We are pretty obsessed with linen at Bigelow Lane. We love how it's made, how it feels and how it looks — and so do our kids! But linen is more than just a fabric; it's 100% natural and a beacon of sustainability in our modern world. In moments of overwhelm, I feel my personal wardrobe choices are just a drop in the ocean, but every choice each of us makes has the potential to cause a chain reaction. Our decisions influence our kids, our family members, our friends and acquaintances, etc. And theirs may well influence us.
So to that end, here's why I love linen:
Natural. There is a lot of attention paid to the foods we feed our kids and the various creams (ex: sunscreen) we slather them in, yet we tend to lose sight of the fact that clothes are in direct contact with our bodies. Our skin is our largest organ! Ultra-processed and synthetic fabrics leach micro-plastics and chemicals, can cause rashes and allergies, or worsen pre-existing skin conditions. Linen, on the other hand, is entirely derived from the flax plant, naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal, hypo-allergenic and thermoregulating. Fun fact: I recently learned that linen cloth has microscopic breaks throughout the fabric and that these breaks are believed to offer a subtle massaging effect, helping our skin and body to relax. No wonder kids and adults alike feel so calm and relaxed in our linen clothes!
Nontoxic. The linen we sell at Bigelow Lane is free of harmful chemicals and dyes. Our linen is EUROPEAN FLAX® certified, guaranteeing that the flax is grown following strict sustainability and traceability standards by local farmers committed to reducing their ecological footprint through zero irrigation, zero waste, and growing GMO-free. This includes using both natural and traditional methods for retting and scutching the flax with no chemicals whatsoever. Our linen also carries OEKO-TEX® certification, which means that from yarn to finished product, it is rigorously tested for more than 100 harmful (yet commonly used) chemicals. And thus, it is guaranteed 100% natural, free of phthalates, formaldehyde, pesticides, heavy metals, with no coatings and no chemical finishes. Fun fact (except not fun): Europe has restricted the use of AZO dyes in all clothing, toys, food contact materials, and cosmetics since September 2003, due to their carcinogenic properties. What is the U.S. waiting for??
Low maintenance. Linen clothes do not require ironing, fancy washing products nor expensive dry cleaning. In fact, they are pretty much effortless to care for: toss them in the laundry machine, tumble dry on low heat, or hang them on a rack (or drape over a chair like me!) to air dry. Linen doesn’t pile, dries super fast and loses most of its wrinkles in the process. It is also dirt and stain resistant, meaning you can get by with just the occasional spot cleaning for the most part. That said, linen washes better than any other natural material whilst maintaining its quality, and the more it’s washed, the softer and lovelier it becomes. Fun fact: I most often just use a tiny dab of whatever dish soap I have on hand to spot clean.
Breathable. Linen clothes don’t stick (ick!) to your skin in hot humid weather. Linen’s molecular structure acts as a low-tech cooling system. Linen fabric is ideal for hot and humid climates thanks to its breathable open weave structure, and can absorb as much as 20% of its weight before feeling damp or wet. Similar to wool’s superpowers, linen can even adapt to one’s body temperature and act as a natural insulator to keep us warm when needed. For these same reasons, linen is especially great for sleeping. Fun fact: In “Moralia,” his first-century collection of essays, the Greek philosopher Plutarch “The flax springs from the earth, which is immortal; it yields edible seeds, and supplies a plain and cleanly clothing, which does not oppress by the weight required for warmth. It is suitable for every season.”
Durable. Linen fabric is one of the strongest natural fibers ever known. It is up to 3x stronger than cotton and gets even stronger when wet. Linen clothes last a very long time (quite literally a lifetime), growing softer and lovelier with every wash. Its durability, and the fact that it gets better with age, means linen clothing rarely needs replacing and makes it one of our strongest contenders against fast fashion. Fun fact: US dollar bill is 25% linen for its strength.
Low Impact. Flax, the resilient plant behind linen, is a low-maintenance crop that requires minimal fertilizer and no pesticides, thrives in diverse soil conditions and needs 60% less water than cotton. Every single part of the flax plant can be used in making all types of products, from clothing to biofuels (hooray for zero waste!). And as mentioned above, linen clothes are naturally strain-repellent, meaning less frequent washing, which means less water consumption and better overall for the planet. Perhaps the best thing about linen is that it's a completely biodegradable fabric, so even if it does get discarded it will decompose naturally and won’t end up in a landfill adding to carbon emissions and water contamination. Fun Fact (except not fun): Over 65% of our clothing in the U.S. is made from plastic and takes hundreds of years to biodegrade in landfills, while linen starts to break down in two weeks if you bury it in soil.
Timeless. Chic and timeless garments will always look stylish and presentable, while trendy pieces are fleeting. Linen clothes fall firmly in the former category. They are always in style, have wide appeal, and work for all climates and occasions. Linen can be luxurious, formal and edgy, as easily as it can be highly practical, loose, and flowy. In every case, linen clothing keeps us all (kids and adults!) feeling comfortable, confident, and relaxed. Fun fact: Post-Ziggy Stardust, David Bowie often opted for dapper linen suiting, as did Georgia O’Keefe, albeit hers were utilitarian smock alternatives that took no time to put on and got her out painting asap.
I could go on, but I’ll stop for now:) Check out our linen clothes for kids (they’ll thank you!) and dig out your own linen garb. You’ll be glad you did!
