Welcome to Irish Linen, the information site
Irish Linen is a free information website dedicated to one of the Emerald Isle's greatest export's Irish Linen. Navigate through the website to learn all about Irish Linen including how it is made, where it comes from, its uses including tablecloths, bedding and fashion. Find out how to care for linen and more information on the history of the Irish linen.
What is Irish Linen?
Linen is a fabric that is woven from flax yarns or fibers from the flax plant. Flax also known as common flax, linseed or it binomial name: Linum usitatissimum is an erect annual plant that can grow to be 1.2m tall with slender stems. The fibres run the length of this stem which help give it the upright characteristic.It's appearance is distinctive with glaucous green leaves and pure pale blue flowers with five petals.
More About Irish Linen
View the photo to the right which shows a microscopic close-up of linen fibers, (Linum usitatissimum). It is a bast fiber which grows in bundles. The bundles are then broken apart to obtain the fiber for textiles. The photos shows the visible cell walls.
The fibre strands are released from the cellular stem tissue (a process known as retting) before they are broken and beaten to separate the textile fibres from the plant stem (a mechanical process known as scutching). Fibre are then combed to separate the fibres into long and short fibres (process known as hackling).
The linen fibres are then drafted and doubled, until a slightly twisted sliver of flax fibre has been formed. They then undergo a wet spinning process where the fibres are spun into a yarn. The yarn are then made into various textiles by large manufacturing companies.
Linen is still very popular throughout the world today for household use, such as tablecloths, bedding, napkins, and curtains, as well as for clothing. Irish linen tablecloths are an excellent Irish gift idea and regarded as the finest tablecloths in the world.
Linen in the World of Fashion
Linen is also very popular and versatile fabric in the world of fashion. The natural fabric is known for its lightness and comfort. IT is extreemly popular in warmer countries and climates due to its ability to let the body breathe.
With proper care, linen can be a timelessly stylish addition to your wardrobe. Its popularity is increased due to the fact that linen never goes out of style.
Linen is a favorite fabric of many of the world's top designers. Also popular are blended fabrics made from linen combined with other materials, such as cotton, wool, silk, or synthetic fibers.
Ireland is a leading exporter of linen fabrics; however, linen is increasingly being made and sold throughout the world from countries such as China and .
Wearing Linen
Linen is a very versatile fabric, from business suits to little black evening dresses to casual wear, linen is at home in virtually any setting. You can dress it up or dress it down with some simple accessories. And linen never, ever goes out of style.
Some people avoid linen clothing because of its tendency to wrinkle very easily when worn. For this reason, linen clothing should be packed with care when traveling. These days, some linen clothing manufacturers use a special finish on the linen that reduces wrinkling. Some linen blends are also less prone to wrinkling.
Caring for Your Linen Clothing
While some people prefer to have their linen clothing professionally dry cleaned, some linen clothing can be washed at home by hand or by machine. For best results, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for clothing care.
An advantage to having your linen dry cleaned is that the cleaner will professionally press your clothing as well. If you wash your linen clothing at home, use a hot iron to press the wrinkles out of the fabric. Iron the linen on the wrong side of the fabric or through a cotton handkerchief to protect the fabric’s finish. Do not use a steamer to remove wrinkles from your linen clothing.