What is French Flax Linen and Why Do We Use It?

The transformation of flax into linen is a process that honours natural cycles and traditions of craft. In early spring, flax seed is sown into cool, damp soils. It grows quickly, reaching maturity within 100 days, without the need for heavy irrigation or chemical input. This makes flax an inherently sustainable crop compared to many mainstream fibres.

When harvest time arrives, the plants are pulled from the ground rather than cut. This traditional method preserves the full length of the fibres, giving the resulting linen its characteristic strength. After harvest, the stalks are laid out across the fields to undergo retting, an unhurried, weather-dependent stage where dew, rain, and sun gently soften the stalks, loosening the fibres from within.

Once the retting is complete, the stalks are collected for scutching and hackling, where the woody matter is separated from the silky fibres. These fibres are then spun into yarns and woven into fabric, which may be stonewashed for immediate softness, left undyed in its natural tone, or dyed using low-impact methods. At which point it finds its way to us, where we take this fabric and continue the story locally, cutting, sewing, and finishing each garment in small batches. This ensures that the integrity of the fibre is preserved, while the final piece reflects our own commitment to thoughtful, slow fashion.

The making of French Flax Linen is less a production line than a continuum of soil, weather, and skilled hands, a process that feels as relevant today as it did centuries ago. 

Most Common Uses for Linen

French Flax Linen has always been valued for its versatility, finding a place in both everyday life and special pieces. In clothing, it is chosen for garments that need to breathe, shirts, dresses, trousers, and outer layers that feel effortless in Australia’s warm and varied climates. In the home, it appears in bedding, table linens, and curtains, where the fabric softens beautifully with each wash and use. Even in smaller items such as scarves or lightweight bags, linen brings both structure and softness.

What makes it especially relevant today is its balance of elegance and practicality: a fabric that sits gently against the skin yet is resilient enough to be lived in, season after season.

What is the Best Quality Linen?

Linen vs. Cotton

Linen and cotton are both natural fibres, but their qualities differ significantly. Linen’s breathability surpasses cotton, keeping the body cool in heat and comfortable when layered. It is also stronger, especially when wet, which contributes to its longevity.

Flax requires minimal irrigation and chemicals, while cotton is one of the world’s most resource-intensive crops. Texturally, linen begins with a crisp hand but softens beautifully with wear, developing character over time. Cotton, while smooth at first, tends to wear down more quickly and is often replaced sooner.

 

Why We Use French Flax Linen

At Afar, the fabrics we choose are inseparable from the philosophy behind our work. French Flax Linen is central to this approach because it is durable yet comfortable, softening with wear and encourages longevity rather than replacement. It reflects our values of transparency and sustainability while connecting us to a lineage of craft that honours both people and land.

Our commitment to slow fashion begins at the fibre level. French Flax Linen is grown resourcefully, harvested with care, and processed in ways that minimise waste. By working with this fabric, we reduce reliance on synthetic fibres, support farming practices that respect natural cycles, and create garments in small batches, pieces designed to last well beyond seasonal trends. You can read more about what sustainable fashion really means in our reflections.

This choice is also about how clothing feels in daily life. Linen’s breathability makes it ideal for the Australian climate, offering cool comfort in summer and easy layering in winter. Its natural strength means garments hold their shape and integrity, becoming softer and more personal with every wear. We see this as clothing that is not only worn but lived in, evolving with the wearer rather than being discarded.

By crafting each garment here in Australia, we can pair globally respected fibres with our own craft traditions. The result is clothing that bridges continents, pairing world-class fibre with our belief in local making.

In this way, French Flax Linen is not just a material but a partner in our philosophy. It allows us to practice slow fashion with integrity: choosing quality over quantity, depth over immediacy, and always favouring fabrics that carry both beauty and responsibility.

 

 

A Fabric for the Australian Way of Life

Australia’s climates are as varied as its landscapes, from tropical north to dry inland and temperate southern coasts. Clothing here must adapt, keeping us cool in high summer, layered for warmth in winter, and strong enough to withstand salt air, sun, and daily wear. French Flax Linen meets these demands naturally. Its open weave and absorbency prevent overheating, its softness and strength allow for comfortable layering, and its durability ensures it holds form even under demanding conditions.

This is why French Flax Linen plays a pivotal role in our collections. It is not only a material of exceptional quality but a reflection of our philosophy: simple, sustainable, and intentional. For wardrobes across Australia, it offers more than comfort and style, it offers continuity, connecting place, craft, and the rhythm of everyday life.

From our studio to your wardrobe, with love,
John and Jana