The History of Linen: A Timeline from Ancient Egypt to Today
As far back as ancient Egypt, linen has been a staple fabric in history. Whether you’re curious about the origins of this luxurious material or just want to impress your friends with a little trivia knowledge for your next pub trivia night, learning more about the history of linen can be quite fascinating for anyone who has an interest in fashion, fabric.. or history. Let’s take a look at where this special fabric comes from and how it has evolved over time.
The Origins of Linen in Ancient Egypt
Most experts agree that the first flax plants were cultivated in ancient Egypt circa 5000 BC. From there, the Egyptians began producing linen by spinning and weaving fibres from flax plants into fabric. This process was so important to their society that it was even mentioned in the Biblical story of Joseph's Technicolour Dreamcoat. Since then, linen has become a highly sought-after material for its strength, durability and comfort.
Linen Throughout History
Linen soon spread throughout Europe as well as parts of Asia and Africa. For centuries, it was used for everything from bedding to clothing and even curtains or tablecloths. During this time period, much of the linen production was done by hand—a painstakingly slow process that demanded an immense amount of skill and patience. In fact, it wasn’t until the invention of power looms in the 18th century that mass production became possible!
In modern times, linen is still incredibly popular due to its luxurious feel and durability. It’s often used for clothing items like shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, and jackets but it's popularity has risen in recent times for sleepwear, loungewear, bedding, towels and soft furnishings. Although it may have come a long way since its humble beginnings in ancient Egypt, one thing remains true—linen has a cult following worldwide.. and is here to stay!
If you love linen as much as we do here at Jade and May then have a browse through out Linen Sleepwear, Loungewear & Homewares created from the best linen we could lay our hands on
