It is a linen-based textile that is predominantly used for
home applications. While it is related to cotton, it is made from fibers
derived from the stems of the cotton plant rather than the balls that grow near
the cotton seeds. healthbeautystudio
Garments are desirable in hot and humid times. In contrast
to cotton, which tends to retain moisture over a noticeable period, it dries
quickly, helping to reduce heat retention in extremely hot conditions.
However, production requires considerably more time and
resources than cotton, which has led to a relentless decline in the popularity
of this canvas that began with the invention of cotton gin. However, unique
desirable attributes have prevented a total cessation of global production of
this textile, and certain countries, such as China, continue to manufacture in
reasonably large quantities.
Before proceeding, it is essential to clarify the difference
between the sentences "linen" and "linen." While
"linen" is used to refer to the fiber based on which is generally
used in household items and certain forms of clothing, "linen" is a
sentence that people use to refer to certain genres of articles. For the home
and garments, but it can be made of fibers other than fiber. The sentence
"white clothes" goes back to a season when practically all lingerie,
sheets and towels were made of linen, but today, this anachronistic sentence
can sometimes be confusing.
History of flax
Although the evidence is scarce since prehistoric times, it
seems that the Neolithic peoples of Europe made linen textiles as early as
thirty-six years ago. Consequently, linen is one of the oldest textiles, and
its history can go back even beyond the oldest patent that modern archeology
has uncovered.
The next piece of historical evidence of the use of flax
comes from old residences that were built on the shores of Swiss lakes some ten
years ago, and according to archaeologists, flax was first trained in old
Mesopotamia. While the use of linen for clothing in Mesopotamia was eminently
reserved for the ruling class, the use of linen in Old Egypt was considerably
more widespread.
Due to the Egyptian time, it was necessary to conceive
garments that would resist the rays of the sun and leave a rapid cooling of the
sweat. As it is naturally white, this fabric was an obvious choice, and its
breathability and lack of moisture retention made it quickly become Egypt's
most popular and valuable textile.
Indeed, the ancient Egyptians sometimes used flax as a bona
fide currency. This canvas was also used to make mortises for funerals and wrappers
for mummies.
The old Hellenes used it to make clothing and household
items, and the Phoenicians later introduced production to Western Europe.
However, historical records suggest that there was no effort on the part of the
European powers to regulate flax production among farming communities until the
12th century AD.
Later, Ireland became the center of European production, and
by the 18th century, the city of Belfast became famous as
"Linenopolis" due to its thriving trade. Linen continued to be popular
throughout the colonial season, but as cotton production became cheaper and
simpler, the central role it used to play in Europe's textile economy gradually
diminished.
Today, he is primarily a niche product that continues in
production to make a handful of textile products. Despite its rich history, it
is no longer in production due to the costly and time-consuming processes used
to make this fabric. Ironically, production setbacks originally discouraged
production thousands and thousands of years ago; Although the challenges facing
line producers today are quite different from those of old, this fabric is
still fragile and expensive to generate.
How is it made?
The constituent material of the fabric is cellulose fiber
found in the stems of plants. Like the stems of many related plants, the stems
consist of a woody, stemmed inner section and a fibrous, fibrous outer section.
To prepare for production, manufacturers of this fiber begin
by separating the fibers from the woody interior of the stems. Traditionally,
this step has been achieved by soaking the stems raw, but today manufacturers
can use chemicals to achieve exactly the same effect. Before the fibers are
spun into yarn, these chemicals are washed away, but residual toxic substances
can continue in the chemically separated fiber.
Plantation
The flax plants are ready to be harvested after about a
hundred days of development. Since the plants do not accept heat, they must be
planted in the coolest part of the year to avoid the death of the harvest. Development
Currently, seeds are used to sowing with machines. As plants
do not effectively prevent the incursion of weeds, herbicides and tillage are
generally used to avoid reduced crop yields. Harvest
By the time the stems are yellow and their seeds are coppery,
these plants are ready to be harvested. Although it is possible to harvest flax
by hand, it is customary to use machines for this process. Fiber separation
After harvesting the stems, they are processed through a
machine that removes the leaves and seeds. Manufacturers then remove the
fibrous outer stalk of flax from its soft, woody interior. This process is
called enriamiento, and unless it is carried out in a specialist way, the
fragile fibers used for textile production could be damaged. Breaking
Then, the decomposed stalks break, which separates the
unusable outer fibers of the stalks from their useable inner fibers. To achieve
this step, the stems are driven by rollers that flatten them, and then rotating
blades remove the outer fibers from the stems. Hairstyle
Now that the inner fibers are separated from the other
fibers, they can be combed into fine strands. When the fibers have been combed,
they will be ready for spinning. Spinning
Spinning used to be done with a foot-operated wheel, but
today producers use industrial machines for this process. To weave the fibers,
these short, combed fibers are connected with devices called spreaders, and the
resulting ropes, called rovings, are then ready to be spun. Winding
After being spun on a weaving machine, the resulting yarn is
wound onto a bobbin. To ensure that the linen yarn does not unravel, this
winding process must be carried out in humid and wet conditions, and the spun
yarn is passed through a hot water bath to further ensure the cohesion of the
yarn. Drying
Lastly, the manufacturers dry the finished yarn and wind it
on bobbins. The yarn is then ready to be dyed, treated and transformed into
clothing, household items or other types of textile products.
