How long will Irish linen last?
Irish linen is made from the natural flax fibre. One of nature’s strongest vegetable fibres, it was used as the fibre of choice for the sails of the great clipper ships. It gets stronger when wet so is ideal to resist the rigours of the laundering process. We are often asked how long Irish linen will last, but time is not the best measure of the value you are getting from your linens. A better and more accurate measure is the number of times it can be used, and the number of subsequent launderings before it wears out. When compared to the usage you would get from similar fabrics made from other natural fibres. Linen fabrics can last for thousands of years if they are not used. As can be seen from funerary fabrics, and Mummy wrappings, found in ancient tombs. In use linens are subject to repeated tension, abrasion, snags, burning and scorching. As well as chemical damage and the abrasive forces of the laundering process. Also, natural fibres may rub against harsh synthetic fibres in the
