FABRIC 101
t e r m s    &   t y p e s

linen: a fabric woven from the woody flax fibers of the Linum plant. Flax, a “green crop”, grows naturally without a lot of extra chemicals, pesticides or water and almost all parts of the plant are used — from fabric, flax seed and linseed oil to bank notes. Linen, one of the oldest textile fibers, is more lustrous and two to three times stronger than cotton. It can absorb 20% of its weight in water before it feels damp, and easily releases moisture to the air. Linen is a bit stiff, but will grow softer with each washing. The finest linen comes from northern Europe.

Egyptian cotton: a fine, lustrous, extra long staple cotton that was originally grown in Egypt. These long fibers are spun into extremely fine thread resulting in fabric that can be woven with more threads per square inch. Egyptian cotton fabric has a distinct luster and silky hand; it is durable and softens wash by wash.