Pure flax, Linen is one of the most expensive natural and renewable materials used for fabrics today.
Linen is expensive because flax plants require labor-intensive cultivation and complex processing to transform into fabric, with multiple manual steps needed to extract and prepare the fibers. The crop produces lower yields per acre than cotton and can only be grown in specific climates, limiting global production. However, linen's exceptional durability, breathability, and longevity justify the higher cost since quality pieces can last for decades.
It also goes without saying that there's one company who processes approximately 80% of the world's flax linen into yarn. This is a little known industry secret, but it is also something that we leverage to get some of the best pricing on the world's highest quality, pure flax linen materials.
The above reasons entail why linen is expensive.
It's important to know that we're discussing pure flax linen here. This is different from linen blends, which often use lower-quality flax or sometimes no flax at all. Even fabrics labeled "100% linen" can be misleading (they might only refer to a linen-style weave pattern rather than the actual flax material).
It is however important to note some of the more favorable qualities of linen that justify the expense.
It offers exceptional durability, breathability, and longevity compared to other natural materials. Pure flax linen will actually grow softer with each wash and wear while still maintaining its strength. Offering some of the best qualities you can get out of a natural material for clothing.
Whilst I was scouring through the linen supply chain, I was astonished to discover the high industry concentration and pricing control over linen processing and seeds. But it is also worth noting that this control leads to a more superior final product.
The near Monopoly on linen processing helps maintain a consistent quality standard, but the Monopoly definitely makes pricing more premium.
Needless to say that there are other parts of the world where you can actually buy them and grown and processed within the same region, but this does not necessarily mean it is a superior product. All that this means is that the supplier is able to secure better profit margins, and benefit from the high market price set by the world's leading linen processor, without offering the same technology and processes to achieve a truly high-grade finished flax linen fabric.
The industry for linen is extremely small. The demand for linen is extremely high.
There is an ever-growing multitude of fabrics in the marketplace intended to mimic the qualities of linen, whilst containing absolutely zero flax.
So when you do go to buy anything with linen fabric, be absolutely certain that you are buying 100% flax linen.