Quick Key Facts
- Tropical forests make up six percent of Earth’s land surface area, but are home to a stunning array of biodiversity.
- More than 50 percent of land-based plant and animal species on Earth can be found in tropical rainforests.
- Brazil is home to about a third of the planet’s remaining tropical rainforests, including two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest.
- Tropical forests store about a quarter of the world’s terrestrial carbon.
- Twenty-five percent of modern medicines are derived from plants found in tropical rainforests.
- According to a 2023 study, humans have already caused the degradation of more than a third of the Amazon rainforest.
- This year alone, 11.8 million acres have been destroyed by wildfires in the Brazilian Amazon.
What Are ‘Tropical Forests’?
Tropical forests are rich ecosystems located in tropical zones surrounding the equator. They have a dense upper canopy of broad-leafed trees and an astonishingly diverse array of animal and plant life.
These forests pack an enormous amount of biodiversity into the six percent of the planet’s land surface they occupy. In fact, 50 percent of known plant and animal species on Earth can be found in their wondrous depths, including ancient trees, fungi, two-thirds of all flowering plants, millions of insects, more than a thousand bird species and hundreds of mammal species.
Why Are Tropical Forests Important?
Tropical forests are essential habitats for many species, as well as sources of food, medicine and livelihoods for many humans. They also play a critical part in the planet’s water cycle and are crucial carbon sinks, storing about a quarter of all terrestrial carbon on Earth.
Types of Tropical Forests
Wet Tropical Forests
Wet tropical forests are of two types: moist forests, which include montane/cloud forests and monsoon forests, and equatorial evergreen rainforests.
Equatorial Evergreen Rainforests
Equatorial rainforests are frequently considered “real rainforests.” They get more than 80 inches of rain equally spread throughout the year and have a thick canopy of vegetation, as well as the most biodiversity. These rainforests make up about two thirds of the tropical wet forests on the planet.
Equatorial rainforests experience little variation throughout the seasons, and daytime sunlight is consistent all year long. They are most abundant in the Congo Basin, Amazonia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Moist Forests
Tropical moist forests are farther from the equator, and the amount of sunlight in a day and rainfall vary by season. They get 50 inches of rain per year and experience a dry season marked by cooler temperatures. The forest canopy thins out during the dry season as trees shed their leaves, allowing more sunlight onto the forest floor, which leads to the growth of “understory” vegetation.
Moist forests are prevalent in the Caribbean, South America, West Africa, Southeast Asia — primarily Burma, Vietnam and Thailand — and Sri Lanka in South Asia.
Monsoon Forests
Monsoon forests, known as “mixed forests,” make up part of the tropical forests in southeast and southern Asia. They experience a three- to five-month dry period when many deciduous tree species lose their leaves. Sunlight is thus able to reach the understory where rich vegetation grows.
Montane / Cloud Forests
Tropical montane cloud forests have continuous cloud cover or fog at ground level that provides the tree canopy and vegetation on the forest floor with a regular source of water that condenses on the surface.
These distinctive tropical ecosystems can be found in the mountains of Africa, Asia, America and Oceania between altitudes of about 2,625 to 11,483 feet.
Where Are Tropical Forests Found?
Tropical forests are found in the regions right around the equator, between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer, where the climate is relatively stable and warm year-round.
The nations with the most tropical forest area are Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Peru and Columbia, in that order.
Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, India, Suriname, Venezuela and Mexico also have vast areas of rainforest.
The largest rainforests on Earth are the Amazon rainforest in South America; the Congo rainforest in Africa; the Australasia rainforest, located in New Guinea, Papua New Guinea and Australia; the Sundaland rainforest in Southeast Asia; the Indo-Burma rainforest, also found in Southeast Asia; the Mesoamerica rainforest in North and Central America; the Wallacea rainforest, located on a group of islands between continental Asia and Australia; the West Africa rainforest; and the Atlantic and Chocó rainforests of South America.
Benefits of Tropical Forests
Rainforests are important to the health of our planet in a multitude of ways, including as habitat for many species of plants, animals and fungi, and for climate regulation, carbon sequestration and the maintenance of the world’s water cycle through evapotranspiration.
Habitat
More than 30 million animal and plant species — many of them threatened and endangered — call tropical forests home, in addition to an unknown number that have never been documented.
Mountain gorillas, jaguars, leopards, brown-throated three-toed sloths, okapis, capybaras and scarlet macaws are just some of the spectacular species that grace the forest floor, shrub layer and trees of the rainforest. Examples of species that might make you want to head in the other direction include the green anaconda, electric eel, bullet ant and poison dart frog. Preserving the habitats of the incredible plant and animal diversity found in tropical forests also means preserving these irreplaceable species.
Many songbird species travel thousands of miles to spend the winters in tropical forests, such as wood thrushes, the blue grosbeak and the yellow warbler.
Ancestral Territory of Indigenous Peoples
For millennia, Indigenous Peoples have been living with the rainforest and relying on it for shelter, food and medicine without overtaxing its abundance. It wasn’t until humans started stripping the balanced yet sensitive ecosystem with livestock grazing, monocrop agriculture like soybeans and palm oil, deforestation, poaching and oil extraction that the lungs of our planet began to falter.
Climate Regulation
Rainforests are a consistently moist environment thought to store more than half of the rainwater on Earth. Their abundant trees form clouds and mists by extracting water from the floor of the forest and releasing it into the atmosphere. This remarkable process recycles a huge amount of water that feeds the planet’s lakes and rivers and is used to irrigate crops.
Plants perform transpiration, the process by which water moves through a plant and evaporates from its stems, leaves and flowers. Evapotranspiration is the combination of evaporation and transpiration — water is transferred into the atmosphere when it evaporates from soil and other surfaces and through the process of transpiration by plants.
Prevention of Soil Erosion
Rainforest soils are actually nutrient-poor due to the fact that nutrients are stored in the abundant plants and trees. The thick canopy keeps heavy rains from oversaturating soils while tree roots prevent erosion by binding them together.
One of the reasons deforestation is so bad for the planet is because removing a tree means removing the nutrients and carbon it is made of along with it. This leaves topsoil bare and unanchored, meaning it and its nutrients are susceptible to being washed away when it rains, which can also lead to flooding of lowland rivers and cause blockages, while upland rivers stay dry.
Medicinal Plants
For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have used medicinal plants from tropical forests to soothe and cure ailments. A remarkable quarter of modern medicines are derived from the more than 200,000 plant species found there. However, these just scratch the surface of the possibilities, as we have discovered the medicinal uses of only one percent of the plants found in this natural healing pharmacy.
Challenges Facing Tropical Forests
Forest Clearing for Agriculture & Wildfires
One of the biggest threats to tropical forests is clearing for unsustainable agriculture and cattle ranching. This destroys trees, habitats and biodiversity in one fell swoop, leaving a wasteland where there was once a balanced ecosystem teeming with life.
Stripping the natural, fertile landscape to make way for what is often monocrop farming — most commonly soybeans and palm oil — leaves the environment more prone to wildfires with the potential to spread quickly.
Since the beginning of 2023, 11.8 million acres have been decimated by fires in the Brazilian Amazon. These fires were primarily caused by industrial agriculture and ranching.
Logging for Timber
Another contributor to the destruction of tropical forests is logging for wood to make flooring and furniture and for use in construction. To harvest the trees, roads are built to access remote areas of forest, further contributing to the degradation of the ecosystem. Logging workers hunt “bushmeat” like deer and endangered species such as gorillas and chimpanzees.
According to research, species numbers in logged areas of the rainforest are much lower than those in what is known as “primary” forest, which has remained untouched.
Traditionally, the harvesting of wood by local communities for building and firewood did not strip the ecosystem in permanently damaging ways, but populations have grown to the point that this practice has become unsustainable.
