The fabric

Every PehroDesign piece is cut from one cloth: medium weight, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified pure linen. Our men's shirting is European linen at around 200 gsm, pre-washed to reduce shrinkage. This page is what that means, and what to expect from the fabric once it is yours.

What linen is

Linen is spun from the fibres inside the stem of the flax plant. The fibres are long and hollow, and that is where most of linen's character comes from: it breathes, it pulls moisture away from the skin and dries quickly, and it is one of the strongest natural fibres, stronger wet than dry. It is also why linen creases. The fibre has very little natural elasticity, so a fold stays put until moisture or heat resets it.

Why medium weight

Linen comes in weights from handkerchief thin to upholstery heavy. We cut in the middle of that range on purpose. A medium weight drapes properly and does not go sheer in daylight, holds a collar or a placket without stiffening, and still feels cool in real heat. Our men's shirting sits at roughly 200 gsm, which gives a shirt structure without bulk.

What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 means

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is an independent textile certification. A certified fabric has been tested, thread and dye included, against a list of harmful substances that in many cases goes further than the law requires. It is a statement about what is not in the cloth that sits against your skin, not a style claim.

How it wears

Cool in heat. Linen absorbs moisture and releases it fast, so it does not cling on a hot day.
Softer with every wash. New linen has a little crispness. It relaxes over the first few washes and keeps going.
Long lasting. The fibre is strong and does not pill, so a well made piece lasts for years.
It creases. A linen garment that never creased would be a blend, and we would rather you knew that before you order. Our journal has an honest answer on wrinkles.

The colours

We stock thirty-six shades of linen, from Natural and Off White through Honey, Terracotta, Sage Green and Moss Green to Navy Blue and Black. Because every piece is cut after you order it, any style comes in any of them. Shade varies a little from one bolt to the next, and screens show colour differently, so if a particular shade matters to you, write to us before you order and we will tell you what we are seeing on the cutting table.

What real linen looks like

Pure linen carries small slubs and thread knots in the weave. They are not faults. They are the fibre itself, and they are the easiest way to tell real linen from an imitation. Finished garment measurements can vary by a centimetre or two for the same reason: the cloth relaxes and moves as it is handled.