BELIEVE IN LINEN

Comfortable, natural, renewable, local, creative, innovative, bio-sourced, sustainable, authentic, traceable, transparent, ethical, luxurious and elegant forever.

Linen is an ancient material dating back to 4500 B.C, representing the first ever textiles developed. As one of the first case studies of fashion, it formed an integral part of the mummifying process by the Egyptians to give the bodies a durable protection along with a symbol of wealth and luxury. At the time, it was even used as currency. 

ITS PRODUCTION 
Linen is made out of flax, where european farmers grow about 80% of the worlds linen supply. Its mainly farmed along the northern coasts of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Flax is a natural product that is very resistant, requiring no irrigation, can grow in poor soil and needs very little to no chemical treatment. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation state that flax uses 13 times less pesticides than potatoes and an impressive 250,000 tonnes of CO2 is retained each year by European flax farming. 

The environmental impact of spinning and weaving flax is virtually zero. All parts of the plant is used without the use of any chemicals with zero harmful waste or by-products. Linen is a fully traceable fabric that’s 100% biodegradable and recyclable.

Water usage is today a big debate and compared to cotton, which required more than 20,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of cotton (equivalent to a single t-shirt, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature), linen only requires the natural precipitation during its production. Cotton is often grown in warm areas with little natural water supply (India, texas etc) whereas linen grows in areas with plenty of rain. 

Many argue that linen lights the path towards sustainable fashion, grown in harmony with nature while drawing on centuries of tradition. Searching for the most sustainable long lasting fabric out there, linen became the obvious choice for Oramai.

LINEN AS THE CHOICE OF SUSTAINABLE FASHION

1. It’s one of the most biodegradable and stylish fabrics in fashion history. 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. It is considered to be a luxury.
2. Linen has durable qualities which makes it a forever piece in your wardrobe. The singularity of the fibre gives it a life that lasts forever and can be passed on to generations.
3. Over time, the fabric becomes softer and more comfortable. Age and wear bring an attractive patina. Pre-washed techniques soften linen’s rigidity and smooth wrinkles, leaving a luxurious feeling for years.
4. Due to its hypoallergenic and antibacterial qualities, it has a natural ability to prevent bacterial growth and is perfect for sensitive skin.
5. Care instructions are easy, where linen can be washed in water by hand or machine, dry-cleaned and steamed. Even at higher temperatures (see our care instructions)
6. In the winter linen becomes and insulator through its thermoregulating qualities and together with blends and brushed finishes it give a cosy feel. 
7. For the summer the hollow flax fibre allows for ventilation and air to circulate freely. It absorbs up to 20% of its own weight, dispersing sweat leaving the skin feeling soft and cool. 
8. It can easily by dyed into rich colours due to its excellent absorption and is a great fabric to work with for natural dyes