Applications
Historically, linen was one of the most popular textile
products on the planet. From Old Egypt to Renaissance Ireland, many ethnic
groups used linen as their predominant source of fiber for clothing and
household items.
Today, linen is used for many of the exact same purposes
that were used historically, but this fiber forms a drastically smaller
percentage of the global textile market. In addition to this, many of the
original applications, such as shirts and pants, have been largely replaced by
cotton.
In warmer times, however, flax is still used to generate
everyday clothing in large quantities. People living near the equatorial zones
can benefit from the high degree of moisture absorption in addition to its low
moisture retention profile, and the natural white color of this fabric
inherently reflects the sun's rays that induce heat.
Manufacturers can use flax to make just about anything
generally made of cotton or wool. To serve as an example, this canvas can be
used to make shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, jackets, blazers, vests and a wide
variety of other informal and formal garments. In addition to this, linen
continues to be a popular material for underwear and lingerie, and is also
generally used in nightgowns and bathrobes.
Outside of the clothing field, it continues to be popular as
a household material. It is uniquely common to find made napkins and
tablecloths, and while cotton is more popular for towels these days, it is also
possible to find ready-made hand towels, kitchen towels, and bath towels.
Bedding is another field in which cotton has supplanted
linen, but it is still possible to find pillowcases and sheets. An advantage of
linen in bedding is the durability of this textile; it is possible to achieve a
greater number of threads in linen than in cotton without encountering
durability problems. One of the only industrial applications of linen is the
production of paintings for painting.
Where is it made?
Like most textiles, China is today the largest producer of
flax. However, the production of high quality flax products continues to be an
essential part of the ethnic groups of many European countries, and Ireland,
Italy and Belgium also continue to be essential producers of flax. Linen used
predominantly for household items is also generated in the US in partially
large quantities.
How much does linen fabric cost?
No data is available on the cost of raw linen yarn per
pound, but costs for woven linen canvas range from US $ 5 to US $ 12 per yard.
At these costs, flax is one of the most expensive natural fibers on the planet,
but it is incontrovertible that flax continues to be in enormous demand for
specific applications.
Types of linen fabric
While each and every linen weaving genre is derived from
processed and also spun flax fiber, there are 4 primary alterations in weaving
techniques that result in different flax weave genres:
Damascene
linen This linen fabric is ornate and fragile, and is formed
on a jacquard loom to generate a final result akin to embroidery. Damask linen
is not developed for everyday use, and is more common in ornamental items.
Flat-weave linen Flat-weave
linen is generally used to make tea towels, cotton towels,
and hand towels. As it is partially woven, it is very durable, but does not
suffer a significant decrease in durability.
Loose-woven
linen Loose-woven linen is highly absorbent, but it is the
least durable linen fabric. It is generally used to make reusable diapers and
sanitary napkins. Cover Linen Linen
garments are usually made of sheet flax due to its smooth,
non-textured surface and tight weave. This kind of linen tends to have a
greater number of threads than other forms of linen fabric.
Is linen recyclable?
The primary environmental concern in relation to flax
production is the release of the chemicals used in the aging process into the
surrounding ecosystems. The most common is the use of alkalis or oxalic acid to
separate the flax fibers from the woody interior of the flax stalks, and
although the chemical curing of flax is indisputably faster and more efficient,
both alkali and oxalic acid are toxic in partially low concentrations.
Accordingly, water-quenching flax stalks is preferred for
environmental reasons, and to be certified organic, the flax fiber typically
needs to be water-quenched. However, since flax is already such an expensive
fiber, water rejuvenation simply combines with this increased cost to make
organic flax less affordable for most users.
Aside from concerns about the release of toxic chemicals
into the environment, there may also be concerns about land use in flax
production. Specifically, most of the cropping processes used to grow flax
degrade the soil, which can lead to soil erosion and expansion of agricultural
land into neighboring wilderness areas.
In addition to this, the majority of textile production
throughout the world is inhumane. The vast majority of textile workers are
primarily slave laborers who are forced to endure terrible working conditions
for poor pay. As a result, the ability of flax workers to contribute to local
economies is diminished, and land management takes a back seat in the pressing
daily struggle for survival.
However, it is generally one of the least damaging textiles
for the environment. In contrast to synthetic textiles, natural fabrics such as
linen are biodegradable, meaning that their constituent molecules are
reabsorbed into the environment in a matter of years rather than centuries. Nor
do natural fibers contribute to the current microfiber pollution crisis in the
hydrosphere, which threatens aquatic and human life.
If flax is grown in accordance with proper land management,
it is not harmful to the environment. However, to meet the global demand for
flax products without incurring prohibitive overhead costs, most flax producers
choose to employ inexpensive processes that can be harmful to the environment.
A plurality of linen fabric certifications are available to
ensure that linen fibers are generated with sustainable and responsible means.
As an example, flax can be certified organic by both the US Department of
Agriculture and the EU organic certification program, as long as it conforms to
the organic farming rules imposed by those organizations. .
However, many users rely more on the certifications offered
by the Global Rule for Organic Textiles (GOTS). This non-governmental
organization (Non-Governmental Organization) focuses particularly on textile
products, which means that it imposes stricter organic rules that focus
particularly on the peculiarities of textile production.
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