The case for linen

Linen has been woven for more than 30,000 years, and it has never really gone out of style. There's a reason for that: few fabrics do so much with so little.

Spun from the fibres of the flax plant, linen is naturally breathable, moisture-wicking and quick to dry — which is exactly why it feels cool when everything else feels heavy. It softens with every wash, so the piece you buy this season will feel better in three years than it does today.

Flax also asks very little of the land. It grows in poor soil, needs far less water than cotton, and almost every part of the plant is used. Choosing linen isn't a compromise between looking good and doing good — it's simply the better fabric.

Our advice: lean into the wrinkles. A relaxed crease is part of the character, not a flaw to be ironed away.