Linen Fabrics | Linwood

Our linen fabrics are very easy to maintain, and we offer detailed care instructions to ensure your linen fabric stays looking its best. Most of our pure linen fabrics are machine washable – which makes them perfect for loose covers; simply allow for up to 3% shrinkage – and they tend to become softer and more comfortable with each wash.

Linen is one of the most inherently sustainable fabrics available. Made from the flax plant – which, unlike cotton, requires no additional water other than rainwater – it can be grown in poor soil and is resilient to pests. The linen yarn produced is incredibly strong, which means that it is made to last, and nothing from the flax plant goes to waste: a common by-product of flax is linseed oil, which is often used in wood treatment products. While we haven’t yet developed a manufacturing process to recycle linen into new fabrics, it can be turned into paper and insulation materials for the car industry. Our extensive range of linen fabrics includes Elba, a timeless collection of plains that have been dyed and tumbled for a relaxed feel; Small Prints, an array of small-scale versatile patterns; and The English Garden and Belleville, collections showcasing botanical prints.

The durability of all our fabrics is measured by the universally recognised Martindale rub count test, which identifies how much wear and tear a fabric will take before there is a noticeable change in its appearance. Most of our pure linen fabrics have a score of between 25,000 and 30,000 rub counts, which falls into the category of heavy domestic use, making them suitable for all household pieces as well as light commercial use (the exception is our Belleville collection of linen prints, which has a rub count score of 20,000, placing it in the category of general domestic use). If you are searching for an exceptionally strong fabric, it may be worth considering a linen mix that sees linen blended with other yarns for added strength: an example is our Orta design, a textural plain that blends linen with viscose and polyester to create an extremely robust fabric with a Martindale rub test of 100,000, which falls in the category of severe contract use.

As well as its fantastic eco credentials and its durability, linen is renowned for its exceptional breathability and natural temperature regulation, which makes it ideal for warm climates. Linen fabric holds pattern beautifully and it drapes superbly, so it is a wonderful choice for soft furnishings such as curtains. Linen fabrics have a subtle texture that brings a tactile quality and a refined simplicity to any scheme.