Linen:
the best toddler life-hack
Let's talk about LINEN!
Linen is quite possibly the best & most sustainable fabric on planet earth, especially if you've got a rough and tumble toddler.Once I literally cornered one of those American settler re-enactment people at a historical site (she was weaving next to an open fire over which they were literally roasting a rabbit) and made her tell me EXACTLY how linen was first grown, harvested, processed and spun into yarn. Either she was completely annoyed with me or she was just glad someone gave a sh* for once. Either way, she positively took me to school, so sit tight and I'll spin YOU a yarn about this amazing fiber.
Naturally Organic
Linen comes from the flax plant and it can be grown on every continent on the planet. Flax is hearty, survives on rainwater alone, requires little to no pesticides or fertilizers, and grows quickly. It is cut or pulled form the earth, seeds removed by a process called "winnowing," and the fibers are separated to collect the longest pieces.
Why does it matter?
Because your baby deserves it! Cotton is the most chemically treated crop on earth. And many children's clothes contain polyester (alias names: acrylic, acetate or spandex) which are actually plastic petro-chemicals.
Those little plastic fibers get into your child's lungs and STAY THERE. Also, they take 300+ years to break down and literally no one wants to dress their child in plastic.
Linen on the other hand is naturally anti-microbial, breathable, and dries much more quickly than other fabrics. It keeps your child cool while protecting them from sun, and keeps their skin clean and dry.
Stronger than Cotton
It's those loooooong fibers that make linen so much more durable than other fabrics. Here's a photo of linen fibers next to cotton ones--cotton is soft, but the fibers are so short that a single strand can be easily broken. Linen is 3x stronger than cotton, and the fibers actually get STRONGER when wet (so you can scrub stains out without fear of damaging the garment.)
"the BEST"
"My kiddo chooses these over everything else she owns every. single. time. She loves how they look and let her play without limits, I love that she's worn them to jump in muddy puddles, to go foraging in tall grass, to play in the pool, and they still look BRAND NEW."
-Ashley R.
Classic & Timeless
Pre-industrial revolution, EVERY child wore linen clothing because it was so easy to care for. This makes linen an absolute classic for babies and toddlers. It holds up and never goes out of style. You can hand them down from child to child...or to future generations!
Better with Time
What kind of children's clothes look BETTER the more your kiddo wears them??? LINEN! Linen only gets softer with wear (but doesn't lose strength) unlike cotton which fades, pills and tears over time. Many of our customers say our linen outfits stay looking brand-new, but get softer with every wash too!
Easy to Care For
Many people fear linen because they think it's hard to care for. Who is responsible for this smear campaign??? Linen is the EASIEST fabric--it can be washed alongside all your other clothes, stains almost always wash clean without treatment (because of the loose weaving,) and while you can put it in the dryer it looks best when hung to dry. And as for wrinkles? They're a FEATURE, not a bug!
And that's the skinny on linen! Many thanks to that sweet bonnet-ed lady who endured my ten million questions and let me take these photos of her work in progress. Know any more fun linen facts I missed? Send me a note on Instagram! Find me @beyamade
Much love,
Laurel
founder, Beya Made
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