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Fast FLAX Facts!

By Joan Fenton
on August 04, 2020
With 0 comments

  • While all linen clothing is made from the Flax plant, there is only one FLAX brand of linen clothing, long recognized for its quality and style!    
  • The first step of making linen is harvesting the stalk of the flax plant, which is then dried, separated, and prepared for weaving. The now-transformed flax plant is spun into yarn and woven into linen fabric. This linen fabric constitutes the entirety of almost every piece of FLAX clothing, apart from the Urban FLAX Collections which features cotton-knit accents, and  a few pieces with specialty textured fabrics, most of which are blends of linen and cotton. 
  • Linen is prehistoric!  Archaeological records show that people may have been using linen for over 36,000 years-- making linen one of the oldest fabrics in the world! In fact, woven linen may have been produced before human societies even had written language!
  • The FLAX brand was started by two sisters in Ithaca, New York   years This year,  2023 marks  their 30th anniversary!  Their journey into linen fashion began when they started creating and selling linen clothing to incredible success at a local farmer’s market. After finding immense demand for their classic, comfortable styles in a unique array of dyes, they expanded their clothing to markets worldwide, becoming a mainstay in the linen clothing industry! 
  • FLAX linen clothing is “still produced and sewn in the same Worker-owned, Women-operated factories in Lithuania” since the brand launched.    The production of FLAX clothing revives the linen harvesting traditions of Eastern Europe and uplifts local women by creating fair-paid and safe job opportunities! 
  • The FLAX brand is known for their unique style and fabric names! Just a few examples include the Obscure Cardigan, which is a versatile open front piece, that has a short sleeve, or the Alluring Blouse, which doubles as a button down top, or a light jacket.  Other creative style names include the One Tuck Wonderful, which features pintuck detail along the hem, embellishing this original!
  • FLAX offers linen in a variety of weights.   Specialty  textures  include  Gauze,  Yarn DyeGridPanama,  and we have limited selection of their Honeycomb, Fleur-de-Lis and  Raw Linen,  The wearability of FLAX follows your needs from season to season!
  • On every FLAX tag, there is a hidden positive message!  FLAX believes your outer beauty should reflect your inner beauty, and the positive mantras on each tag promote just that. Look for these cleverly-placed Easter eggs and find something special every time.
  • Each season, FLAX offers New and Exciting Collections, featuring New Colors & Styles!   Core colors  Black, White and Natural are  colors that return each year and in 2023 include Midnight and Silver.   Each ew Collection  bring a fresh take on linen, welcoming original styles, textures, and dyes into the mix!   
  • The Urban collections also feature t Linen, with cotton knit trim, and offered in softer washed colors, for a more relaxed and sporty style.  
  • As a plant-derived fabric, linen fabric is entirely biodegradable! Linen is one of the most sustainable clothing options-- a point of pride for the FLAX brand!
  • Linen has numerous inherent protective qualities!  Linen is non-irritant and non-allergenic, which is especially great for sensitive skin. Even more, linen offers protection from UV rays! 
  • Linen is ideal for  hot weather!  Linen can absorb up to 20% of its weight without feeling damp. In addition, linen is more conductive to heat and permeable to air than any other fabric, making it the perfect choice for a sunny day clothing!
  • The flax plant is multifunctional!  Eating flax seeds can offer various health benefits, and are often taken as dietary supplements to aid with conditions including heart disease and diabetes.
  • Unlike other brands, FLAX linen clothing does not shrink after washes-- a rare feat indeed!  All garments come pre-washed and pre-dried, using an eco-friendly softener, to prevent shrinkage later on, making FLAX some of the most resilient linen clothing in the game! 

The unique character of both linen, and the FLAX brand, distinguishes them from all else-- and we’re very proud of that! Their story is not just how, but why FLAX has become a mainstay in the fashion industry. We know that here at Linen Woman they are utterly irreplaceable!  

A wise message we found in the Flowing Pant encourages you to have a positive mindset every time you put them on “I love my body” 

~ Sophia, J.Fenton Gallery (Williamsburg, VA)

Soak Up the Summer Sun in FLAX

By Joan Fenton
on June 17, 2020
With 0 comments

The official start of Spring has just arrived, and the Summer Solstice will be soon to follow, both seasons marked by warm weather and more time spent outside.  As the weather gets warmer and the days get even longer, the need for comfortable, breathable clothing is reaching a fever pitch. As our loyal customers know, much of the linen clothing that FLAX offers is specifically designed for the warmest weather, as the lightweight linen fabric contains inherent properties that perfectly complement a hot Summer day. 

For one, linen is breathable and encourages great airflow. Due to its construction, linen is naturally permeable to the air, which encourages the circulation that keeps you cooler for longer. Furthermore, linen can absorb up to 1/5 of its weight in liquid without feeling noticeably damp. Meaning, while you sweat, the linen will actually wick away the moisture! These dual mechanisms of linen create a natural cooling effect, which makes FLAX an essential for any Summer wardrobe. While all linen is naturally lightweight, FLAX offers several styles in a Handkerchief-weight linen, more delicate and lightweight than any other linen they offer, ensuring you won’t feel bogged down by a heavy fabric in the heat. Rather than feel inhibited by the hot weather, you can stay cool and comfortable in FLAX linen clothing while looking stylish to boot! Keep in mind that 100% linen fabric gives slightly as you wear it, adding comfort as the day goes on, and is durable enough to be machine washable without the worry of shrinkage -- an effortless choice for a hot Summer day. 

For a relaxed day out in the sunshine, the Midtown Dress from the more contemporary FLAX Urban II 2021, the Gallery Dress from FLAX Urban 2021, or the Horizon Dress from the FLAX Urban 2020 collection, are just a few of our Top Picks!  Featuring 100% Handkerchief Linen that has been steam-crunched to achieve the signature "crinkled" look, these dresses are ideal for achieving high style with low maintenance, and are offered in soft and summery shades.  In these dresses, you can forget all about the heat, slip on a pair of sandals, and just enjoy the sun! 

Finally, the change of the seasons can signify new beginnings and a dynamic vitality.  With an unusual year behind us, we can move into the Spring and Summer seasons by looking towards the future with unrelenting hope. I would like to end this week’s post with the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African American poet and playwright of the late 1800’s, who wrote about this palpable buzz of energy in an excerpt of his poem In Summer.   

~ Sophia,  J.Fenton Gallery (Williamsburg, VA)

  

Oh, summer has clothed the earth

In a cloak from the loom of the sun!

And a mantle, too, of the skies' soft blue,

And a belt where the rivers run.

 

And now for the kiss of the wind,

And the touch of the air's soft hands,

With the rest from strife and the heat of life,

With the freedom of lakes and lands.

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