Oil Extraction
Oil extraction is one of the most damaging activities affecting tropical forests. In order to access areas with natural gas, oil companies cut through the forest to make roads. Workers come in to occupy the area temporarily, employing slash-and-burn agriculture and harming forests through hunting, introducing domestic animals and using trees for firewood. As they drill, oil companies burn natural gas flares, increasing the risk of fires and polluting the air.
The process of extracting oil means the risk of oil spills and toxic byproducts that are sometimes dumped into local waterways. Toxic chemicals stored in waste pits can also pollute streams, rivers and the surrounding land that can include swamps and flooded forests, floating meadows, sandbars and oxbow lakes.
Indigenous Tribes and other local communities have shouldered much of the displacement and pollution caused by oil extraction while not seeing much benefit. This can lead to conflict between Tribal and community members and oil companies.
Drought
The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. So big, in fact, that it makes its own weather. As much as half the rainfall it gets is produced by the moisture recycled by the forest itself. When there is a drought, trees can die in a domino-like effect. According to a 2022 study, for every three trees in the Amazon that die due to drought, a fourth tree will also die, even if it isn’t directly the result of drought.
The sooner humans move away from fossil fuels and stop the global heating that is the main hallmark of the climate crisis, the sooner tropical forests can go back to maintaining their natural balance without having to face threats like oil extraction and drought.
Mining
Illegal mining can cause serious social and ecological effects on the delicate rainforest ecosystem. Mining and deforestation go hand in hand, as trees are cut down to make charcoal for fuel in iron plants. The practice of mining also interferes with water drainage and pollutes rivers, streams and other water sources with run-off — affecting water quality and food supplies for wildlife, as well as Indigenous Peoples and others in the local communities.
Mercury is a toxic byproduct of gold extraction and may contaminate fish and the local populations that rely on them for food. Mercury also pollutes the atmosphere, making its way to locations other than the mining site.
Gold mining has also caused conflicts between Indigenous Peoples and the approximately half a million prospectors mining for gold on their land in the Amazon River Basin.
Dams
Damming rivers to produce hydropower has caused the decline of many fish species, as well as the degradation of wild and scenic rivers, including those in tropical forests.
Dam building takes a huge toll on biodiversity, and biodiversity loss can reduce the tropical forests’ ability to help mitigate and withstand climate change, according to studies.
Damming also traps the silt from a river at the point where it is dammed, which limits the nutrients and sediments that trees and forests rely on. Dams also stop natural flooding from occurring during the rainy season in the Amazon Basin, which prevents natural seed dispersal.
Wildlife Poaching
Poaching is the illegal hunting of wildlife and is one of the biggest threats to tropical forest biodiversity, threatening the survival of many species. International networks traffic in animals around the world to be sold for use in traditional medicine, the pet trade or for parts of animals such as their horns or tusks.
And it isn’t just animals; some timber species are overexploited, and the harvesting of rare flowers for use in cosmetics puts certain plant species at risk.
Overfishing
Around 3,000 species of fish can be found in the rivers and floodplains of the Amazon Basin, the highest biodiversity of freshwater species in the world. The more diverse fish populations are, the more resilient they will be. Fishing is essential for the sustenance of Indigenous Peoples living in the Amazon rainforest, but overfishing is threatening both the diversity and potentially the resiliency of fish populations, which can lead to food insecurity.
Climate Change
As global weather patterns shift and the planet heats up due to climate change, it can influence tropical forests’ ability to help form clouds through evapotranspiration. Fewer clouds mean less rainfall, which can lead to dryer intervals or even drought conditions, leaving the forest more prone to wildfires. Warmer and dryer conditions can also make fire seasons more destructive, putting stress on ecosystems.
What Can We Do to Support Tropical Forests?
As a Society
Humans have a lot to tackle in the immediate future with respect to tropical forests. The time has come for us to decide whether we will drive the cradle of the planet’s biodiversity to the brink of collapse, or turn the tide and stop the destruction.
