Although both Linen and Cotton are made with natural fibres from plants, linen and Cotton are two very different textiles.

Linen fibres are sourced from the stems of flax plants and are known for their sustainability and durability.
On the other hand, cotton is one of the most widely produced fibres and comes from plants that have pods filled with ball-shaped clumps of fibre.

Linen is a great choice when it comes to kitchen products. Linen is very absorbent and dries fairly quickly. This means you to use a kitchen towel several times without having to wash. There will also be no musty smell thanks to Linen’s naturally anti-microbial features.
While hand-washing and drying dishes, due to the durability of Linen, you will get many more uses out of this high-quality fabric.
Cotton towels are absorbent; however, they hold the water much longer than Linen; this means it will take quite a long time for cotton towels to air dry. In addition, because they are not as durable as Linen, you may find yourself replacing your cotton towels more often.

How a textile feels is very important, especially when looking for bedding. While it has been pointed out that both Cotton and Linen are breathable and absorbable, Linen is the stronger of the two fabrics.

As Linen is a more substantial, more robust fabric, it will last longer. Although cotton may feel softer when new, it can lose its softness and disintegrate with washing and repeated use. Linen, however, actually gets softer over time and improves as it ages. 

Why is Line more expensive than Cotton?

Harvesting a flax plant is also a time-intensive process. 

It can take as long as 90 to 100 days to harvest a flax plant. During this process, fibres undergo “retting”, in which flax is placed in water before being taken out to dry to loosen them. Before being removed, flax fibres are further loosened through a process called “scutching”, in which the woody part of the stalk is crushed.

The weaving process of linen is also slower, even with machinery, since the fibres can break. Moreover, machinery must run slower than cotton machinery since great care must be taken.

Level Of Sustainability

Flax is a highly sustainable textile and is considered one of the friendliest fabrics for the environment. 

Many farmers don't use irrigation or fertilization during the growing process of linen; they also use less water than that of the cotton-to-fabric process. 

Fertilizers and Pesticides are usually used in the growth of cotton in fields. However, because cotton is one of the largest non-food crops globally, its impact on soil is also significant. 

However, organic cotton farming eliminates toxic chemicals that can go into the food and water supplies. 

Although cotton is generally lower in price and easier to clean, linen is far more sustainable. It has better durability that lengthens its lifespan - making linen a wise long-term investment.

Credit for images used in this post:

Photo by Marianne Krohn 

Photo by Mia Moessinger 

Photo by Maite Oñate 

Photo by Svitlana