Few fabrics say “summer” like linen. Whether used in seaside-ready shift dresses, wide-leg drawstring trousers or the perfect summer shirt, there’s nothing quite so easy or breezy.
Nor anything as … well, creasy. The fact that this otherwise ideal summer fabric seems to wrinkle if you so much as look at it the wrong way can put many people off completely.
But embracing linen’s quirks offers rich rewards. It’s strong, breathable, biodegradable, naturally moth resistant, quick drying and one of the oldest fabrics in the world, used continuously from ancient Egyptian times through to the current day.
And it looks good.
“Linen is just a super elegant fabric – it has a very luxurious feel to it, it has sustainability credentials that a lot of other fabrics don’t, and it’s incredibly versatile, in terms of the garments you can make from it,” says designer Susan Corsini. “I love the sense of quality. If you have a beautiful linen piece, it can really stand the test of time.”
Here are seven tips on how to make your linen last for life – wherever you wear it.
Wash with care
Being a natural fabric, linen is easily washable at home – but can “fuzz” if it’s not treated right. Uniqlo suggests placing linen on a delicate or cold wash on a short spin cycle, ideally tucking garments into laundry bags to protect it from fuzz-causing friction. Make sure to wash similar colours together to avoid dye transfer, and line-dry in the shade – tumble drying can be too harsh, and direct sunlight can cause fading.
Hang, don’t fold
Folding, no matter how neatly, creates crease lines. Avoid them by storing shirts, dresses and trousers on hangers – preferably ones with thicker shoulders, to encourage a smoother shape. If you do have to fold, try not to place bulky items on top of your linen stack, as this will compress the fabric and make those creases harder to get out.
Roll it up to pack
If you’ve perfected your folding technique and enjoy packing tidy stacks of clothing for holiday, reconsider: linen should be rolled, not folded. Lifestyle blogger Lee Vosburgh advocates stacking similarly shaped linen pieces and rolling them into tidy bundles before tucking them into packing cubes. On arrival, take 10 minutes to unpack before you hit the pool – any compression creases should relax on their own with a bit of time.
If creases are a real bugbear for you, look for linen blends. At Uniqlo, as well as 100% linen items like its best selling premium linen shirt, there’s a linen blend range featuring clever fabric blends that are less wrinkle prone. Pieces such as the linen-blend dresses and the linen viscose-blend blazer from the brand’s collaboration with Comptoir des Cotonniers offer all the cool comfort of linen, but with greater packability.
Steam’s the word
Sometimes a quick steam is all it takes to release creases. If you’re on holiday and left your steamer at home, hang your linen on the back of the bathroom door and let your shower steam do the work.
Think twice before you iron
Ironing on max heat can crush linen fibres. If you’re faced with particularly stubborn wrinkles, Uniqlo suggests a spritz bottle or mister. Mist the garment lightly before you iron it on a low to medium setting, preferably through a cloth.
Treat stains straightaway
Foundation inside your collar? Sangria droplets down the front of your shirt? The first rule of stain management is to act quickly, dealing with marks as soon as you notice them. For linen, this could be as simple as rubbing a little detergent into the stain and letting it work for a few minutes before washing. If the stain doesn’t disappear in the wash, use a baking soda paste or stain removing spray – but test it on an inside seam to make sure it won’t cause discolouration. Wash it again and line dry – and never, ever iron over a stain.
Embrace the crease
Bodies move. Fabrics crease. As anyone who loves to wear linen will tell you, you have to embrace the relaxed look, and that includes creasing. Part of the beauty of natural fabrics is in their variations. So for a cool and carefree summer, lean into the ease of linen.
Shop Uniqlo’s 100% linen and linen-blend collection at uniqlo.com
