LINEN
HISTORY
Linen comes from latin word LINUM USITATISSIMUM and it measn "most usable". The oldest linen as fabric was foun in Georgian cave in September 2009 and is dated 36.000 B.C. andit is the first known textile developed by man. In Egipt, 5.000 B.C, they did mummification of dead pharaoh which took 70 days and they used for it 4.000 m2 of linen. They took all organs from dead body and filled it with linen. And we know that mummies still have shape of body. Linen is used in medicine as internal stitch and also as fabric that makes healing faster and better.
FROM FIBER TO FABRIC
Linen starts with flax seed put into soil between March 15th and April 15th every year. Growing cycle is 108 days, after this we start with harvesting and we never cut of linen - we always pull linen out of soil. After this we start with retting which can be natural or chemical (this one is not good for fabric - it looses almost all characteristics). Natural process starts in August. After harvesting we put all linen together and we leave it there on the field. The amount of sun and rain defines colour of linen fabric. When the time comes, we start with scutching . breaking the plant. And this can be again done natural or using chemicals*. It is very important that we crush linen/flax plant till we get linen threads which is than prepared for combing process. Scutching is really important - if we don't do it in proper way we take a risk that we leave some pectin still in this threads. Linen fabric with pectin inside shrinks after first wash and is permanetly stiff. No "Lenor" can make it soft. Combing is preparation for spining, a homogenization of fibers into soft ribons. We get short and long fibers. Spinning is the next phase. And this is the last phase before linen fabric gets its shape. Weaving is defining what texture of linen fabric we will get. It is very expensive and time consuming process. Every fiber goes through the seamstress's ear and it takes 7 hours to fill in one weaving drum. Finaly we come to finishing - it can again be natural on chemical. With chemical one we have than this chemicals in fabric and that is why we choose to have on stock only fabric with natural finishing. Even bleaching can be done by natural way. With this and proper care you get fabric that last forever.
Remember - NEVER RUB LINEN.
WHY IS LINEN GOOD
Linen is healing fabric, like wool. But NEVER mix linen and wool together. Although each fabric is healing one - its combination makes our body weaker. At the electronic cellular level, flax/linen cells are highly complementary with human cells. The human cell is capable of completel< dissolving a flax cell. It is also discovered by scientists that linen fibers reflect light. The measurment of linen fabric measures 5.000 signature frequency (Nobel prize winning Dr. Otto Warburg identified signature frequemcy numbers of the average human at 70-90. All results with nubers less than 50 were identified as the signature of frequency of chronic disease and less than 15 was identified with those having a diagnosted incurable condition) and other fabrics like organic cotton have 100, bleached and coloured cotton has 40, silk has 10, polyester, acrylic, spandex, lycra, ciscose and nylon measures 0 and reflect no light.
Linen is super absorbant, does not cause allergic reactions and is helful in treating a number of allergic disorders, it helps us reduce fever. Linen is an excellent filter protecting against chemical exposure, noise and dust. It is antystatic. Linen is resistent to fungus and bacteria and is an effective barrier for some diseases. Linen posseses high air permeability and heat conductivity properties. And did you know that silica present in flax fiber protects linen against rotting. What about dirt? Dirt is rejected by linen because of its structure. Linen can be washed in cold or in hot water - no damage can be done.
In summay: Linen has a wonderful character and this are linen properties
- excellent absorbing qualities
- antistatic properties of flax/linen
- hard and long lasting fabric
- ecologial - the most sustainable fabric on Earth
- antibacterial
- healing fabric