| The word linen has its origin from a generic word | | | | accumulate static electricity. It conducts heat five |
| 'linium'. One of the world's oldest fabrics, linen is | | | | times more than wool and nineteen times more than |
| manufactured from the fibres of the flax plant, which | | | | silk. In hot weather, it is found to reduce the skin |
| is a completely natural resource. Linen as a textile has | | | | temperature three degrees Celsius more than other |
| a history that goes back many thousands of years. | | | | fabrics. According to some studies, it effectively |
| Fragments of straw, seeds, fibres, yarn, and fabric | | | | reduces the perspiration rate of a person 1.5 times |
| some 8000 B.C.E. ago have been found in Swiss lake | | | | more than cotton clothes, and twice more than |
| dwellings. Plutarch writes about the reason behind the | | | | viscose clothes. Meanwhile, in cold weather, linen |
| use of the flax plant; having blue coloured flowers, in | | | | works inversely and retains warmth perfectly. |
| the making of the cloth by Egyptians, meant that | | | | In ancient Egypt, linen was used as currency. Due to |
| "the universe itself is surrounded with the ethereal | | | | the strength of linen, paper made of it is generally |
| blue of the sky." | | | | very strong; due to this reason the United States |
| Linen is an excellent filter and it protects against | | | | and many other countries use 25% linen in their |
| chemically reactive mediums. It greatly reduces the | | | | currency. |
| gamma radiations almost to half, resulting in the | | | | Linen is composed of flax, thus possesses the quality |
| protection of human beings against solar radiations. | | | | of being resistant to rot. Mummies of Egyptian |
| Linen is extremely hygroscopic, as it is capable to | | | | Pharaohs preserved to the present day are wrapped |
| quickly absorb and give up moisture. Before giving | | | | in the finest linen shrouds, found in Pyramids dating |
| 'wet' feeling, linen cloth can absorb as much as 20% | | | | back to more than 5,000 B.C. Moreover, Egyptian |
| of its dry weight. | | | | priests wore linen, which symbolised purity and truth. |
| It is medically proven that linen lessens bacteriological | | | | Another important fact associated with linen is that |
| properties. As it is resistant to fungus and bacteria, it | | | | one of the most renowned manuscripts, 'The Linen |
| is found to be an effective barrier to some diseases. | | | | Book' by ancient Etruscans, was written on linen in |
| It is also effective in the treatment of allergies, and | | | | the 7th century B.C. Moreover, Liber Linteus is the |
| helps in inflammatory conditions and in the treatment | | | | only surviving book made from linen. |
| of some neurological diseases. According to medical | | | | Linen fabric is one of the preferred conventional |
| studies, it helps to get rid of several skin diseases, | | | | supports for oil paintings. In Europe it is the only |
| from bedsores and ordinary rashes to chronic | | | | fabric support available in art shops. Linen is preferred |
| eczema. | | | | to cotton for its strength, which is 2 to 3 times more |
| Linen possesses high air permeability and heat | | | | than cotton, durability and archival integrity. In ancient |
| conductivity properties. Linen cloth does not | | | | times, it was also used as canvas in painting. |