Some History: From Flax Plant to Linen Fabric

Linen fabric is one of the oldest in the world. It is made from the stems of the flax plant and was a widely used and very important textile before cotton and other fibers. To produce linen fabric only the best fibers are used but other parts are not wasted as well as this is why linen fabric is eco-friendly and flax plant appreciated that much. The left over parts - linseeds, oil, straw, lower-quality fiber are used in producing a wide range of products: from lino, soap, healthy oil to paper and even cattle feed.

Best conditions to grow flax plants are well-drained soil and a cool, humid environment. European climate is perfect for this –flax grown in Western and Eastern Europe is regarded the best for best quality linen fiber. Flax (aka common flax or linseed or by scientifical name Linum usitatissimum) is a member of the plant family Linaceae.

The second word of its Latin scientific name apparently means “most useful” and this let us guess how important this plant must have been to ancient people. Recent discoveries of dyed and knotted flax fibers in a prehistoric cave in the Republic of Georgia show that the plant was already used by humans from unbelievably early times - 30,000 B.C.Like many other important fabric crops and domestic plants flax originally flourished in Middle East, Nowadays it is widely cultivated.

Linen cloth made from flax plant was an expensive thing to buy. In Egypt mummies were wrapped with linen fabrics and sometimes it even was used as currency. Linen fabric was considered the symbol of light, purity, beauty and abundance of wealth. In European Teutonic mythology flax plant was associated with Hulda, the Goddess of Weaving, who is said to be first who taught the humans how to grow, spin and weave flax plant into linen cloth. In Mediaeval times the fabric and fiber made from flax was used for wide array of purposes: clothes, sacks, bed sheets, sails, fishing nets, strong rope, strings for bows, bags and purses were made among other things. Also it was widely believed that flax flowers have protective powers and could guard against witchcraft, black magic and sorcery. Linen fabric is also mentioned in the Bible - it is said Christ wore linen as he lay on his tomb.

Nowadays linen fabric is not losing its appeal – lots of linen home textile items are made each and every day – from linen bed linen, linen bathroom linen, linen table linen to linen clothes and accessories.

Linen fabric is referred to as "the purest form of fabric“- it bears thousands of years of history and is loved with the same passion today as in ancient days.