Linen is often described as the ideal summer material due to its ability to “cool” even in the hottest of temperatures. Many people notice that they feel more comfortable in linen clothing than in other fabrics, which is why linen has become a symbol of lightness and breathability. But is its cooling effect real, or is it just a widespread myth?
In this article, we’ll look at the scientific explanation behind why linen is so popular in the summer. We’ll focus on its unique properties, such as high breathability, moisture-wicking ability, and low thermal conductivity. All of this will ultimately help us answer the question: Does linen really cool you down, or is it just a popular marketing slogan?
Chapters
- Linen breathability
- Thermal conductivity of flax
- The ability of linen to wick away moisture
- Structure of flax fibers
- Comparing the properties of flax with other materials
- Choosing linen weight for summer
- Light vs. dark colors
- Proper care to maintain properties
- 5 reasons to choose loose-fitting clothes
- 🎯 Summary - myth or reality?
Physical properties of linen and their influence on thermal comfort
Linen is a unique material that, thanks to its natural properties, provides exceptional comfort even on hot days. How exactly does its “cooling effect” work?
High breathability
Linen fabric is much more breathable than synthetic materials or even some natural fabrics like cotton. Thanks to the loose weave of the fibers, it allows air to circulate freely, which means that heat does not accumulate between the fabric and the skin. This effect prevents the body from overheating and contributes to a feeling of freshness.
⚠️ Read how the high breathability of linen is related to the partial sheerness of linen fabrics.
Low thermal conductivity
Linen accumulates less heat than synthetic materials. It has a lower thermal conductivity (W/m·K), which means that it heats up less in the sun and does not transfer heat directly to the skin. Linen clothing thus helps to maintain a stable body temperature even in extreme heat. The differences in the thermal conductivity of linen compared to other fibers can be found in the following table. The higher the thermal conductivity value, the better the material transfers heat.
| Material | Thermal conductivity (W/m K) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Flax | ~0.15 | High breathability, low heat accumulation |
| Wave | ~0.05 | Very low conductivity, excellent insulation (warms) |
| Polyester | ~0.20 | Poor breathability, accumulates heat |
| Nylon | ~0.25 | High thermal conductivity, airtight material |
💡 Why doesn't wool keep you cooler than linen, even though it has a lower thermal conductivity? Wool has a wavy structure and traps air in small pockets inside the material, creating an insulating layer. This layer is great for retaining heat in the winter, but it doesn't allow for as good ventilation in the heat as linen.
Moisture wicking ability
Linen can absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet to the touch. It then evaporates it quickly, preventing an unpleasant sticky feeling and keeping the skin dry. This is different from materials that retain moisture or cannot wick it away effectively.
Fiber structure
Linen fibers have a porous structure that improves the fabric's thermoregulatory capabilities. This allows body heat to dissipate easily and not get "trapped" between the skin and the fabric, as is the case with polyester or wool.
Comparing linen to other materials
Linen is often considered the ultimate hot weather fabric, but how does it compare to other common fabrics?
| Material | Breathability | Moisture absorption | Moisture evaporation | Thermal conductivity | Felt temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flax | High | High | Quick | Medium | Cooling |
| Cotton | Medium | High | Medium | Medium | Pleasant, but less cooling than linen |
| Viscose | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | Cool, but less resistant to moisture |
| Synthetics (polyester, nylon) | Low | Low | Low | High | Warms, retains heat and moisture |
The table shows that linen combines high breathability, the ability to absorb moisture and evaporate it quickly. Unlike synthetics, it heats up less and dissipates heat from the body better.
How to wear linen correctly in summer for maximum comfort
In order for linen to truly fulfill its function and provide the greatest possible comfort even on extremely hot days, it is important to pay attention to several other factors: choosing the right weight, cut, and color.
Choosing the right weight of linen
The grammage of linen fabric (i.e. the weight of the fabric in grams per square meter) plays a crucial role in how the clothing will perform in hot weather. The following overview provides an overview of the basic grammage of linen and the products we sew from it:
| Grammage (g/m²) | Features | Suitable use |
|---|---|---|
| 100–150 g/m² | Very light linen, airy, dries quickly | We sew summer T-shirts and tank tops from this material. |
| 150–200 g/m² | Universal weight, wicks away moisture well | We sew dresses, skirts, loose pants, boleros and other popular clothes from this material. |
| 200–250 g/m² | Heavier linen, less transparent, still breathable | Linen is suitable for clothing for the transitional period, cooler summer evenings. |
| 250+ g/m² | Solid, less airy, better for winter | Spring and fall coats, structured dresses |
Light colors vs. dark colors
The color of your clothes has a surprisingly big impact on how you feel during the summer.
| Color | Effect on heat perception |
|---|---|
| Light colors (white, beige, pastel tones) | They reflect the sun's rays, absorb less heat, and are more comfortable in hot weather. |
| Dark colors (black, navy blue, burgundy) | They absorb more sunlight, which can cause the body to heat up more. |
💡 Tip: If you want to wear darker linen in the summer, combine it with looser cuts to compensate for the higher heat absorption.
Proper care for linen clothing to preserve its properties
Read how to care for linen clothing. The goal is to ensure that linen retains its breathability and moisture-wicking properties.
