Linen in sportswear: Alliance pushes performance traits
European linen’s soil-friendly growing techniques and natural performance attributes are highlighted in a new campaign to boost their visibility and increase their use in sports and outdoorwear fabrics.
The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is promoting the fibres’ breathability and thermoregulating properties through marketing materials and at trade shows, with fabrics on show at Milano Unica including linens with PU or water-repellent coatings, and linen blends with cotton, viscose and elastane.
“There is a growing interest in natural fibres, and having the traceable story from Europe is also desirable,” said a spokesperson.
The alliance has also introduced updated certifications for its members: Masters of Flax Fibre and Masters of Linen.
Three-quarters of the world's production of long fibres (the main product from scutching for the textile industry) is produced in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. In 2024, reported sown area of European Flax totalled a record 185,849 hectares (France 162,124 ha; Belgium: 20,156 ha; Netherlands 3,569 ha).
