Linen has been used as a fabric for garment making for thousands of years. Made from the fibres of the flax plant, linen is a natural fabric. It has many positive properties that make linen clothing popular among people of all ages, nationalities and social status.
Linen fabric breathes well; it is stronger than cotton; more it is more difficult to weave which makes linen a pricier fabric. Linen dyes well with different colours and an be blended with other materials which can impact on how you should care for these garments.
The first rule of thumb – check the washing instructions on the label of your linen clothing. Although all pure linen garments can be washed in a washing machine, other materials which have been used for stitching, trim or lining, may require dry cleaning. Ignoring advice provided by your tailor or the manufacturer could ruin your garment.
We recommend the following laundering instructions for your linen garments:
- Always wash your linen clothing using the washing machine’s gentle cycle. Select maximum water level for the cycle so ensure the clothing moves freely during the wash cycle.
- Do not crowd the washing machine with too many items. This causes twisting and can pull the linen fabric out of shape. Make sure that any other garments placed in the same wash are similar to your linen clothing in terms of weight, colour & laundering instructions.
- Hand launder linen garments using a gentle back and forth rotating motion. Never wring or twist the fabric. Hand laundering is recommended for lightly soiled garments or those of a loose weave.
- Linen garments should always be washed in cool or lukewarm water. Do not use cold or hot water.
- A mild detergent should be used; ensure the garment is thoroughly rinsed to remove all detergent. Air dry.
- If your garment has been prewashed during the production process (this information can be found on the label or product description) it is considered safe to dry the garment in a drier on low temperature however the garment should be removed whilst still slightly damp and air dried.
- Garments should be laid flat for drying purposes. Pegs and hangers cause marks and deforming of the garment.
- Linen wrinkles easily; garments should be slightly damp for ease of ironing.