When the temperatures go up, all I want to reach for is natural fibers — specifically, my linen clothing. There’s nothing quite as breathable or breezy as linen. So in this guide I break down what to know about this quintessential summer fiber, and share my top selections for linen clothing brands. They’re all small to mid-sized brands, mostly women-led!
Why is everyone suddenly talking about linen clothing?
Linen is one of the oldest fibers known to man — archaeologists and paleobiologists have discovered flax fibers were used in the prehistoric era. Linen wrappings were even used for mummification in ancient Egypt! And if you’re thinking: is this flax related to the flaxseeds we eat? The answer is yes — the flax plant is quite multifunctional, producing both flax seeds (also used for products like linseed oil) and the stalks can be used to create linen cloth.
But I digress! Point is, neither the flax plant nor linen is anything new, but it does seem to be making a new resurgence in popularity these past several years.
Why? Well, after decades of a growing number of textiles being made from synthetics derived from fossil fuels, there’s been somewhat of a backlash against these plastic-based fibers. Consumers are increasingly aware of the fabrics touching their skin, and how the fibers feel on hot sweltering days.
Linen is a plant fiber that has natural thermo-regulating properties, allowing heat to escape from the body while absorbing moisture. Which makes it incredibly comfortable as a fabric for dresses, blouses, and trousers when the temperatures rise. Linen fabric also has a natural lived-in elegance. In an era of perfect Instagram posts, photoshopped models, and AI-generated everything, the texture and even wrinkles of linen feel refreshingly grounded.
But buyer beware! Many brands say terms like “linen blend” while blending their linen with materials like polyester. So for this guide, I selected brands that exclusively or primarily use 100% linen — or blend linen with other natural fibers like cotton.
Is linen more sustainable than cotton?
In general, I’m not a big fan of pitting natural fibers up against each other. There are just so many considerations to evaluate environmental sustainability: carbon emissions, land usage, eutrophication, biodiversity impacts, and toxicity. Not to mention the exact same natural fiber can be farmed and processed quite differently, dramatically changing its impacts.
That said, flax plants are quite durable — they can be grown in the harshest of climate conditions that require minimum water. What’s more impressive is the plant’s ability to absorb carbon. The European Confederation of Flax and Hemp (CELC) states that one hectare of flax absorbs 3.7 tons of CO2 every year.
While the irrigation needs of the crop are dependent on the region’s climate (just as with cotton), 450–750 mm of water per season is sufficient for flaxseed. In fact, some studies even indicate that flax could be regarded as a drought-tolerant crop. So on one hand, this can be a positive —even in dry environments, flax plants’ water needs remain low. But there’s a flip-side to everything: flax plants can suffer if there is too much water too.
Before the fibers are spun into the breezy linen you know and love, its fibers are loosened and separated from the rest of the stalk through a process known as “retting”. At that point, the fibers are still straw-like and coarse in texture. This might be chemical retting (more common, may use harmful agents) or dew retting (natural process, but slower and harder to achieve consistent results).
To soften it, the fibers are broken up into small, short bits, while the actual fiber is left unharmed, and then “scutched”, where the straw is scraped off the fiber. After which they are then pulled through “hackles”, that comb the straw out of the fiber to finally prepare flax for spinning into linen fabric.
There’s more we could dive into, but all in all, I’m not a fan of saying “linen is better than cotton” necessarily. Because frankly, it depends! Even if the flax plant was grown without harmful chemicals and pesticides, the chemical retting might introduce harmful substances to the fabric. And we don’t always know the full story of how the fabric was produced.
Not to mention, it depends on the use case! Linen can be better for certain garments — linen fabric is up to 12 times stronger than cotton, helping increase its longevity. I love linen dresses and trousers! But I wouldn’t personally want to wear linen underwear, as it’d be quite rough and stiff. Cotton makes more sense for something like a soft tee, undergarments, or comfy sweatpants.
How to find sustainable linen clothing
Note: This guide includes partners and/or affiliates. As always, brands must meet high standards for sustainability and ethics — and I only share brands that I believe in.
So of course, I’m a big advocate for “secondhand first” when it comes to all fashion, including linen clothing. While your local thrift store might not be filled with 100% linen clothes, online secondhand shops can be a great resource.
For luxury and premium brands, Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal. For more affordable options, my favorite pick is ThredUp because you can filter by natural fibers only. To be clear: the listings aren’t always accurate, so I still double check the descriptions of any product that shows up with that filter, but it does save some time to start there.
When looking for new linen clothing, I always prioritize small to mid-size women-led businesses. And I check the product details to see if they use 100% linen or if they’re deceptively saying “linen blend” and then it’s actually 50% polyester!