At the same time that we are transitioning to renewable sources of power and putting a stop to the fossil fuel era as quickly as possible, we must also stop tropical forest destruction and begin to restore what has been degraded.
Governments of countries with tropical forests within their borders must work to stop deforestation, whether it be for agriculture, timber, mining or any other practice. They must also shut down mines, stop building dams and remove existing dams, crack down on wildlife poaching and end overfishing.
In Our Own Lives
There are important actions individuals can take in their everyday lives to help tropical forests. Here are a few ideas:
- Reduce your carbon footprint by taking public transportation, eating less meat and dairy, flying less, avoiding fast fashion and using less energy.
- Cut down or eliminate from your diet foods that are commonly grown on lands that have been razed for agriculture and grazing in tropical forests, such as beef, palm oil and soybeans.
- Choose products made by ecologically responsible manufacturers — look for those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or similar organizations — or that donate to rainforest causes.
- Shop less and choose products made from recycled materials in order to avoid new materials having to be sourced.
- Support Indigenous Peoples by purchasing fair trade products made by the people themselves. Make sure to support companies owned by Indigenous Peoples or those that source from Indigenous communities without taking advantage of them.
Takeaway
Tropical forests are in many ways the lungs and soul of our planet. They contain an extraordinary number of the plant and animal species on Earth in just six percent of its land surface area. But this magnificent testament to the world’s biodiversity is under threat from agriculture, deforestation, mining, wildlife poaching and climate change.
More than half of the tropical forests on the planet have already been destroyed, and more than a third of the Amazon rainforest has been degraded by humans. The time is now to switch from destruction to rehabilitation. Earth’s tropical forests can’t wait and neither can we.
The post Tropical Forests 101: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on EcoWatch.
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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!
Some Background on Linen
Where does linen come from?
Linen fiber is extracted from the stalks of flax plants. This plant is also known for providing us with nutritious flaxseeds and linseed oil — talk about an overachiever!
In fact, linen is one of the oldest fibers known to man, dating back to the prehistoric era. Archaeologists and paleobiologists have discovered flax fibers during excavations that were twisted, indicating they were used to make ropes or strings among many proposed applications that must have been a great advantage to the hunter-gatherer society. In fact, linen wrappings were even used for mummification in ancient Egypt.
Linen fabric is then created by obtaining its fibers from the inner bark (or stalks) of the flax plant.
How is the linen cloth made?
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.
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.
And linen clothing is, of course, garments comprised of linen fiber in its entirety or blended with other fibers. For this guide, I tried to select brands that only used 100% linen or at the minimum blended linen with other natural fibers like cotton.
The Benefits of Linen Clothing
Why wear linen? Known for being ideal during the summers, clothing made from linen will allow heat to escape from the body while absorbing moisture and drying relatively quickly. While linen may have a notorious reputation for wrinkling rather quickly, when blended with other fibers, the creases aren’t as discernible as they would be with pure linens.
While linen may be notorious for its high energy consumption owing to its need to be ironed more, linen clothing’s pros easily outweigh its cons.
Flax plants 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.
Is Linen More Sustainable Than Cotton?
While there are benefits and drawbacks to every fiber when it comes to environmental sustainability, there are a few points where linen stands out when compared to cotton.
First, we know that durability is a key aspect of sustainability, because it means our clothes will last, enabling us to keep our clothes longer and buy new clothing less frequently.
So how long does linen clothing last in comparison to cotton? Linen clothing is up to 12 times stronger than cotton, helping increase its longevity and taking away the need to be replaced so often.
Another question might be about flax’s water usage. 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.
How to 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 when it comes to stretch, linens aren’t known to stretch out over time but can show some level of elasticity when blended with other fibers.
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 relatively frequently.
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.
How to Find Sustainable Linen Clothing
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.
Where to Find Eco-Friendly Linen Clothing
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!
