Linen is an ecological natural fiber that is mainly grown in France. In addition to this, the fabric obtained after processing is light, wear-resistant, absorbent and easy to maintain, which makes it a perfect material for sportswear. Today, linen production only represents 2.4% of the world's production of natural fibers compared to 75% for cotton. However, its cultivation has experienced a real boom over the last ten years, when it has increased by 130%.
Linen allows to make perfect fabrics for sports. More and more brands are starting to use linen in the production of their sportswear because it offers exceptional comfort, its natural technical properties allow to regulate body temperature, make clothes more breathable, anti-odor, thermo-regulating and more resistant (for example, linen is 30% more resistant than cotton).
Why is linen such an eco-friendly material?
What explains why linen has a very low environmental impact is that its entire manufacturing process is eco-friendly. Indeed, from the cultivation to the manufacturing of the fabric, linen has everything going for it.
To begin with, flax is a local plant, in fact, it is a natural plant material cultivated mainly in temperate zones close to the sea such as Belgium and the North of France. Moreover, 80% of the world's flax production is French!
But that's not all, flax cultivation consumes very little water, in fact the plant can grow without irrigation, rainwater is enough for it. Similarly, flax requires little or no pesticides to grow.
The little (or big) plus is that one hectare of flax retains 3.7 tons of CO2 each year! In addition, it respects and improves by 20 to 30% the quality of the soils in which it is cultivated.
Once the culture is finished, it's time to manufacture the fabric. Here again, the environmental impact is extremely low! Each production stage consumes very little energy.
In short, the production of this fiber is completely biodegradable and recyclable because no waste is generated and the residues from the transformation are composted.
The transition from plant to fabric
The history of flax begins in spring, when the seeds are sown. After 120 to 150 days, the first flowers appear and it is at this time, in June during flowering, that the natural fibers reach their maximum size, the longer they are, the more resistant they are.
The flax is then pulled out (and not mown) so as not to damage the plant and then it is placed on the ground in a windrow (symmetrically) - which makes the field very pretty. Once on the ground, the flax will be left all summer to rest. This step is called retting, it is the first phase of transformation of the plant into fiber! It is the alternation of rain and sun that will allow the fibers to be naturally extracted from the stem.
The second phase of transformation of the plant into fiber is scutching. This stage takes place in September and corresponds to the mechanical gathering and beating of the flax. Once scutched, the flax fiber is stretched and then polished in the form of ribbons intended to be spun.
Spinning flax fiber can be done in two different ways depending on how it is ultimately used.
The first method is “wet” spinning. The flax is soaked to facilitate the sliding of the fibers and to obtain fine threads perfect for clothing and household linen.
The second method is “dry” spinning which allows thicker threads to be obtained, allowing ropes to be created for example.
Finally, the linen goes through stages of weaving, knitting and finishing (process of bleaching, coloring and printing the fabric).
Characteristics of linen
It has many advantages: it is a light, dirt-repellent, resistant, absorbent, thermoregulating and hypoallergenic fabric. It can absorb up to 20% of humidity, which makes it a more absorbent material than cotton and a piece of choice during the summer. Linen being a solid fabric, it does not deform and resists very well over time!
Linen can be combined with other materials to improve the quality of the garment and make it more supple, less wrinkled...
Our linen products
Our cap is made of linen and cotton. This mix makes it possible to have a soft and resistant material. It is an ideal cap for sports because it is breathable. Discover the JOG & JIM cap!
How to care for your linen sportswear?
To preserve the softness and comfort of linen sportswear, we first recommend that you take into account that linen, like any natural fabric, retains much less odors than polyester. You should therefore always ask yourself whether or not you need to wash your garment! Once this question has been carefully considered, linen sportswear can generally be machine washed at a temperature of 30°C to 40°C with a mild, eco-friendly detergent. Remember to turn them inside out to avoid friction and preserve their color.
After washing, it is best to air dry linen activewear rather than putting it in a dryer. If you must use a dryer, use a low heat setting to avoid shrinking the clothes.
Finally, to keep your linen sportswear soft and supple, you can iron it on a low heat with steam. This will also help remove wrinkles and maintain the shape of the garment.
With these few simple tips, you can extend the life of your linen sportswear and keep it looking fresh and comfortable even after many washes. So, don't hesitate any longer and take full advantage of all the benefits of linen sportswear!