⚠️ Do not use fabric softener when washing - it can "clog" the fibers and reduce the breathability and absorbency of the material, which is important for absorbing and evaporating moisture.
Loose-fitting vs. tight-fitting clothing
Another factor that affects the comfort of wearing linen clothes on hot summer days is the cut. Linen clothes should have enough space for air to circulate freely. Tight clothing reduces breathability and can make you feel less comfortable.
💡 For hot summers, choose the simplest cuts possible. Single-layered dresses and skirts will be more comfortable than, for example, wrap dresses with multiple layers of material or skirts with rich pleating.
Why does a loose fit cool the body better than a tight fit?
1. Maximum airflow
Loose-fitting clothing creates a wide layer of air between the body and the fabric, allowing for better circulation. When clothing is loose, air can flow more easily around the body, helping to draw excess heat away from the skin.
➡ How does it work?
- When moving, warm air is exchanged between the body and the fabric for cooler ambient air.
- The loose fabric allows for better evaporation of sweat, which naturally cools the skin.
- In tight clothing, airflow is restricted, meaning body heat accumulates under the fabric.
💡 Example: Wide linen pants will be much more airy than tight skinny pants because they allow free airflow around the entire leg.
2. Faster sweat drying and better moisture wicking
Linen has an excellent ability to absorb moisture and at the same time evaporate it quickly. A loose fit speeds up this process because:
✅ Sweat is not trapped between the body and the fabric, but can evaporate faster.
✅ Condensed moisture is dispersed over a larger area of the fabric, which speeds up drying.
✅ The fabric sticks less to sweaty skin, preventing the feeling of "sticking".
➡ How does it work?
- When the fabric is tight, sweat remains between the skin and the fabric, which can lead to a clammy and uncomfortable feeling.
- Loose clothing allows for faster evaporation, which keeps your skin dry and fresh.
💡 Example: An oversized linen T-shirt will provide more comfort in hot weather than a narrow cotton T-shirt because it wicks away moisture better.
3. Natural body cooling and thermoregulation
The human body naturally cools itself by sweating, but if clothing is too tight, it can slow down this process.
✅ Loose clothing prevents heat from accumulating on the body.
✅ Prevents overheating by promoting better drainage of evaporated sweat from the body.
💡 Example: A long linen skirt or loose dress allows for better thermoregulation than a tight dress made of artificial material.
4. The movement of the fabric while walking and its cooling effect
One often overlooked factor is how loose clothing moves when you walk or move your body. This effect contributes significantly to cooling.
✅ Creates a natural fan - when the fabric moves while walking, it helps disperse warm air around the body and bring in fresh, cooler air.
✅ Reduces the feeling of heaviness and "stickiness" - tight fabric can stick to the skin, which is uncomfortable, while a loose fit remains airy.
✅ Feeling of lightness - loose fabric feels pleasant when moving and increases the subjective feeling of freshness.
💡 Example: Linen wide trousers or a loose shirt move when walking even in calm weather. This creates alternating negative and positive pressure between the fabric and the skin, which causes the exchange of warm air near the skin with cooler air from the surroundings. While a tight T-shirt or tight jeans lack this effect.
5. How does loose clothing protect against overheating in the sun?
When in direct sunlight, it's not just the material we wear that matters, but also how our clothing fits. Loose clothing provides better protection from the heat than tight-fitting clothing.
✅ The fabric is not directly on the skin - with loose clothing, an air gap is created between the skin and the fabric, which acts as an insulating layer and prevents the direct transfer of heat from the hot fabric to the body.
✅ Natural cooling through movement - when walking, loose fabric moves, which cools it faster.
💡 Example : Imagine loose linen pants – even when exposed to the sun, their fabric heats up, but the heat is not transferred directly to the skin. In contrast, tight clothing, such as leggings, heats up on the body and directly transfers this heat to the skin, leading to faster overheating.
Summary and conclusion
Linen does not have any miraculous super-property that makes it a cooling material. In fact, it is a combination of many positive properties of natural linen that make linen one of the best materials for summer. The combined combination of these positive properties ensures maximum comfort in linen clothing even in the summer heat .
So let's summarize why linen is cooler in the summer than other materials?
✔ High breathability – allows air circulation, which helps to dissipate heat from the body.
✔ Low adhesion to the skin – the loose fiber structure makes linen stick less to the body and ventilates better.
✔ High absorbency – quickly absorbs sweat and promotes its evaporation, which contributes to cooling.
✔ Quick drying – linen dries quickly and prevents moisture retention.
✔ Low thermal conductivity – it does not overheat like synthetics, so it does not accumulate heat.
✔ Lightweight and loose-fitting – loose linen clothing allows air to flow, which enhances the cooling effect.
✔ Natural surface – absorbs less sunlight
How do we design linen clothing for maximum comfort in summer?
✅ We choose looser cuts that allow better air circulation.
✅ We also offer clothing in light colors that attract less sunlight.
✅ We sew from the optimal weight of linen
⚠️ In summer, wear linen clothes directly on the body. Any intermediate layer (shirt, tights,..) eliminates many of the positive effects that contribute to the cooling effect of linen. On the contrary, layering is a wonderful trick to wear linen clothes even in cold weather.
