All hail, linen – especially when the summer months roll around and Auckland gets rather hot, and inevitably sticky.
It really is the perfect fabric for keeping cool, and thankfully it’s present in almost every summer collection by our favourite local designers.
Did you know that linen was so precious to ancient Egyptians that they actually used the fabric as currency? The effortless textile has been re-imagined throughout the centuries and eventually made its way into the heart of the modern-day fashion lover. But the cool factor of this lightweight fashion find goes beyond sporting just the perfect linen pant. Universally flattering and multifaceted in its design, linen can be worn in a myriad of ways, giving an option for every occasion as we head towards the end of the year.
The soft, breathable, centuries-old fabric was once reserved for home furnishings and bed sheets. But by the 1990s, it had become a summer holiday staple, with boyfriend-style shirts thrown over swimwear poolside and tied in knots above midriffs with the perfect pair of jeans - almost ‘Talented Mr Ripley’-style.
But the appeal is not purely aesthetic. Linen is made from the flax plant and is therefore highly sustainable, making it a rare gem in a fast-fashion culture that we all know is harming the planet. Linen is also one of the most biodegradable fashion fabrics available and as every part of the flax plant that linen is made from can be used, nothing is wasted. Flax is also an incredibly resilient plant and can grow in poor soil with far less water consumption than cotton. In fact – the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation state that flax uses 13 times less pesticide than potatoes, but is only approximately one per cent of the world’s apparel fibre consumption. I think we could all agree that’s it’s a good time to change that!
The Wixii label headed by mother daughter duo Georgia and Shelley Hembrow is synonymous with linen, using it way before many other local designers made the textile a key part of their collections. Their Ponsonby Central boutique is an absolute treasure trove of gorgeous pieces, both with their own label and a carefully curated rack of vintage. Georgia says: “linen is one of our favourite fabrics to use it has so many benefits. It is thirty times stronger than cotton and takes less water to produce, making it truly one of nature’s best raw materials.” She adds that it’s good for the skin and the planet, and it’s pretty easy to spot something you’ll love in linen within minutes of walking through Wixii’s doors. www.wixii.co.nz
Natalie Procter is the designer behind the Mina label, which I was excited to hear is opening a store in Grey Lynn in the not-too-distant future. She too has included linen in her collections since day one, and many of her pieces are my favourites come summer and winter. “I love working with linen in our ranges,” she tells me, “it's natural, has just a raw texture and it is even more beautiful as it ages with washes and wear.” Commonly seen in summer collections, the Mina team has sourced a beautifully weighted, Pecan linen that can be worn year round. “We designed a blazer and pant that on their own are classic wardrobe staples,” says Natalie, “and as a set will see you through all the seasons.”
www.minaforher.com
Lastly, another local label that does a stellar line in linen is hej hej, who proudly state on their website: “we’re a label born from a healthy obsession with linen. With its intrinsic indulgence, holiday weight and texture that bows and holds in all the right places, it not only looks stunning and feels terrific, but has a whole personality of its own.”
They do some beautiful separates, and always in a colour palette to make you smile. www.hej-hej.co
However you choose to wear it, linen is undoubtedly the best way stay cool this summer. (HELENE RAVLICH)