7 Reasons to Love Organic Linen Bedding

It's hard to just pick seven but we'll try! Discover the top reasons why organic linen bedding is our favorite choice, from the way it feels to its breathability and timeless style.

1. It’s Soft

Despite its reputation as a rough fabric, organic linen bedding is extremely soft. In fact, it gets softer over time.

Linen's reputation for being scratchy originates from its history as an industrial fabric, used in sacking, upholstery, and dollar bills. But that's only part of the story.

Organic linen is made from the flax plant, which grows tall in the fields of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The harvesting and separation process produces many types of linen fiber: long and short, fine and coarse. Only the longest and finest fibers are eventually made into linen bedding; the rest go into industrial composites.

That said, even fine linen bedding can feel a little rough at first. This is due to pectin, a fiber found in the cell wall of most fruits and vegetables. Fortunately, pectin is water soluble, meaning it dissolves in the wash. At The Modern Dane, we garment-wash our organic linen duvet covers in the final stages of production, to make sure they're as soft as can be when they reach you. The small amount of residual pectin will continue to dissolve with repeated washes, meaning that your bedding will become even softer over time.

2. It’s Good for Your Health

The stem of the flax plant contains thousands of tiny pores. These pores are also present in linen strands, giving linen one of its most valuable properties: thermoregulation.

Thermoregulation means that linen keeps you cool when it's warm, by letting warm air pass through. But surprisingly, it also keeps you warm when it's cool, as those same pores trap warm air when the ambient temperature is low.

In addition to being thermoregulating, linen is hypoallergenic, making it perfect for sensitive skin. It's very absorbent and can absorb up to 20% of its weight before it feels damp—perfect for hot summer nights.

All these properties add up to a better night's sleep—and all the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits that come with it.

3. It’s Practical

Because of the naturally-occurring pectin in the fiber, unironed linen can look rumpled—but that's precisely why we love it. Linen looks so good in its natural state that there's no need to iron it. It also dries very quickly, so there’s no need to use a dryer—better for the environment and the lifespan of your linen.

That said, linen is simple to iron if that's your preferred look. It's easiest to get creases out of linen if you take it off the line (or out of the dryer) while it's still a little damp.

4. It’s Durable

Organic linen bedding is durable and will last for several years if cared for correctly. Indeed, scraps of linen have been found in the country of Georgia that are more than 34,000 years old, making linen the world's oldest textile. It is said that Alexander the Great wore a laminated linen breastplate as he conquered swathes of Europe and Asia, as it was both strong and light. Linen has also provided the canvas to many great works of art, as artists prize it for its durability.

Once again, this is all thanks to the flax plant, which has a strong core known as a bast. Linen, therefore, is part of a family of fibers known as "bast fibers." Other bast fibers include jute, hemp, and ramie—all textiles known for their strength.

Bast fibers comprise many cells packed together, making them much more durable than single-celled fibers such as cotton. The longer your duvet covers last, the less often you'll need to replace them, saving you money in the long run.

5. It’s Sustainable

Making the switch to organic linen bedding is one of the more sustainable choices you can make for your home.

Organic flax requires no artificial irrigation, unlike cotton which is famously water-hungry: you need 713 gallons of water to make just one cotton shirt! On the other hand, retting—the process by which the linen fibers are separated from the rest of the plant—takes place in the flax fields, using just dew and rainwater.

European flax fields act as huge carbon sinks, trapping more carbon dioxide than is emitted during linen production. This makes organic linen a carbon-negative textile.

One emission caused by our organic linen duvet covers that is unavoidable however is that which comes from shipping. Fortunately, we've thought of that too: with every purchase, we offset the carbon emissions from shipping through our partnership with Planet.

6. It’s Ethical

The production of organic linen (unlike cotton, which has been called "the world's dirtiest crop") involves no pesticides, five times less fertilizer than cotton, and no harmful production chemicals or dyes. Don't just take our word for it, though: our organic linen duvet covers have received the Standard 100 Class 1 (the highest possible grade) from OEKO-TEX, which tests textiles for certain chemicals. Class 1 certification is proof that a textile is free from harmful substances such as Azo dyes and formaldehyde.

Organic linen bedding is also made in a socially responsible way. We're proud to say that our European bedding is certified by GOTS, meaning that all workers are paid fairly and work freely at every stage of production. The same cannot be said of cotton, which is associated with bonded labor and other human rights abuses.

7. It’s Beautiful

None of this would mean very much if organic linen didn't look good in your home. Fortunately, it's one of the most beautiful textiles you'll see—the perfect complement to many interior design styles (not just Scandinavian!). With a 34,000-year history, organic linen has truly stood the test of time.

In our online store, you'll find organic linen duvet covers in a range of styles, so you'll certainly find one to suit you. Our solid-color bedding comes in several colors, while our printed sets honor the flora and fauna present throughout Scandinavia.

Do you own organic linen bedding? What do you most love about it? Let us know on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter!