This guide answers the 10 most-asked linen questions — from care and styling tips to why it’s worth loving. Featuring timeless linen pieces from notPERFECTLINEN.

Linen is a fabric you don’t just wear — you live with it. It crinkles under your fingers, softens against your skin, and remembers the shape of your days. We’ve been asked all kinds of questions about it over the years, so we gathered the most common ones here. Think of this as a love letter in ten answers — with a few glimpses of the pieces we’ve made to carry linen into your life.

1. What is linen made from?

Linen is spun from the slender stalks of the flax plant — a flower that blooms briefly but leaves behind fibers strong enough to outlast seasons. It feels cool to the skin, holds a soft rustle when you move, and carries a quiet history in its weave. Our pieces are cut from 100% washed linen, the kind that’s gentle from the first wear and becomes even softer after years of living in it.

2. Is linen better than cotton?

Better is a matter of need and mood. Cotton feels soft right away, linen earns its softness over time. Cotton can feel cozy, linen feels like a breath of fresh air — light, airy, and quick to dry. We choose linen when we want clothes that travel from summer markets to autumn dinners without losing their shape. That’s why every blouse and trouser we make carries the crisp ease of linen, softened to move with you.

3. Why does linen wrinkle so much?

Because linen is honest. Its fibers don’t stretch like cotton or polyester, so every fold and crease shows. We like to think of them as the fabric’s memory — the way it remembers that you sat in the garden or leaned over a coffee cup. Our linen is pre-washed, so the wrinkles feel soft and lived-in, never stiff or sharp.

4. Is linen sustainable?

Linen asks for less from the earth. Flax grows happily with little water, no need for heavy chemicals, and leaves behind very little waste. The result is a fabric that lasts decades if you let it. By sewing small-batch, timeless designs, we make sure every linen shirt or skirt you take home is worth the space in your wardrobe — and the space it took from the field.

5. Is linen good for summer?

Yes — linen breathes like no other fabric. Its fibers wick away heat and moisture, leaving you cool even under the August sun. Our lightest blouses, like the Eze in cream, feel like wearing a breeze. It’s also the only fabric we’ve worn that still feels fresh after a long train ride, a seaside lunch, and an evening walk home.

6. Can you wear linen in winter?

You can — just choose a heavier weave and layer well. A thick pair of Puglia trousers in linen feels soft under a wool coat, and linen shirts under sweaters add warmth without bulk. The beauty of linen is that it adjusts to your temperature, making it a year-round companion if you style it right.

7. How do you wash linen clothes?

Gently, like a friend’s borrowed book. Machine wash in cool water, mild detergent, no bleach. Skip the dryer if you can — let it dry in the open air, where the wind can finish what the water began. Our linen is pre-washed, so it won’t shrink, only soften.

8. Does linen shrink?

Freshly woven linen can shrink on its first wash, but our pieces are pre-washed to save you the surprise. From then on, it stays true to its size, changing only in softness and drape.

9. How to style linen pants?

With ease. Wide-leg linen pants pair with fitted tops for balance, or with a matching linen shirt for a flowing set. For summer, slip into sandals; for autumn, add ankle boots and a cardigan. Our WELS pants, for example, feel equally at home in the city as they do barefoot on a terrace.

10. Why is linen so expensive?

Because good linen is slow to make. Flax takes months to grow, the fibers take patience to extract, and weaving is a craft that can’t be rushed. But a well-made linen shirt can last decades — so the real question might be why it’s not more expensive. We keep our prices fair by sewing in small batches and avoiding the middle steps that often double a garment’s cost.

A closing note

Linen isn’t perfect — but that’s the beauty of it. It wrinkles, it softens, it changes, just like the days we live in it. We make our pieces for people who want clothes they can carry through seasons, not just trends. If you’re ready to meet the linen that will become part of your life, our full collection is waiting for you.