Compared to cotton, linen is more durable, absorbent, and quick to dry. These characteristics make linen valuable for use in clothing and make it comfortable to wear in hot weather. Other distinguishing qualities include its propensity to wrinkle.
The history of linen textiles dates back thousands of years, making them some of the oldest textiles in the world. The usage of woven linen garments made from wild flax may have been practiced more than 30,000 years ago, according to dyed flax fibers discovered in a cave in Southeast Europe. The Bible makes reference to linen, which was employed in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. The linen industry played a significant role in the economies of various European nations in the 18th century and beyond, as well as the American colonies.
Even when composed of cotton, hemp, or other non-flax fibers, textiles with a linen-like weave texture are also sometimes referred to as “linen.”
