We love linen, it’s one of the most naturally sustainable fibres, feels great on the skin and has that special texture that sets it apart. We also adore linen because, just like good wine, linen garments only get better with time. The durable linen fabric softens after every wash and eventually adapts to the wearer's shape. Our suppliers, together with product developers, carefully create care labels with instructions for each specific style, so following the individual care label instructions is the best way to take care of your linen garment. To have linen that lasts a lifetime (and perhaps more), here are some tips on how to best take care of it:

FABRIC CARE GUIDE:

LINEN

01 |

WASHING

Linen is a sturdy material and can be easily washed in the washing machine. Some general advice is always to wash items inside out with buttons and zips closed. Naturally, linen is prone to shrinkage, however, all our linen is pre-shrunk, so you don’t have to worry about it changing the shape upon washing. We still would advise washing linen in warm rather than hot water, at 30C (86F) or less.

To reduce the risk of linen not having enough space to move which can result in pulling, creating creases or being badly rinsed, don’t overload the washing machine. Use mild detergent and never use bleach, it damages linen and makes it prone to ripping. Fabric softener also is not necessary for linen.

02 |

DRYING

Linen is one of the fastest-drying natural fabrics and woven linen can simply be hung and left to air dry, but always ensure this is not done in direct sunlight. Linen knitwear and jersey fabrics should ideally be dried flat to avoid the pull of the heavier wet bottom of the garment altering its shape. Saying that, often there is no space to flat dry all our knitted garments. In that case, we would suggest pressing knitwear with a dry towel to get rid of the excess moisture which will make the bottom of the garment less heavy and less likely to misshape when hung.
We don’t recommend using a tumble dryer as it takes a lot of energy, is not environmentally friendly and can damage the garment.

03 |

IRONING

Linen is famous for creasing, it’s part of its distinctive look, and it is a definitive sign of natural linen. At Poetry, we are not big fans of flat linen and most of our garments are designed to feature the uneven surface of the linen texture. Our laundered linen garments have a naturally uneven feel and our high-twist linen has been specifically created to reduce the typical creasing and add even more designed texture with no need for ironing. None of our linen knitwear or jersey needs to be ironed either.

If you do wish to iron some of your linen garments, have your iron set on steam and do it with the garment being slightly humid and with a cloth between the iron and the garment. This avoids flattening the fibre with direct heat. If the surface becomes shiny after ironing, it means that the fibre is being burned which is something to avoid.

04 |

STORING

The best way to store any natural fabric garment is in a dry place, avoiding plastic containers and using fabric bags that allow air circulation. Linen is an insect repellent so has no need for special treatments. Knitted and jersey pieces are best kept folded and woven pieces can be hung but be aware of hangers without padding as they can create a crease.

05 |

EXTRA TIPS

Washing any garment is an energy consuming process and creates an environmental footprint. By using natural fabrics, we eliminate one of the most serious concerns which is microfibre shedding. However, it is estimated that up to 25% of a garment's environmental footprint comes solely from washing and caring for it. By taking care of how and when we wash our clothes, we can reduce its footprint significantly, and also ensure our clothes last longer. Wash your Poetry clothing only when it is necessary. More than often, it is sufficient to simply air or steam garments instead of washing them. Linen is particularly easy as it has inherent antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties. garment.

SHOP WOVEN LINEN