Flax is a food and fiber crop, also known as common flax or linseed. It is a highly useful and easily grown crop. It takes around 90 days to grow, sowing starts in March and by the end of June it’s ready to be harvested. Flax needs no irrigation and requires zero litres of water to produce one kg. A fast growing plant, which doesn’t need any pesticides, insecticides or genetic modifications to cultivate. Commonly grown in cooler regions of the world, flax fibers are highly regarded in textile, nutrition, paper and oil industries.
The oil extracted from the seeds is known as linseed oil. It makes the food healthier and it is also used in cosmetics, soaps and paint. The husks of the seeds after extracting oil are used as an animal fodder. After fishing out the fibers, the woody stalks can be utilized in house insulation due to its high absorbency. It is a zero wastage plant and I like to call it “The Wonder Crop”. The seeds are called superfood due the numerous benefits it contains. They are gluten-free, packed with dietary fibers, lowers cholesterol levels and helps reduce body weight.
But we aren’t here for the nutritional benefits of flax seeds, I want to take you on the journey of flax fiber and enlighten you about it. These fibers are extricated from the bast of the stem of the flax plants. Soft, luscious, lustrous and supple, flax fibers are processed in two ways for industrial use; long line fibers and short fibers.
Long line fibers are top quality and used in the manufacturing of high value linen attire, whereas the short fibers were considered as waste from long line fibers but now used in making lower value products. Long line fibers make qualities like lace, sheeting and damasks. These fine grade qualities are used in making lien pillowcases, bed sheets, men and women clothing and much more. Short fibers make coarser grades used in manufacturing of rope, twine or canvas. Flax fiber is also used in the paper industry to make rolling paper for cigarettes, bank notes and tea bags.
Although flax oil and fibers are obtained from the same plant, the same plant can’t be used for both. In order to have the best quality oil, the harvest must be done after the plant matures fully, but for the best quality fibers for industrial use the harvest must be done before the crop fully matures. Thus, two distinctive types of flax are grown for two different uses.
Flax fibers give us top quality linen which is highly cherished in textile industries. A choice of royalty and upper echelons of European society, linen oozes value, eminence, strength, durability and plush softness. The cultivation, harvest and manufacturing of linen fabric are all arduous, strenuous and time taking, it requires an experienced personnel not just any amateur. Harvesting flax has to be done tactfully as one can’t just cut off the plant; we have to pull out the crop in order to preserve the long fibers essential to a top notch linen fabric. After this the time-consuming task of retting starts in which the crop is partially rotten to loosen fibers from the woody tissues. Then the process of scutching and hackling makes sure that flax fibers are separated from straw, woody shoots and short fibers. The weaving process is also slow as linen fibers are non-resilient so the spinning is done slowly to avoid breakage, thus increasing cost and producing fewer yields. Even though the whole process is very straining, the end result is mighty fine and the linen fabric we obtain is totally worth the money we pay over the counter.
The main rival of linen is cotton, both of which are considered as the best materials for textiles and apparels. Cotton is more readily available, is grown by various countries, is produced relatively easier compared to linen, has good insulation, absorbency and costs way less than linen.
On the other hand, linen is regarded as the best quality material in Europe, where it is mainly produced. Linen has a natural style, plushness and patina to it but it is not only about the looks and feels.
Linen versus Cotton
The durability of linen had to be the first point, as it is 30% stronger than cotton. Linen apparels will last you a very long time and will tend to be more soft and luxurious over time. In Europe linens have been a-hand-me-down for centuries.
Another amazing quality of linen is that it becomes softer and comfortable over time. The more it is used and washed the better it becomes, now that’s a great quality in anything. The farming of flax fibers is very cheap and environmentally safe as it hardly requires any water, pesticides or fertilizers. Cotton on the other hand requires a lot of water and fertilizers.
For the people who are prone to allergies this one's for you. Linen fabric has a weave that doesn’t allow dust and allergens to penetrate or settle in the fibers. It is an all-natural fabric that actually repels dirt!! Cotton is also a natural fabric but it is deprived of any such quality.
The insulating properties of linen are just incredible and astounding to me. It can absorb up to 20% of its weight’s moisture before feeling wet (wow!). This means that no wet, sweaty and smelly apparels. Linen fabric has microscopic cuts in it which has light massaging properties. Imagine resting on linen pillowcases and bed sheets after a long tiring day.
Linen fabric adjusts well with the seasonal changes, in summers it becomes light, airy, easy breezy and cool and in winters in traps and locks warmth. It is an insulator gifted by Mother Nature. Cotton is quiet one toned and has no such insulating properties, sadly.
Linen is not a fabric it is an experience; many people shy away from it mainly due to the price and wrinkles. But I would totally suggest it as it is an investment will always pay you and make you deeply satisfied and comfortable.
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