Why Wear Linen Shirts?
Linen is a fantastic fabric for shirts. It is highly absorbent and breathable, making it perfect for hot weather. We assume that linen is only wearable in the warmer months when in fact linen can be worn all year round as linen fabric is temperature regulating. We don't stop wearing cotton shirts in the winter months so why not linen?
Why are linen shirts so expensive? There are many price points for linen shirts, but 100% good linen shirts are expensive because the manufacture of linen is laborious and a time-consuming process. Linen fabric production costs twice as much as cotton production. It can take up to 90 days to harvest flax plants yearly as it cannot be mowed, it has to be pulled up by the roots. To weave flax fibers into linen, the machinery must run quite slowly as the fibers are easily broken.
Linen is the most expensive sustainable clothing fabric. It is more environmentally friendly and luxurious than other natural plant based fibers such as cotton. Flax plants are very resilient and can grow in poor soil and require very little water. Every part of the flax plant is used, from linen to varnishes. Linen is recyclable and biodegradable, needing 60% less water than cotton. It has few natural enemies, therefore, reducing the need for pesticides or genetic modification.
Are linen shirts better than cotton shirts? Linen is a stronger fabric than cotton and will last longer if looked after correctly. It is up to 3 times stronger than cotton. Linen can be machine washed on a lukewarm ( never cold or hot water) wash, with no bleach, conditioner, or detergent with optical whiteners as they weaken the fibers. Iron inside out whilst damp or air dry. Linen dries fast. If you are ok with the creases, don’t iron.
How to soften a linen shirt?
I don’t think good 100% linen needs softening, but some people do. At Order Materia we have tested two ways and found a half cup of white vinegar added to the machine wash is best for 100% linen. If the linen is a blend, then half a cup of baking soda is preferable. You can soak the linen instead of machine washing if you prefer.
Will linen shrink?
100% linen will shrink but most good manufacturers pre-shrink the linen before garment production. The average amount of shrinkage is 3 - 4%. In a hot tumble dryer, it will shrink approx 10% that is why at Order Materia we advise to air dry.
If you are still unsure about 100% linen, try linen blended with cotton. You have all the texture and wearability of linen but with less creasing. At Order Materia we have some beautiful casual summer men’s and women’s shirts.
How to wear a linen shirt? A linen shirt looks good either slightly fitted tucked in or out, whilst a casual shape looks good untucked, length has to be considered, not too long or too short. Linen shirts can be plain, striped, patterned and in a variety of colours. Classic colours are white, cream, navy, light blue, and black, but why not buy a bright colour?
Enjoy linen. Embrace the creases.
