The Virtues of Linen

We started noticing it not long after we arrived on our trip to the French Riviera last summer. Linen was everywhere. People strolled past in relaxed shirts and wide-legged pants, or flowing dresses that seemed to catch the sea breeze just right. Even the café napkins were made of linen, soft and well-worn from use. Of course, we have linen back home too, and you see people wearing it on occasion, but this felt a little different. It wasn’t fancy or overthought. People just seemed to reach for it without thinking, like it was the obvious thing to wear on a warm, sunny day.

Seeing linen everywhere got us curious, and the more we learned, the more we’ve fallen for it. What began as a simple curiosity grew into a real appreciation for all the practical and thoughtful qualities this fabric has. These are some of the virtues of linen and why we think it’s one of the best textiles.

Where Linen Comes From

Linen is made from the flax plant. The flax plant is an annual or short-lived perennial herb. It's characterized by slender stems, narrow leaves, and delicate blue flowers. Its fibers are naturally hollow, which is part of what makes linen so breathable and light. It’s perfect for hot weather, because it helps air move around your body and doesn’t hold on to heat or moisture.

It also dries much faster than cotton and feels cool to the touch, which is especially nice when you're heading out into the sun. Even better, linen gets stronger when it’s wet. Water helps the fibers stretch and move instead of breaking, so it holds up well over time.

The Long History of Linen

Humans have been working with flax for a very long time. Archaeologists have found spun and dyed flax fibers in caves in the Caucasus region in what’s now the country of Georgia, dating back over 30,000 years. Later, in ancient Egypt, linen was very popular and used for everything from everyday clothing to sacred burial cloths. It helped people stay cool in the desert sun, but it also carried the symbolic meaning of light, purity, and life.

Over time, linen became a household staple. That’s why we still refer to things like sheets, towels, and tablecloths as “linens,” even when they’re made of something else. It was simply the best fabric for the job.

Why We Love Linen

Despite all our modern fabric options, linen has never gone out of style. And it’s easy to see why:

• It breathes. Linen’s natural hollow fibers let air flow freely, making it perfect for hot days and sticky nights. It helps keep your skin cool and dry by quickly wicking away moisture.

• It’s strong. Linen is one of the toughest natural fibers around. It lasts for years, often looking even better with age as the fabric softens and takes on a relaxed, lived-in feel.

• It’s low maintenance. While linen tends to wrinkle, it does so in a way that feels natural and effortless. Those gentle creases give it character, making it look like something that’s been comfortably worn instead of stiffly ironed.

• It’s sustainable. Flax, the plant linen comes from, grows well with less water and fewer pesticides than cotton. This makes linen an eco-friendly choice for anyone looking to reduce their environmental impact.

• It’s kind to your skin. Linen is also naturally antibacterial, anti-static, and hypoallergenic. It’s gentle on the skin and resists smells, which makes it a smart choice for clothes, bedding, or anything you use often.

A Fabric That Grows Better with Age

One thing we love about linen is how it changes over time. At first, it might feel a little crisp or stiff, but after a few washes, it softens and becomes more comfortable. Linen doesn’t wear out in the usual way. Rather than feeling like the fabric is wearing out, it evolves. The wrinkles stop looking messy and start showing character. The fabric begins to feel like an old friend, reliable, familiar, and perfectly broken in.

Spending time on the French Riviera showed us how well linen fits into a way of life that values comfort, simplicity, and ease. It’s a fabric that moves with you, keeps you cool in the heat, and feels just right when the evening breeze arrives. Linen doesn’t solely have to be a style choice, it can be a practical and timeless part of everyday living. Whether you’re in the Riviera or anywhere else, linen offers the same mix of durability and comfort, making it a fabric to reach for whenever warm weather calls for something light, breathable, and effortlessly stylish.

After our trip, we knew we wanted to bring a bit of the magic from the French Riviera home with us. That’s what inspired us to create the Summer on the Riviera Collection. To really capture the feeling of a summer spent there, we knew linen had to be part of the collection. It was everywhere we looked, from the dresses we wore to the napkins at seaside cafés. So we brought in the same linen dress we frequently saw along the coast, along with classic linen tea towels, hoping to share a little of that relaxed beauty with you too.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like our journal entry about the Linen Riviera Dress. 

You can view the Summer on the Riviera Collection here.