We are two months into 2022 and ready for the annual springing forward of days. Longer light and warmer nights are on the horizon again. Let’s welcome this seasonal refresh with linens, pastels, and more zero-waste as we continue on our never ending purpose to further our green rituals for Self and Planet. That said, let’s talk about Linen – a dual-op fabric that keeps you cool in the summers and warm in the winters – well suited for a shoulder season like Spring and in a climate like ours.
A Linen Tale
Linen is a sustainable flax-based fibre made from the stems of the flax plant, as shown above (how cute!!). The flax plant is a very versatile plant; while the fibers of linen are derived from flax stems, the other parts of the flax plant are not wasted. Linseeds, oils and straw can be used in soaps, lino, paper, and even cattle feed! Flax grows best in cool, humid environments with well-draining soil. Western and Eastern Europe have that perfect marriage of climate, making Europe known for its high quality linen fibre.
Linen was recently discovered to have been used as early as 30,000 BC with evidence of flax fibers in a prehistoric cave in the Republic of Georgia. Moving down the line, linen was used in Ancient Egypt to wrap mummies - it was considered a symbol of light, purity, beauty and abundance. Linen has also been associated with Hulda, the Goddess of Weaving who first taught humans how to grow, spin and weave the flax plant into linen cloth. It is widely believed for the flax plant to have protective powers that guard against witchcraft, black magic and sorcery! (source)
Linen is a long-lasting fabric that, like the most coveted things in life, gets better over time. Every wash makes it softer, giving it that one-of-a-kind worn in feel that we know and love. We choose to air dry our linen for longevity but it can also be dried in machine for ease and to get that break-in texture faster.
All that to bring us to where we are now. February 2022 in Bend, Oregon where the days are slowly but surely getting longer as the beautiful warm sunlight that we all know and love, inches its way back to the northern hemisphere to kiss our cheeks and flood our spaces with light. FOUND is stocked with 100% flax linen scarves + wraps, linen kitchen tea towels, waffle linen throw blankets, and dead-stock locally handmade bandanas to adorn your self, your spaces, your furry friends and loved ones.
