Linen Vs Cotton Shirts | Cotton and Linen Shirt Collection

In our latest blog we break down the difference between our linen and cotton shirts. Shirts both made from natural fabrics that have stood the test of time. We use both fabrics as part of our current ladies and men’s shirt collections. They both have unique characteristics that make them ideal for particular climates and occasions.

The Origins Of Linen Fabric

Linen fabric is made from the flax plant. It is one of the oldest textile fibres used by man. Evidence of its use has been found in prehistoric dwellings around lakes in Switzerland and fine linen fabrics have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs.

The Benefits of Linen

Linen fabric is in fact stronger than its cotton counterpart and a good conductor of heat. It's a fabric that is made to be durable.It also wicks sweat away by absorbing and releasing moisture quickly. Its wrinkled appearance is considered an asset rather than a problem and it is very breathable. These wicking properties make it feel cool to wearers. Not surprisingly it is often the fabric selected in hot climates. It is also available from many brands as nightwear for adults, boys and girls. The fine linen fabric we use for our shirts is lightweight to take advantage of these unique and desirable properties.

The Origins of Cotton Fabric

Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fibre that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants. Cotton is a natural fibre grown from cotton plants that are planted in the spring and harvested in autumn. It takes around five to six months from planting the crop to harvest. It is almost pure cellulose. It goes through a number of steps including ginning, spinning, washing and weaving to make the cotton fabric we are all familiar with.

The Benefits of Cotton Fabric

Cotton fabric is a very strong material, widely available and generally hypoallergenic. It comes with a structure that can keep you cool in the summer and provide a layer of insulation in the winter. Generally regarded as comfortable it can be easily dyed and is natural .Cotton is an incredibly versatile material that can be used in anything from dresses, bedding sheets, duvet, home furnishings, to fashion shirts

Cotton Shirts

Over 80% of all our shirts and blouses are cotton based. However that is then broken down into four distinct cotton weaves that we currently use; twill, poplin, herringbone and Oxford.

Oxford Cloth

Of the four weaves, most of our shirts are made with an Oxford cloth. This basket weave cloth has a lovely weight coupled with a luxurious feel and finish which drapes beautifully. The cloth can be used to create a wide selection of casual and smart casual shirts like our button down collar shirts.

Poplin

Poplin is a thinner fabric compared to oxford, but don’t be fooled it is still very strong. With a more formal finish, we reserve the cloth for our men’s double cuff shirts.

Herringbone and twill

Less common in our current collection, both weaves are somewhere between poplin and Oxford. Twill is also used as part of men’s create your own chinos.

Difference between regular cotton and the finest cotton

There is cotton and then there is the finest cotton. Our shirting fabrics are made from long staple US pima and Egyptian cotton. This strong and fine cotton, when woven by the best shirting mills creates stunning fabrics that are second to none. When many people think of Egyptian cotton, their thoughts turn to the finest bed linen.

Linen

We use linen in both our ladies and men’s shirt collections and offer a great selection of plain colours and stripes to cover both casual and more formal occasions. We currently use two different weights of linen. Our lightest weight is perfect for those really warm summer days and is used for our striped linen shirts and our men’s pink shirt. The lighter weight cloth is also a finer weave and makes the shirts a little more formal. Perfect to wear with smart jeans or tailored trousers.

Fully aware that we don’t get many really warm summers, the rest of our linen collection is made from a slightly heavier weight. The heavier weight will enable you to wear the shirts for more months of the year and the finish of the cloth is slightly rougher in a good way that makes the shirts more casual in appearance.