And while not perfect you can also look for certifications. These are the ones most relevant to linen clothing and linen fashion brands.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifies that the finished textile product has been tested for harmful substances (heavy metals, formaldehyde, pesticide residue). This is a chemical-safety certification, not a guarantee of fair labor or environmental practices. So it tells you the linen has been tested for potentially toxic chemicals, but it doesn’t tell you who made it or how. Note that some brands just say “OEKO-TEX certified” — that virtually always refers to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, the most common certification from OEKO-TEX.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certifies that a textile contains a minimum percentage of certified organic fiber and meets environmental and social criteria through processing. It’s the standard for verifying a fabric is genuinely “organic,” not just marketed that way.
B Corp certifies the company as a whole against social and environmental performance standards (labor, governance, environmental impact). This is a business-level cert, not a product-level one, so it doesn’t speak to any single garment’s materials.
Fair Trade Certified verifies that the specific factory/facility producing the item meets standards for labor conditions, wages, and worker safety, and that a Community Development Premium is paid to workers. It’s a labor and production-facility certification. It doesn’t certify the fabric’s environmental footprint or chemical content (that’s what OEKO-TEX covers), so a garment can carry both certifications and they’re speaking to different things.
My top picks for linen clothing brands
I scoured through dozens of brands to find my top picks for brands with sustainably-crafted linen clothing for women (some have men’s clothing too). I’ve included their conscious qualities, what they’re best for, and any caveats so you can make the best decision for yourself. Keep in mind while shopping that 100% linen garments won’t have any stretch — so if you run between sizes, I’d default to sizing up. But of course, check the size chart and reviews for each brand because some may run true to size or even oversized, and if you like a closer fit, you may even prefer to size down.
1. Linen Handmade Studio
Best for: tailored, elevated linen clothing
A lot of linen clothing can feel quite casual. And while Linen Handmade studio does have relaxed-fit options, what differentiates the brand in my opinion is their tailored options. I often hear from conscious readers that they want to wear natural fibers to work, but they can’t find something nice enough. Enter in: Linen Handmade Studio’s tailored pieces.
The brand has linen blazers and jackets, linen vests, and linen pants elevated enough for work or an evening out. (They even have bridesmaid dresses.) I’ve been wearing their Evelyn Longline Linen Vest in red clay and Nydia Linen Wrap Dress in warm olive on repeat and gotten so many compliments on both. Each piece is made to order just for you, in their studio in Lithuania.
Conscious Qualities: Made to Order, Crafted in Lithuania
Price Range: $68 – $305
Size Range: US 2-18 (runs slightly small, I’d size up!)
Based in: Lithuania | Ships: Internationally; free U.S. shipping on orders $300+
2. MATE
Best for: casual GOTS-certified organic linen clothing
Prioritizing natural non-toxic materials, MATE has a collection of comfy linen shorts, loose-fit button-downs, and pants made from GOTS-certified organic linen and colored with low-impact dyes.
The flip-side of MATE’s strict standards on dyes means that the color options at the brand are a bit more limited than you might see elsewhere. They carry white, black, and “dune” — a soft beige. It’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make for clothes I wear regularly, though I wouldn’t want to fill my entire wardrobe necessarily with only these colors.
I have their organic linen button-down in white and it’s been a reliable staple for me the past two years that’s held up beautifully. It’s basically the piece I reach for when I don’t know what else to wear in my closet.
Conscious Qualities: GOTS-Certified Organic Linen, Low-Impact Dyes, Non-Toxic Materials
Price Range: $88 – $178
Size Range: XS – XL
Based in: U.S. | Ships: Internationally
3. Linen Fox
Best for: romantic pastoral clothing in trend-forward colors and prints
Linen Fox is a Lithuanian small independent fashion brand — their team of 16 people make all of their linen clothing — including womenswear, menswear, and kids clothes.
The brand’s garments are made from OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified linen fabric. The label follows fair trade principles to production and reduces fabric waste by selling their fabric scraps as samples, and crafting accessories like scrunchies. They also ship in 98% plastic-free packaging.
Conscious Qualities: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified Linen, Ethically Made in Lithuania, Zero-Waste Scraps, Plastic-Free Packaging
Price Range: $74 – $187
Size Range: XS – XL (several products fit oversized; check each description!)
Based in: Lithuania | Ships: Internationally
4. Magic Linen
Best for: linen separates plus matching home linens
From classic linen shirts to linen aprons and linen pajamas, Magic Linen is your destination for finding summer-ready sustainable linen clothing for men or women.
The small business’ linen clothing is made with European flax linen certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100. The Etsy shop also has plenty of linen home goods — I have linen curtains and bedsheets from Magic Linen and the quality of the fabric has been fantastic, with the sheets holding up well even after years of washing.
