Decorating our home has become one of my favourite past-times. When it comes to soft furnishings, I’m always looking for natural fibres and ethically-made items. It’s how I discovered Linen Tales, a luxury linen home and clothing brand using sustainably-sourced linen. In the run up to the holidays, I wanted to share with you how I’m making our home cosier using one of nature’s hardiest and most sustainable materials, as well as showcase a few beautiful designs from Linen Tales.
Linen Homewares: A Sustainable Choice
Linen is a sustainable fabric I tout very often when I write about fashion, but it’s something I haven’t written so much on when it comes to homewares. However, the manufacturing process is the same: linen is a textile that’s made exclusively from flax, a natural fibre that grows predominantly in Europe and Asia. Flax has been cultivated and spun into linen for thousands of years, and linen is better for the environment than cotton, as it requires less water, energy, and pesticides.
You might be familiar with the term ‘bed linen’, but nowadays this term represents bedding made with any materials – bamboo, cotton, even polyester. Yet, this term exists because bedding used to be widely made from linen, due to its breathability, longevity, and softening over time. In fact, linen bedding would be passed down from generation to generation, because it would get softer and softer over time, making it even more valuable than newly-made bed linen!
Why I Choose Linen For My Home
I love decorating with linen in my home because of its natural origins and classic look. Just like wood, linen adds a softness and natural element to decorating.
One thing that is important to check when decorating with linen is the quality of the textile. High quality linen will be evenly dyed and slub-free, for a more consistent look and softer feel. I can happily attest to the high quality of all Linen Tales products – both their homewares and clothing is beautifully made, with no slubs or pulls.
In fact, I particularly like Linen Tales because they use OEKO-TEX and EUROPEAN FLAX certified linen, which ensures a higher standard of safety and environmental practices throughout their supply chain too. They also manufacture their products in Lithuania, ensuring fair working conditions and a reduced carbon footprint.
Linen Tales has been featured in my guide to sustainable bedding for some time now, however, there’s much more to the brand than just bedding, so I wanted to share with you some of my favourite items from their range – from decorative napkins through to my favourite linen shirt!
My Sustainable Homewares from Linen Tales
We’ve been living in our little cottage for almost three years now, and in that time, I’ve invested in sustainable homewares that will last for years to come. My favourite picks from Linen Tales are:
- Linen Tablecloth. We have a custom-made dining table suited to my partner and I, and the Linen Tales Round Tablecloth makes for the perfect cover. This tablecloth comes in a range of sizes, so it’s worth measuring up to get the perfect drape. It is handcrafted from fine pre-softened linen and it falls beautifully, bringing a softness and warmth to the table that makes each meal feel a little more special.
- Linen Napkins. On special occasions, I like to break out my Washed Linen Napkins. I decided to go for the ash grey colour, as it fits well with our living/dining room’s neutral colour palette, and can be accessorised with pops of colour from candles or a floral arrangement. These are stone washed for added softness, and are much more luxurious, and much more sustainable, than paper napkins.
- Linen Apron. Finally, my favourite item from Linen Tales has to be my Striped Linen Apron. This is so useful in the kitchen – and if you’ve read my food posts, you’ll know I love to cook! – and my partner also enjoys wearing it too. It has an adjustable strap, hand-tied sides, and two roomy pockets too. And, as it’s 100% linen, it can easily be thrown in the washing machine to clean any spills or stains.
Linen Clothing That Lasts
Alongside their beautiful homewares, Linen Tales also sells a range of linen clothing for men and women. I have a few linen items in my wardrobe already – a white skirt, a pair of shorts, and a linen dress – all of which have lasted a few years, so I was excited to complete my collection with this natural linen shirt.
The Azalea shirt is the perfect linen shirt. The first thing I said when I unwrapped the shirt was “wow this is well made!” It comes in a mid-weight linen that’s non-see-through and even all over, with a carefully cut collar and press studs. It’s beautifully made, and fits true to size. I enjoy wearing it tucked into jeans, or tied at the waist.
I’d like to update my sleepwear next year, and I’ve bookmarked Linen Tales’ range of pyjamas and dressing gowns for this reason.
My Rating of Linen Tales: 10/10
I have been so impressed by Linen Tales, and I am really happy with the pieces I’ve selected for my home and wardrobe. Their designs are beautiful, timeless, and really well made. The same goes for their clothing, which could easily be split out to become its own, standalone fashion brand. I’m excited to see how everything holds up over time, and if they’re anything like the other linen items I own, they’ll remain in great condition for years to come.
I also think that Linen Tales is really fairly priced, and their price tags reflect the quality materials as well as the ethical production that goes into each piece. I know I’ll be revisiting their store as I continue to decorate our little cottage home.
My Top Picks At Linen Tales
Have you invested in linen for your home or wardrobe? I’d love to know your thoughts!
