FabricIQ
Reading the label…
Linen
B
Made from flax plant fibers. One of the oldest textiles, known for exceptional breathability and a distinctive relaxed drape.
Material Score Breakdown
Material-quality rubric (6 axes), not a garment verdict — see disclosure below. Sustainability is a separate Eco score, shown apart.
76/100
DurabilityAbove-average80
How long the fabric lasts with regular use
ComfortAbove-average72
Softness, feel against skin, wearability
BreathabilityStrong95
Air flow and ventilation
WarmthPoor30
Heat retention and insulation
Moisture WickingTypical65
Ability to pull sweat away from skin
Care EaseWeak50
How easy it is to wash, dry, and maintain
Sustainability (separate Eco score)
SustainabilityStrong85
Environmental impact of production and disposal
Brands using linen
8 brands have products in our catalog whose composition contains linen. Sorted by how many garments they offer with this fiber.
Banana Republic
76 products
Aime Leon Dore
46 products
YMC
37 products
Club Monaco
35 products
Zara
34 products
Old Navy
21 products
Taylor Stitch
21 products
Needles
20 products
Brand grade = average overall score across all of their products containing linen.
Products with linen
See all →Top-scored garments in our catalog whose composition contains linen. Click through for the full quality + health + eco breakdown.
Unbound MerinoB
Women’s Merino Linen Pants
75% Merino Wool, 25% Linen
$218
Unbound MerinoB
Women’s Merino Linen Shirt
75% Merino Wool, 25% Linen
$198
Unbound MerinoB
Men’s Merino Linen Tropical Shirt
75% Merino Wool, 25% Linen
$188
Unbound MerinoB
Women’s Merino Linen Shorts
75% Merino Wool, 25% Linen
$165
Unbound MerinoB
Men’s Merino Linen Button-Up
75% Merino Wool, 25% Linen
$198
Unbound MerinoB
Women’s Merino Linen Short Sleeve Shirt
75% Merino Wool, 25% Linen
$178
Rowing BlazersB
Women's Linen Tencel Bomber Jacket With Ribbon White
92% Tencel, 8% Linen
$248
Rowing BlazersB
Women's Linen Tencel Crossed Halter Top With Ribbon White
92% Tencel, 8% Linen
$158
Rowing BlazersB
Women's Linen Tencel Everyday Trouser White
92% Tencel, 8% Linen
$198
Rowing BlazersB
Women's Linen Tencel Bermuda Trouser Short White
92% Tencel, 8% Linen
$158
Banana RepublicB
7" Tencel™-Linen Short
75% Tencel, 25% Linen
$100
Mate the LabelB
Organic Linen Button Front Dress
100% Organic Linen
$99
What this score doesn't measure
This is a material rating, not a verdict on any specific garment made from linen. The axes above are research-backed averages for the fiber itself.
- ×Construction. Yarn staple length, weave / knit structure, stitch count, finishing. Identical fiber, very different garments.
- ×Fabric weight (GSM). A 140 GSM tee and a 220 GSM tee made of the same linen feel and last very differently.
- ×Dye + finishing chemicals. Beyond the three we flag (PFAS, formaldehyde, antimony), dozens of textile finishes aren't modelled.
Best For
👔Formal/Office
ExcellentExcellent durability (80) and comfort (72) for office wear
⛰️Outdoor/Hiking
ExcellentExcellent durability (80), breathability (95), and moisture wicking (65) for hiking
🌱Sustainable Fashion
ExcellentExcellent sustainability (85) and biodegradable — great eco choice
🏃Athletic Wear
GoodGood breathability (95) and moisture wicking (65) for light activity
👕Everyday Casual
GoodGood comfort (72) and care ease (50) for casual wear
😴Sleepwear
GoodGood comfort (72) and breathability (95) for sleeping
🩲Underwear
GoodGood breathability (95) and comfort (72) for undergarments
🌧️Rain/Weather
GoodGood moisture wicking (65) and durability (80) for weather protection
Detailed Use Case Scores
everyday80
sleepwear75
formal70
Pros
- ✓ Extremely breathable
- ✓ Stronger than cotton
- ✓ Gets softer with use
- ✓ Naturally antibacterial
Cons
- ✗ Wrinkles very easily
- ✗ Can feel stiff when new
- ✗ Expensive to produce
- ✗ Limited color options
Better alternatives
Higher-scored natural materials. Same category — what to consider instead.
VicuñaA
+16 vs Linen · 92/100
BiodegradableThe rarest and most expensive animal fiber in the world, from the vicuña of the Andes. Finer than cashmere, incredibly soft, warm, and lightweight. A single coat yields only 250g of usable fiber every 2-3 years.
Merino WoolA
+10 vs Linen · 86/100
BiodegradableUltra-fine wool from Merino sheep. Softer and less itchy than regular wool, with excellent temperature regulation and moisture management.
Sea Island CottonB
+6 vs Linen · 82/100
BiodegradableExtra-long-staple cotton historically grown in the West Indies (Barbados, Jamaica) and Sea Islands of Georgia/South Carolina. Among the rarest commercial fibers on earth — staple length up to 2.5", silky hand feel, intense color saturation when dyed. Used in heritage luxury shirting and bespoke menswear.
Care Guide
Washcold (30°C)
Cycledelicate
Detergentregular
BleachOxygen only
Dryline dry
Ironhigh
Dry Cleanavoid
SoftenerOK
Special Notes
• Gets softer with each wash
• Iron while slightly damp for crisp finish
Additional Care Tips
- • Machine wash cold (30°C/85°F) on gentle cycle — or hand wash for best results
- • Line dry preferred — lay flat for structured pieces to prevent distortion
- • Iron while slightly damp on medium-high heat with steam — linen tolerates heat well
- • Dry clean tailored or structured linen garments (blazers, trousers)
- • Avoid fabric softener — it weakens flax fibers and reduces absorbency
- • Store folded; hanging heavy linen can stretch it out of shape
Cost
$$$$$
Mid-range
Shrinkage
May shrink 2-5% — wash cold
Eco Rating
Strong environmental credentials