Conscious Qualities: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified, European Flax
Price Range: $93 – $298
Size Range: XS – XXL
Based in: Lithuania | Ships: Internationally
5. Beaumont Organic
Best for: European-made linen clothing with full factory transparency
Beaumont Organic is a UK-based slow fashion brand with transparently made linen clothing made within a local ecosystem — in fact, 97% of production (including fiber spinning and dyeing to cut & sew and finishing) takes place within a 50 kilometer radius in Northern Portugal. The brand also has a repair program, available within the UK only.
I love the warm burnt orange “Russet” linen clothing from Beaumont Organic as well as their 30% linen 70% organic cotton knitwear — these would make for perfect summer knits. The label’s linen dresses, jumpsuits, and blouses also come in colors like sunflower (think somewhere between butter yellow and mustard) and apple (a vibrant light green).
Conscious Qualities: Factory Transparency, Repair Program
Price Range: $211 – $300
Size Range: XS – L
Based in: UK | Ships: Internationally
6. LoveAndConfuse
Best for: vintage-inspired feminine style linen clothing
Another small Lithuanian brand on Etsy with ethically-made vintage-inspired feminine styles, LoveAndConfuse has dresses with ruffled hems, bell sleeves, gingham prints, and peter pan collars as well as classic picks like wrap midi dresses, linen tanks, and collared vests. Some of the pieces are made with OEXO-TEX Standard 100 certified linen as well.
A few of their newer styles feel a bit too cottagecore for my personal taste, but if you love a pastoral, prairie almost turn-of-the-century feeling aesthetic, LoveAndConfuse has plenty of options. And they do have some more subtle feminine pieces, like their bell-sleeve dresses and tie-front shirts.
Conscious Qualities: Transparent In-House Production, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified Linen (some pieces)
Price Range: $116 – $225
Size Range: XS – XL
Based in: Lithuania | Ships: Internationally
7. Neu Nomads
Best for: classic linen garments and resortwear
Neu Nomads is another option for linen clothing elevated enough to wear to a nice restaurant — or five star hotel. Their linen collection ranges from double breasted linen jackets and trousers to linen kaftans and loose-fit blouses, all made from 100% OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified linen.
The pieces come in classic (though limited) colors like white, black, olive, and bright coral. I love how Neu Nomads styled the relaxed drape of linen with a strappy sandal. Mesh flats or pointed-toe slides could have a similar effect. The majority of the brand’s garments (85%) are produced in a family-owned factory in Delhi that pays above living wages.
Conscious Qualities: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified Linen, Living Wage
Price Range: $159 – $359
Size Range: XXS – XXL
Based in: U.S. | Ships: Internationally
8. EILEEN FISHER
Best for: organic and Fair Trade Certified linen clothing with circularity programs
Slow fashion brand EILEEN FISHER has elegant, minimalistic garments made from eco-minded fabrics including organic linen. Several of the pieces are made in Fair Trade Certified factories.
This is the largest company on the list, but still considered a medium-sized enterprise — and, of course, this namesake label is woman-founded.
EILEEN FISHER’s organic linen clothing is timeless and made with quality, as part of their circularity efforts. In addition to ensuring their pieces last, the brand also has a resale program called Renew and a “third life” program that repurposes unwearable garments into unique artwork and other goods.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Certified Options, Organic Linen, Resale Program, Textile Repurposing
Price Range: $98 – $268
Size Range: XXS – XL
Based in: U.S. | Ships: Within U.S.
Your Questions, Answered:
What about Quince’s linen clothing?
While Quince offers more affordable linen clothing, in my experience their linen clothing is ok quality, but does not compare with the quality of some of the other brands on this list. Also, I personally want to prioritize women-led small businesses for my guides, not venture-backed billion-dollar companies.
Should I look for organic linen clothing?
While organic linen is wonderful, it is quite rare. Only two brands on this list use certified organic linen. Note that OEKO-TEX Standard 100 linen is not “organic” linen, but rather linen clothing that has been tested against common harmful substances. The most common certification for organic fiber clothing is Global Organic Textile Standard, or GOTS.
Is there any linen clothing that’s work-appropriate?
This one depends on your work place’s dress code, but there are a few options on this list with linen blazers, trousers, and other more tailored pieces like Linen Handmade Studio and Neu Nomads.
How do you care for linen clothing?
When it comes to caring for linen clothing, linen can be washed on a gentle machine cycle with a mild detergent. (Check out these low waste low-impact detergent options.)
In case you’re curious whether linen stretches or shrinks, then there isn’t much to worry about. Linen is mostly pre-shrunk during the manufacturing stages but pure linens may show about 4% shrinkage. And linen does not really stretch at all.
Finally, it’s no secret that linen clothing tends to wrinkle easily! You may choose to embrace the natural characteristics of linen and wear your linen clothing as is, or if you want a crisper look, you may either want to look for a linen blended fabric, or be prepared to steam and/or iron your garments after each wash.
