The temperate European climate provides the ideal alternation of sun and rain for a large and strong flax plant. Because the longer and stronger the fiber, the better the quality of the linen. More than 75% of the flax fibers used worldwide to weave linen fabrics come from France, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands. Even today, the best linen craftsmen can still be found in Western Europe. Transforming linen into quality linen is an art. But when is the quality of linen? What should you pay attention to when choosing the right linen bedding?
1. Look at the weight of the linen fabric
To find out more about the thickness of the fabric, we look at the g/m2 of the fabrics. G/m2 represents the weight per square meter of fabric and says something about the density with which the fabric is woven.
We can basically divide fabrics into three weight classes. Of course, you can break them down even further, but in this article we break them down into three weight classes:
- Thin/lightweight fabrics up to 190g/m2
- Heavyweight fabrics medium weighing between 200 g/m2 and 230 g/m2
- Heavyweight fabrics over 230 g/m2
The higher the basis weight number, the denser the fabric and the sturdier it will feel, but it is not necessarily the case that all fabrics over 230 g/m2 are heavy and thick. It also has to do with the composition of the substance. For example, there are 265 g/m2 fabrics that feel lighter/supple than a 230 g/m2 fabric with a cotton satin composition.
2. What fiber is used, how is the fabric woven, how is the fabric finished?
To know if a substance belongs to light, medium or heavy fabrics, we have to dive a little deeper into the density. The factors that determine the weight and therefore the density of the fabric are the type of fabric used, the fiber used and the finish/quality of the fabric.
Fiber Type
Density is determined by the fibers used during manufacturing. For example, linen is much lighter than cotton. As a result, a fabric with linen can be woven with a high density, but still feels lighter and airier because this is a property specific to linen.
Type of weave< /h4>
Linen is a strong fiber. Its woody and naturally quite stiff structure means that expert knowledge of the material is necessary to weave a high-quality fabric. A high-quality linen fabric can last for years and has high abrasion resistance.
Fabric finish/quality
Sometimes some starch is added to the product during the process, this gives the fabric more strength and therefore the weight is higher. However, the starch will usually disappear after a first wash.
The quality of the fabric plays an important role. All the fabrics you will find at Pirilana have been thoroughly tested and meet the highest quality standards.