Handbook "Linen history at a glance"

Linen fabrics are considered to be among the oldest in the world. The first traces of linen use date back more than 35,000 years. This fact is confirmed by a prehistoric Georgian cave where yarns and remnants of fabrics resembling today's flax were found. Shortly afterwards, a similar discovery was made in Switzerland. In ancient Egypt, flax was reserved for the highest classes and symbolised wealth and luxury. The Phoenicians, brought flax to Ireland around 900 BC. Not much later, the people of ancient Rome set up the first ‘factories’ to produce flax products. Today, flax cultivation can be found on all continents, especially in temperate countries. Flax is grown in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, France, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary or Romania. And also in Egypt and China. In Poland, fibre flax, characterised by fewer seeds than low flax, is grown. Older generations associate linen with a rough and cold fabric. Originally, the resulting material was stiff and grey. Fortunately, technology and new possibilities for processing linen have produced a fabric that is soft, body-friendly and offers many possibilities in the fashion world. Today, linen is back in favour and provides a natural counterbalance to synthetic materials that are harmful to our health. Without compromising the aesthetics of the form and the high quality of the clothes made. Clothes made from linen are becoming increasingly popular with people who live consciously and appreciate the values of nature.