Your guide to linen care

At Afar, linen holds a central place in our collections. We work with French Flax Linen for its durability, breathability, and natural comfort, qualities that make it a fibre suited to both everyday wear and long-term use. Linen’s strength and versatility mean it can serve as a reliable foundation in any wardrobe, softening with time and developing character as it is worn.

Like all natural fibres, linen benefits from considered care. Proper washing, drying, and storage will protect the fabric’s structure, helping it retain its qualities and extend its life.

This guide shares practical advice for caring for linen garments, so they remain dependable staples for years to come.

Understanding linen as a fibre

Linen is one of the world’s oldest textiles, woven from the flax plant. The French Flax Linen we use is prized for its quality and grown with minimal impact on the land, making it both enduring and sustainable.

What makes linen special is its combination of qualities:

Breathability - it allows the skin to breathe, making it ideal for warm climates.
Strength - one of the strongest natural fibres, stronger when wet than dry.
Evolving softness - with every wash and wear, linen softens, developing a lived-in feel that is uniquely yours.
Natural texture - its wrinkles are not imperfections but part of its charm, giving each piece a relaxed elegance.

To understand linen is to embrace its nature: timeless, imperfect, and quietly graceful.

Washing linen

Linen doesn’t demand constant laundering, but when the time comes, washing with care will preserve its integrity.

General guidelines

Wash in cold water (30°C) on a gentle cycle, or hand wash for best results. If you’re using a machine, follow our detailed guide on how to wash linen in a washing machine without ruining it for our step-by-step guide.
Use a mild, biodegradable detergent. Harsh chemicals can weaken fibres.
Avoid bleach, it strips colour and damages linen’s natural structure.
Wash similar colours together, and turn garments inside out to reduce wear on the surface.

Frequency

Unlike wool, linen does not have antibacterial properties, so it benefits from regular washing after wear. Still, airing garments between uses often refreshes them without the need for a full wash.

Coloured vs white linen

Whites may be air-dried in sunlight to brighten them naturally.
Coloured linens should be dried in the shade or indoors, as prolonged sun exposure can cause fading.

Eco-friendly linen considerations

Cold washes conserve energy and place less stress on fibres, ensuring your garments last longer while minimising environmental impact.

Drying linen

Drying is as important as washing. Linen fibres are prone to shrinkage if exposed to excessive heat, so natural drying methods are best.

Air dry: Shake garments after washing to release creases, reshape seams, and hang or lay flat to dry.
Avoid tumble drying: While tempting for convenience, tumble dryers can shrink and weaken linen fibres.
Sunlight tips: Bright sun helps whiten natural linen but can fade coloured garments, choose your drying spot accordingly.

If air drying outdoors, avoid leaving garments in direct midday sun for extended periods. A shaded, well-ventilated space preserves both fibre strength and colour.

Ironing and steaming linen

Wrinkles are part of linen’s story, they speak to its natural state. Many who wear linen embrace this relaxed look. If you prefer a smoother finish, there are gentle ways to ease creases without harming the fabric.

Iron while damp: Linen irons best when slightly damp. Spray lightly with water 5-10 minutes before pressing.
Low to medium heat: Use a warm setting, and avoid repeatedly ironing the same spot, which can weaken fibres.
Steaming: A handheld steamer is ideal for refreshing linen between wears. Hanging a garment in a steamy bathroom also works in a pinch.
Protective layer: For stubborn creases, place a damp cotton cloth between the iron and the garment.

Remember: the beauty of linen lies in its texture; a few natural wrinkles add ease and elegance.

Stain treatment for linen

Life brings with it the occasional spill. Stains needn’t mark the end of a garment’s life if treated swiftly.

Act quickly: The sooner you address a stain, the easier it is to remove.
Spot treat with care: Use a mild stain solution or a paste of baking soda and water. Always test first on an inconspicuous area.
Avoid bleach: Especially for coloured linen, bleach causes fibres to breakdown and leaves discoloured patches.
Pre-treat before washing: Gently blot (don’t rub) the stain, then wash as usual.

By treating stains thoughtfully, you not only preserve the look of your garments but also extend their usability, an essential part of living sustainably.

Storing linen

Proper storage allows linen to breathe and prevents unnecessary wear.

Hanging: Store frequently worn pieces on wide, wooden hangers to support the garment’s shape.
Folding: For seasonal items, fold and place them in breathable cotton or linen garment bags. Avoid plastic, which traps moisture and encourages mildew.
Environment: Choose a cool, dry place with good airflow. Avoid cramped storage, which causes deep creases that are hard to remove.

Well-stored linen feels as fresh when you return to it as the day you first wore it.

Linen over time

One of linen’s greatest virtues is how it evolves. Each wash softens its hand feel, each wear adds character. Unlike synthetic fabrics that break down or lose their appeal, linen matures gracefully.

Your linen shirt or dress will never look exactly as it did the day you bought it, it will look better. Its fibres will soften, its wrinkles will settle into a familiar rhythm, and it will tell the story of time spent with you.

In this way, linen aligns with our philosophy: a garment is not disposable but a companion, gathering meaning as it journeys with you.

Care and Repair with Afar

We believe that caring for your garments goes hand in hand with repairing them when needed. Linen is a resilient fibre, but over time, seams may loosen or hems may unravel. Instead of seeing this as the end of a garment’s life, we see it as part of its story.

That’s why we offer our Care & Repair Guarantee a quiet promise to help you keep your pieces in use for longer. Every Afar garment comes with a complimentary first minor repair within 12 months of purchase, from button replacements to seam fixes. It’s our way of supporting you in choosing maintenance over replacement, and reducing waste in the process.

By pairing thoughtful care with timely repair, your linen garments can accompany you for many seasons to come.

The more you use your linen, the better it gets 

French Flax Linen is a fibre that invites us to slow down, to care, and to live with intention. By washing gently, drying naturally, storing thoughtfully, and embracing the fabric’s inherent character, you not only extend the life of your garments but deepen your relationship with them.

To care for linen is to participate in a cycle of respect: for the plant that produced it, the makers who crafted it, and the environment it supports. With care, your linen pieces will remain timeless wardrobe staples, grounding, versatile, and deeply connected to the world around us.

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