Ageing gracefully is always something we have admired here at The Linen Works. Our enduring, pure European linens are celebrated for enhancing over time and, as we age and exceed 10 cherished years in business, we value our long-standing relationships with the European linen industry and its skilled artisans more than ever. 

 
With the increase in linen popularity for the home and wardrobe, we believe in the importance of integrity with the making of our linen which tells a fascinating story. From field to fibre, from yarn to fabric, we continue to invest only in European craftsmanship and its local communities throughout the entire production process. The Linen Works’ 100% linen is not only grown from the flax plant in France and Belgium, but also woven into our products in Europe. We pride ourselves in working with only a handful of established mills and family-run weavers, many of whom have been producing premium linen for over 150-years, to bring you the highest quality of lasting linen into everyday living in a natural, sustainable way. That said, we are hugely proud to supply worldwide and be recognised as the only UK linen brand to have its beautiful, timeless linens stocked in all three of the UK’s most reputable luxury department stores since 2015: Harrods, Selfridges & Co and Liberty London.

We hope that this gives you a better, more inspiring understanding of our ethos and close-knit relationship with the linen industry and its exciting prospects for The Linen Works. If you feel that you need a little more information to help you further fall in love with our linen before purchasing with us, please do drop us an email on customercare@thelinenworks.co.uk or call 020 3744 1020 and we will be very happy to express its benefits in full to you.

 

Why Do We Love Linen? 

1 | 100% Natural European Linen
European linen means that the linen is both grown and woven within Europe. All of the flax, which is the plant where the linen fibres are from and which is used to make our products, is grown organically in France and Belgium where the plant is native, and then processed and woven into linen at a number of different mills within Europe using traditional craftsmanship and techniques. Flax needs no irrigation, rainwater is enough for it to grow so growers use less fertilisers or pesticides which make linen a beautifully natural material. 
 
2 | Truly Healthy 
Linen fibres are naturally hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial and antimycotic. It has a natural pH balance which helps to soften and preserve the skin.
 
3 | Magical Fabric
Linen is incredibly absorbent while still feeling dry to the touch. Due to its natural hollow fibres it can absorb much more than any other material including cotton. Linen also absorbs moisture quickly – perfect for kitchen tea towels or bath towels.

4 | Resilient in the Kitchen 
Linen is 30% stronger than cotton which makes it much more durable for usage around the home. In the kitchen for example, after heavy use linen roller towels will still appear crease-free due to the strength of its natural fibres. Tea towels are long-lasting and actually get softer the more they are used. The best part? Linen fibres do not break down and actually get better after 3 years of use, this is why dishes and glasses are always lint free!

5 | So Comfortable
Breathable like a second skin, Linen can help to regulate your temperature. It absorbs moisture in the heat and retains body heat in the cold. Cotton sheets tend to break down after a few years whereas linen actually only starts to shine after 3 years! With our washed linen, we practically fast-forward to the 3 year feeling so you can experience extra softness right now! Amongst other materials, linen bed linen is the smartest choice you can make - it is long-lasting and looks incredibly beautiful the older it gets.  

6 | Love Wrinkles 
Linen does wrinkle because it does not have elastic properties in its fibre. It is 2-3 times stronger than cotton and continues to soften over time. While cotton tends to break down after 3-5 years, linen actually gets increasingly softer after 3 years due to the high moisture absorbency rate of linen fibres. Linen is a lovely gift that can be passed down to generations. 

7 | Tradition
Linen textiles have a long history dating back centuries to the Ancient Egyptians who used linen to mummify the deceased (and look how long they lasted). Woven by hand spun yarn in the past and modern techniques today, there is a rich tradition in its process and method. See our range of Irish Bed Linen which is steeped in heritage - it can only be named 'Irish Linen' if woven in Ireland using traditional craftsmanship.
 
8 | Eco-Friendly
Linen requires less water to grow, fewer resources to process and has more uses for its by-products. It also has a chemical-free finishing compared to cotton, all the reasons why linen is the greener fabric by far to other materials. 

 

What Is Our Linen's Thread Count?

Linen is actually measured in a slightly different way and instead of thread count, linen weight is generally referred to in grams per square metre, or ‘gsm’, so for example, our Duvet Covers and Pillowcases are all 165gsm, while our Fitted Sheets and Table Linen are slightly thicker at 200gsm. The conditions and location in which the flax is grown and the manufacturing process are very much the main factors in assessing linen quality. All of our flax is 100% European; grown in France and Belgium where the plant is native, meaning no irrigation and less pesticides are used in the production of our linen and then woven to the highest quality by skilled craftsmen.

Thread count was primarily invented as a measure for cotton and looks at the amount of thread woven in a square inch of fabric. The linen fibre is derived from the middle of the flax plant, so is naturally thicker than the cotton bols from the cotton plant. If we were to look at thread count, the average linen fabric used for sheeting has a thread count of between 80 and 150, which would be considered low for a cotton sheet. Cotton percale, for example, starts at around a 200 thread count, a result of the finer yarns used, and the finer and thinner the yarns, the more that can squeeze into that square inch, thereby increasing the thread count. With linen, you can only fit so many of these thicker yarns into that same inch.