Textile and flax
Linen is a fabric that is widely used in the textile industry. The textile flax is different from the oil flax, unlike the latter, which is cultivated for its seeds, the textile flax is cultivated for its textile fiber. The largest production of fibre flax in the world is in Europe, especially in the north of France, in Belgium and in the Netherlands. Normandy is the region of France that produces 50% of the world's flax fiber, which positions the country as the world's leading producer of fibre flax.
The flax is obtained after transformations of the flax fibers during the passage in spinning and weaving. The spinning is done by twisting the flax fibers and the weaving consists in interlacing the threads parallel to each other.
Linen is a quality material that has several advantages and remarkable properties. First, linen is a resistant fabric that resists wear and tear and does not deform over time, rather it becomes more flexible and beautiful over time. This fabric owes its resistance to its long fibers which are the strongest of the vegetable fibers. Linen is easy to care for, does not lint after machine washing, is stain resistant and does not tear.
In addition, linen is a thermoregulatory fabric, it adapts to the seasons, in winter, it retains the heat that the body produces when it is cold and in summer it evacuates heat and moisture. Flax fibers have a capacity to absorb water and dry quickly. They are also used in the design of insulating materials because of their insulating power.
Flax fiber does not cause allergies, it is antifungal and antibacterial. It has soothing and relaxing properties, which guarantee a good quality of sleep, and is suitable for people with sensitive skin. Like other vegetable textile fibers, linen is easily recycled when not mixed with other fabrics, products from the flax plant are biodegradable as the latter.
The quality and properties of flax fibers guarantee a quality fabric with a huge potential and a varied use in various industrial sectors. Nowadays the use of linen is not limited to luxury clothing, more and more products are made with linen, we had the household linen (sheets, covers, towels and dish towels) and furniture (linen sofa fabrics, pillowcases, curtains, and carpet) and linen bags.
The quality and shape of linen fabric varies depending on the location of the material and the use of the fabric. Linen clothing is made from long linen fibers and the spinning is done in fine yarns. Unlike furniture linen which is made from short flax fibers and spinning made in big yarn.
Reputed to be rough and to crease easily, the linen fabric softens with the passing of time.