Linas: Linen of Legends

The histories of linen and Lithuania are inextricably woven together. Records show that the early Baltic tribes who settled in the region had begun spinning linen yarn for fishing nets as early as 4000 BC. Production of the fabric played a large part in establishing not only Lithuania's economy, but their culture and national identity. 

For much of Lithuania's pre-industrial history, linen signified more than a craft or an industry; it represented an entire way of life. Because the flax fiber is so difficult to work with, the production of linen thread and cloth was an extremely time and labor-intensive undertaking. Women were tasked with the creation of the material, and as such, women's roles within family and social communities were characterized by linen for many generations. A large portion of Lithuanian folktales and songs are inspired by the "suffering of the flax" - a reference to the intense and grueling labor required to produce linen. Many of these stories are quite dark and scary - specifically the myth of 'laumes,' fairy-witches who supposedly lived in the countryside and spun flax into thread. Rumor had it that a woman could call upon the laumes to help her in her work, but the mythical figures would occasionally spin the woman's internal organs and veins into thread as well as the fibers.

Thankfully the spinners at Linas no longer have to fear the laumes and can focus on creating lovely traditional Baltic linen. Established in Panevezys in 1957, Linas brings over 50 years of expertise to their incredible creations. Linas is committed not only to creating soft, durable linen, but to promoting the distinct quality and tradition of Lithuanian linen throughout the world. In production they use exclusively flax that has been grown and cultivated within Lithuania, and all aspects of manufacturing - from spinning to dyeing to weaving - are performed in-house by their skilled team of over 400 specially-trained employees.

The company produces natural, dyed, printed, and jacquard linen as well as home textiles such as bedspreads, sheets, table cloths, and curtains to meet the diverse needs and desires of their clients throughout the world.  Check out some examples below:

Materials in this article

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          $  7.00 / Meters                
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<p>From Lithuania</p>

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Linas realizes that making incredible fabrics means not only using the best raw materials and designing gorgeous colors and prints, but ensuring that their textiles are produced without harmful or toxic substances. As an OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified mill, Linas' fabrics have been extensively tested for a wide range of chemicals and controlled substances that may be detrimental to their customers' health. Linas also employs cutting-edge technologies and techniques to make their linens resistant to water, grease, and dirt. As linen is a fabric that only gets softer and more beautiful as it ages, these treatments ensure that a garment or product made from Linas linen can be treasured for years to come.