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 on repeat and gotten so many compliments on it.
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 effortless linen shorts, button-downs, and pants made from GOTS-certified organic linen and colored with low-impact dyes.
That means that the color options at MATE are a bit more limited than you might see at other brands. They carry white, black, and “dune” — a soft beige.
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.
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.
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.
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
Looking for breathable garments perfect for your summer getaway to the English countryside or sea? Look no further than Beaumont Organic.
Beaumont Organic is a UK slow fashion brand with garments made from natural fabrics, like flax linen clothing! The brand publishes a directory of the factories they source from — 97% of production takes place in Northern Portugal.
They also have a repair program and are launching a resale program (currently available within the UK only).
Price Range: $211 – $300
Size Range: XS – L
Based in: UK | Ships: Internationally
6. LoveAndConfuse
Best for: feminine style linen clothing
The linen clothing from this lovely small Lithuanian brand on Etsy are truly swoon-worthy!
From wrap dresses to ruffled midi’s to high-waisted linen shorts and linen crop tops, their collection of linen fashion will have you dreaming of a slow travel escape to somewhere warm and sunny.
Price Range: $116 – $225
Size Range: XS – XL
Based in: Lithuania | Ships: Internationally
7. Neu Nomads
Best for: classic linen garments and resortwear
With a mission to create simple, sustainable luxury, Neu Nomads offers quality classics made from earth-minded materials, including 100% OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified linen.
You’ll find linen trousers, effortless shirts, resort-ready kaftans, and tailored linen blazers in classic colors like white, black, olive, and bright coral.
Price Range: $159 – $359
Size Range: XXS – XXL
Based in: U.S. | Ships: Internationally
8. EILEEN FISHER
Best for: classic 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.
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.
More Sustainable Clothing Guides:
The Best Organic Cotton Fashion Brands
Actually Fashionable Hemp Clothing Brands
The post 8 Best Linen Clothing Brands With Easy Breezy, Beautiful Pieces appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
9 Best Linen Clothing Brands With Easy Breezy, Beautiful Pieces
Breezy, light, and breathable, we take a deep dive into how one of the best summer fabrics fares when it comes to sustainability while discovering these brands that are doing right by linen.
Some Background on Linen
Where does linen come from?
Linen fiber is extracted from the stalks of flax plants. This plant is also known for providing us with nutritious flaxseeds and linseed oil — talk about an overachiever!
In fact, linen is one of the oldest fibers known to man, dating back to the prehistoric era. Archaeologists and paleobiologists have discovered flax fibers during excavations that were twisted, indicating they were used to make ropes or strings among many proposed applications that must have been a great advantage to the hunter-gatherer society. In fact, linen wrappings were even used for mummification in ancient Egypt.
Linen fabric is then created by obtaining its fibers from the inner bark (or stalks) of the flax plant.
How is the linen cloth made?
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.
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.
And linen clothing is, of course, garments comprised of linen fiber in its entirety or blended with other fibers. For this guide, I tried to select brands that only used 100% linen or at the minimum blended linen with other natural fibers like cotton.
The Benefits of Linen Clothing
Why wear linen? Known for being ideal during the summers, clothing made from linen will allow heat to escape from the body while absorbing moisture and drying relatively quickly. While linen may have a notorious reputation for wrinkling rather quickly, when blended with other fibers, the creases aren’t as discernible as they would be with pure linens.
While linen may be notorious for its high energy consumption owing to its need to be ironed more, linen clothing’s pros easily outweigh its cons.
Flax plants 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.
Is Linen More Sustainable Than Cotton?
While there are benefits and drawbacks to every fiber when it comes to environmental sustainability, there are a few points where linen stands out when compared to cotton.
First, we know that durability is a key aspect of sustainability, because it means our clothes will last, enabling us to keep our clothes longer and buy new clothing less frequently.
So how long does linen clothing last in comparison to cotton? Linen clothing is up to 12 times stronger than cotton, helping increase its longevity and taking away the need to be replaced so often.
