News / Events
LINEN HISTORY
16/06/2015
It is the
oldest ever existed vegetable fiber:
LINEN was born 5.000 years before Christ. At first,
it was used to manufacture clothes for nobles and aristocrats. After, it was
employed on a larger scale. Linen is
obtained from linum usitatissimus a plant which grows between April and May and
blossoms between June and July. July is the perfect time when the processing
phase starts and ends in winter: at the
beginning the seed - from whose trunk derives a special lineseed oil used in
cosmetic and healthcare field - are
separated. The trunk of the part of the plant from which the textile fiber is
extracted. Trunks are
macerated in running water for fifteen days then dehydrated to sunlight. So, a dedicated gear eliminates the wooden part thus disclosing the fibers.
Then, the raw linen is combed, then the longest fibers are separated for the
luxury production while the shortest and messiest ones are used for consumer
goods and coatings. Finally, in
order to soften, fine down and bleach the bundle, it is boiled that is when a
textile fiber was born. Linen is a
world known fiber giving value and distinction to this fabric that has got
different qualities: absorbing humidity, it is hypoallergenic, it is resistant
and it has a long lasting softness and quality. Linen is
eco-friendly, too: unlike different fabrics it has a minimal environmental
impact (it doesn’t need intensive
irrigation, few fertilizers or pesticides, it absorbs carbon plus it is a
completely biodegradable cloth) and the whole plant is used, that’s to say
there are no wastes. Lastly,
linen is a prestigious long lasting eco-friendly product. In this picture: Idea (80% linen and 20% viscose) from The Shape Collection and Dorotea (100% linen) from Purity Collection.
