9 Things About Linen That Will Surprise You
If you're still using cotton dish towels, let us introduce you to your new best friend in the kitchen.
Our partners at LinenCasa are self-described linen evangelists who both hail from countries in Europe with strong linen traditions. We caught up with Tanya and Marco to learn some unexpected facts about this fabric.
First some fun facts... did you know? Linen is one of the oldest fibers we know about, dating back to 8000BC. The Egyptians apparently used it as currency. Over millennia, linen has also been used as canvas for oil paintings, by artisan bakers, and it's even part of the material that makes up the American dollar bill. So money.
A word of caution. Don’t be fooled by the term “linens” which particularly in the U.S. can refer to all household goods including bedding, tablecloths, and towels. Historically, these things were actually made of linen, ie. produced from the flax plant, but due to changes to manufacturing and industry, more and more of these “linens” are made from cotton, synthetic fabrics, or blends, which are all cheaper to produce than real linen.
Because of the laborious time it takes to produce linen yarn, and the manual processes that have to be undertaken, linen has become a higher-priced commodity and considered to be a luxury fabric.
During their journey, Tanya and Marco found that, "many people don't know the difference between linen and other textiles. So our mission became to educate about linen one towel at a time."
Rest assured, our Kitchen Towels are the real deal. So why does that matter– what makes the flax material so special? Here come some pretty compelling reasons to switch to linen in the kitchen.
1 | Linen is naturally anti-bacterial.
How do you know it's laundry day for your current kitchen towels? Be honest – is it that slightly musty smell you start to notice? Linen fabric has naturally derived built-in characteristics that inhibit the development of mold. It absorbs moisture without holding bacteria, so you'll never get that moldy smell between washes. Whoo-hoo!
2 | Stonewashed linen is actually easy to care for.
Have you heard linen is high-maintenance? Us too. But our stonewashed linen is super easy. Also known as washed, pre-washed, or laundered, this linen is machine washable and needs no ironing for that casual look that is having such a moment right now. Added bonus? Stonewashed linen gets softer with every wash.
3 | Linen is soft, and only gets softer.
Out of the gate, our stonewashed linen feels nice to the touch, and properties of the flax plant allow it to become more malleable over time. With regular use it becomes softer and more pliable – it just gets better and better!
4 | More durable than cotton, linen will last a lifetime.
It may be soft, but linen doesn't wear down like other fabrics. In fact, it is actually stronger when wet than dry, so your towels can stand up to daily duty in the kitchen. Linen lives for generations and according to Tanya and Marco, it's quite common in Europe to inherit linens from your grandmother.
5 | Linen is lint-free.
There's not much more annoying than drying a glass fresh out of the suds and finding tiny particles of lint left behind by your towel. Thankfully, this won't happen with linen so your glassware will polish up easily and just sparkle.
6 | Linen absorbs without a damp feel.
Is this magic fabric impressing you yet? Well here's another reason to make it your new favorite thing. Linen fibers have an incredible ability to absorb, expanding to pull in moisture with a much higher saturation rate than cotton. Long after those cotton towels are hung up to dry, your linen will not feel as damp.
7 | There are standards for making linen that you should care about.
Not all linen is created equally; there are certification standards that tell us about the processes used to manufacture materials. Our linen is Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certified, which means it is free from harmful substances. You can be confident that the product has met safety standards at every stage.
8 | The manufacturing process of linen is more sustainable.
Linen is the ultimate sustainable fabric because the flax plants it’s made from need zero pest control and very little water and energy to grow and process. According to the European Confederation of Linen and Hemp (yes, it's a thing– see how much Europeans respect this stuff?), “Across its lifecycle, a linen shirt uses 6.4 litres of water” compared to 2,700 litres for a cotton shirt. That's a big difference.
9 | Linen is highly giftable.
We believe that the timelessness of linen, as well as its longevity and durability, make linen pieces ideal gifts.
A set of kitchen towels makes the perfect hostess gift that will actually be used and appreciated. Who doesn't need a kitchen towel or three? They are the items you'll be using daily in your kitchen and that remind you of the person who gave them to you. Isn't that what gifts are about – connecting with people and making memories.
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Start and new tradition and make linen a part of your life.
Our luxury thick linen has a substantial weight with a beautiful textured look that you need to hold in person to fully appreciate.
The assortment we've curated features soft subtle colors that don't overpower and will work with many different styles. Choose a single, pair, or go for a coordinated set for the simplest of upgrades that makes your life a little easier and looks incredible in the kitchen.
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