Another question might be about flax’s water usage. 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.
How to 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 when it comes to stretch, linens aren’t known to stretch out over time but can show some level of elasticity when blended with other fibers.
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 relatively frequently.
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.
How to Find Sustainable Linen Clothing
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.
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.
Where to Find Eco-Friendly Linen Clothing
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!
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 on repeat and gotten so many compliments on it.
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 effortless linen shorts, button-downs, and pants made from GOTS-certified organic linen and colored with low-impact dyes.
That means that the color options at MATE are a bit more limited than you might see at other brands. They carry white, black, and “dune” — a soft beige.
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.
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.
Price Range: $74 – $187
Size Range: XS – XL (several products fit oversized; check each description!)
Based in: Lithuania | Ships: Internationally
4. OhSevenDays
Best for: deadstock linen with custom sizing available
OhSevenDays was founded by Megan Mummery after seeing the vast supply of surplus fabrics (i.e. deadstock) in Istanbul, Turkey.
While originally sourcing their deadstock fabric from middleman sellers, OhSevenDays now sources their surplus fabrics (including linen) directly from OEKO-TEX fabric mills for better transparency.
Price Range: $$
Size Range: XS-XL + custom sizing options
Based in: Turkey | Ships: Internationally
5. Magic Linen
Best for: linen separates plus matching home linens
From classic linen shirts to linen aprons and linen pajamas, Magic Linen is your destination for finding summer-ready sustainable linen clothing for men or women.
The small business’ linen clothing is made with European flax that means the pre-certification guidelines of OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
The Etsy shop also has plenty of linen home goods — I have linen curtains and bedsheets from Magic Linen and the quality of the fabric has been fantastic, with the sheets holding up well even after years of washing.
Price Range: $-$$
Size Range: XS – XXL
Based in: Lithuania | Ships: Internationally
6. Beaumont Organic
Best for: UK-made linen with full factory transparency
Looking for breathable garments perfect for your summer getaway to the English countryside or sea? Look no further than Beaumont Organic.
Beaumont Organic is a UK slow fashion brand with garments made from natural fabrics, like flax linen clothing! The brand publishes a directory of the factories they source from — 97% of production takes place in Northern Portugal.
They also have a repair program and are launching a resale program (currently available within the UK only).
Price Range: ££ – £££
Size Range: XS – L
Based in: UK | Ships: Internationally; covers EU customs & fees
7. LoveAndConfuse
Best for: ultra feminine style linen clothing
The linen clothing from this lovely small Lithuanian brand on Etsy are truly swoon-worthy!
From wrap dresses to ruffled midi’s to high-waisted linen shorts and linen crop tops, their collection of linen fashion will have you dreaming of a slow travel escape to somewhere warm and sunny.
Price Range: $ – $$
Size Range: XS – XL
Based in: Lithuania | Ships: Internationally
8. Neu Nomads
Best for: affordable linen garments
With a mission to create simple, sustainable luxury at affordable prices, Neu Nomads offers quality classics made from earth-minded materials, including organic linen.
You’ll find linen trousers, effortless shirts, chic blouses, summer dresses, and even linen blazers in a range of colors among Neu Nomad’s consciously crafted selection.
Price Range: $ – $$
Size Range: XS – XL
Based in: U.S. | Ships: Internationally
9. EILEEN FISHER
Best for: investment-piece linen with a circularity program
Slow fashion label EILEEN FISHER has elegant, minimalistic garments made from eco-minded fabrics including organic linen.
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 called Waste No More that repurposes unwearable garments into unique items.
Price Range: $$$
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.
More Sustainable Clothing Guides:
The Best Organic Cotton Fashion Brands
Actually Fashionable Hemp Clothing Brands
The post 9 Best Linen Clothing Brands With Easy Breezy, Beautiful Pieces appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
9 Best Linen Clothing Brands With Easy Breezy, Beautiful Pieces
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