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Like humans, linen gets softer over time, so the more you love it, the more it looks and feels even better

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Turns out there’s a name for being connected to texture: ‘tactile-emotional synesthesia.’ So if you store your emotions in your fingertips – linen is evocative and easy on the eye. And like humans, linen gets softer over time, so the more you love it, the more it looks and feels even better. 

We’re broadening our tactile horizons with a 100% pure linen napery range: tablecloths, dining napkins and placemats. Made locally in Newcastle NSW, our new collection will turn your table into an event. Celebrate all things crisp and soft with this timeless interior texture. 

 

A sheet tonne of virtues

Linen or linum is Latin for flax, named after the source. So much more than Grandma’s itchy summer smock, this textile superhero is a natural fibre that’s been around for thousands of years.

 

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So much more than Grandma’s itchy summer smock, this textile superhero is a natural fibre that’s been around for thousands of years

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Linen fibres are thick, so they have a lower thread count, which is the number of yarns per inch of fabric. An often misunderstood rating, it can’t be used for quality comparison between different fibres. Even with its low thread count, linen is the world’s strongest natural fibre, beating cotton by 30%. And when it comes to credentials, linen is recyclable, biodegradable and hypoallergenic too.

 

Through wash and wear, linen sheets can take up to three years before they earn their smooth stripes and gain a natural sheen. But once this fabric becomes a big softie, it can outlast its cotton cousin by 25 years. 

Past and production

Flax linen was the first textile humans produced, with scraps found in 38,000-year-old prehistoric cave dwellings. In ancient Egypt, flax linen, aka ‘the holy fibre’ was a commodity used for everything from everyday clothes to mummy bandages. Mediterranean civilizations dug it too, and in 3,000 BC, when the ancient Phenicians exported it to Scotland, Persia, India and China – linen went global. 

 

It’s a truly fundamental fabric. Even the word ‘lingerie' comes from the linen shifts and chemises worn under outer woollen layers in the cold parts of Europe.  

 

These days, linen is cultivated in almost every country. First, flax plants are hand cut or pulled from the earth to extract the fibres. Next, the process of winnowing or ripping sees the seeds taken off then the plant stock is removed from the fibres by retting. Once the fibres are separated, the longest strands, measuring up to 20cm, are spun into yarn and then woven into fabric. And that’s how linen comes to life. 

 

A tactile tale

My linen devotion didn’t come out of the blue. Pre-Palinopsia, my first love was fashion, textile design, fabrics, jacquards and textile prints. 

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New Zealand interior designer Rhonda Murray passed on her prolific passion for all things materials. At seven, she introduced me to the world of textile design, and I caught fabric fever

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I spent hours in Rhonda’s home, sitting on a genuine magic carpet, watching Aladdin on repeat, surrounded by a haven of worldly treasures, from African sculptures to Chinese textile art. And through her, I met people who collected and restored ancient Turkish rugs with natural dyes made from homegrown plants. Fresh from war-torn Yugoslavia, my world expanded as I poured over her exotic possessions and soaked in the comings and goings of fabulous humans. 

 

I followed my fervour to study Fashion and Textile Design at Auckland University of Technology. After graduation, I landed a role as a sales agent for textile houses across Australia and New Zealand. Playing with jacquards, knits and prints, I developed custom textile solutions for Australian Runway Designers.

Local and lovely

Lux pure linen placemats in neutrals, flowering gum and gingham are a dapper deck-out for your table setting. Create a sense of occasion and a feast for the eyes with a pop of colour and texture. Our linen table napkins hang out in sets of 4 and bring some posh to your everyday eats. A versatile addition to your home, in white, caramel, combat and pink salt with some pinstripes options too. Dress your dining with a linen tablecloth in flowering wattle, fig or polka dots.

An entirely Australian-made linen collection was always part of the Palinopsia plan, so this passion project weaves together my past and present. Add class and bring the fancy to your meal rituals with sewn linen napery. We love linen because this yarn is gorgeous and enduring in style and quality. Look out for new colour drops every quarter.