processed in environmentally responsible ways. The brand’s dedication to transparency and traceability ensures that customers receive fabrics that are genuinely sustainable and beautifully crafted.Both Belgian and French flax linen are of superior quality, so regardless of which one you decide on, you can rest assured the two are harvested from the world’s famous flax belt. Since they are both regarded as superior linen fabrics, what you should be considering instead is whether your sheets are actually real.You may have heard that the best flax for linen is grown in Belgium. Indeed, Roman emperor Julius Caesar commented on the quality of linen from Flanders, Belgium as early as 100BC. Today, the Belgian Flax & Linen Association is responsible for authenticating and certifying products with the Belgian Linen™ trademark.