‘Louvre’ refined black linen fabric

The instant we saw this characterful French black linen fabric we knew it was destined for our collections. This delightful classic with a refined finish is a lighter-weight linen; perfect for shirts and tunics in which to stay cool whilst browsing the galleries of Europe in style.

What kind of fabric is this?

Our black linen fabric is a 100% linen cloth. It has the distinctive slightly stubby weave of a linen, but the yarn used is fine and so the texture isn’t coarse or ‘homespun’.

Don’t forget that there’s no ease in linen fabrics so you’ll need to factor that into your garment choice and sizing. You’ll also need to pre-wash your linen to ensure that any initial shrinkage is removed prior to cutting.

What does this fabric feel like?

This is a crisp fabric and very smooth to the touch despite the evident texture in the weave. It’s breathable and will be beautifully comfortable next to your skin on a hot day.

How does this fabric move?

Well – where to start? To say this is a ‘lively linen’ is an understatement. If you’re looking for a bounce, a swing and a bit of life in your linen, then this is the fabric for you. It will hold a shape with character – no limpness in sight here! You can see how it moves in this video.

Will I need to line this fabric?

As a blouse, top or tunic then all you’ll need to bear in mind is to wear undergarments that tone with your skin since brightly-contrasting underwear may be visible in some lights. As a dress or skirt, then unless the design is an intentionally voluminous one with lots of gathers and folds then we’d suggest a lining will be necessary to preserve modesty as well as to add structure.

What can I make with this fabric?

As suggested, our refined black linen fabric is perfect for shirts, blouses and tops. Simple A-line summer dresses as well as skirts and dresses to billow in the summer breeze will also be options, as will overskirts for layering. We’ve tried this 3/4 sleeved ‘Sacha’ Shirt from Style Arc and think it will be perfect for this classic black linen fabric.

Fabric width

136cm

Fabric composition

100% linen.

Fabric care

Wash at 30 or 40 degrees – see our Fabric care pages for more information.

NOTE: We’d recommend your pre-wash shouldn’t be with differently-coloured fabrics as there’ll be a little dye loss, although not so much that you’d notice the difference in the linen.