What color is linen fabric?

Linen fabric comes from the flax plant, an ancient flowering crop that thrives in the damp, cool conditions of Norther Europe. Flax has been cultivated for thousands of years for its fiber that's used to make linen clothing, textiles, rope and many many more everyday items. The flax flower is a blue-purple color – but does that mean that the final linen fabric will be this color?

The answer is 'No'. The natural color of undyed linen is known as 'linen gray'. This isn't a uniform tone, however, as the color will vary according to how the flax crop has been grown and processed. In its natural state, woven linen fabric tones range from ivory, beige, oatmeal and ecru.

Discover what causes these different tones, and how linen is dyed:

Why does linen color vary?

The color of the processed linen depends on the conditions in which it was produced. Factors from time of harvest to drying conditions will affect the color of the finished fabric. If the flax is harvested early the processed natural linen color will have a greeny-yellowish tone. A green tinge can also be the result of soil that's high in nitrogen, or a very early harvest before the plant is fully ripe. If the flax is harvested late the natural shade will be a warm brown. During the processing stages, flax is soaked in water, and the temperature can affect the final color – colder water will give the fiber a blueish hint.

So, even in undyed linen you'll find variations in its natural tones.

What color linen fabrics are available?

Many people love undyed linen color for its rustic, natural feel. It's perfect for linen bedding, summer clothing, light curtains and bathroom towels. Undyed linen is also antimicrobial and anti-allergenic, so after a few washes it will feel super soft and comfortable against your skin.

But if you're after a different look – maybe pops of bold colors, darker moody gray or bright white – you'll need to search for dyed linen. You can even get black linen fabric, which makes perfect floaty dresses or tote bags as you don't need to worry about marks.

Good quality flax fiber takes color well, meaning there's a huge range of shades and colors available. When you shop for colourful or natural linen make sure you buy from a reputable retailer, to make sure the dyes used haven't damaged the flax fiber or that bleach hasn't harmed the natural strength and resilience of the fabric.

How is linen dyed different colors?

Early Medieval people dyed linen with woad, but modern dyeing methods use a combination of ancient and new technologies. Just as our ancestors did, before linen fabric is dyed it is washed, scoured to remove any debris, soil or oils and then treated with a range of direct dye, reactive dye and sulphur dye in a neutral or alkaline bath.

Direct dyes don't need any additional chemicals to fix them to the fiber and produce bright colors. This means they don't damage the flax fibers in the linen fabric.

For white fabrics, bleach is used to strip out the natural color and create a clean, pristine finish.

So, that's how your beautiful sparkling white linen table cloth or rich plum toned cushion covers goes from field to production to shop, and finally to your home. Thanks to its natural resilience and durability, even bleached or dyed linen fabric lasts for years. Which means you can keep enjoying your natural, colorful or clean white linen textiles.

To keep your linens looking their best, follow the care instructions on the garment as some dyes may not be as fast as others. If in doubt, wash in cool water and hang dry. Find out more about linen care here.