Linen is a rich and luxurious fabric. Derived from the flax plant, it is known for its comfort and abundant applications from fashion to upholstery, linen has made its name prominent. One crucial thing in linen is lea of linen. If you’re new to linen and wish to know the principles and basics of linen or you just want to educate yourself on linen qualities, this article is for you.
What is LEA in Linen?
LEA count in linen is a unit through which the linen fabric is measured. Much like thread count for cotton and momme for silk. The lea communicates its lightness or stiffness, the breathability of the fabric, sheerness, and the overall usage of the fabric for different applications.
Mathematically, the LEA count of linen showcases, the number of yards in a pound of linen which is then divided by 300.
For instance, a yarn which has the size of 1 LEA will be able to give you 300 yards per pound. 40 LEA would be 40X300= 12000 yards per pound. So 12000/300 would give 40 LEA.
The higher the LEA of the fabric, the higher the quality and the more lightweight the fabric.
Is LEA in Linen important?
LEA affects the way the linen fabric would turn out. The lea of linen varies from 40, 60, and 100 and can even go up to 150 and beyond. The application of linen affects accordingly. Having a sheer understanding helps determine, the softness, finesse, and thickness of the fabric.
How is LEA used?
Which LEA of linen you use and for what purpose plays a crucial role.
Linen Fabric- Ideally a linen fabric is used for various purposes. For starters, 80 lea or 100 lea should work just fine but a higher composition of 100 or 150 lea is also a good variation to use.
Linen Shirts- When picking out linen shirts, they should be formal yet comfortable and breathable as they are going to be in contact with the skin for several hours. 40 to 60 lea should work for casual regular shirts but for something more casual, consider a higher content.
Linen Kurtas- Linen kurtas are quite similar to shirts. 40 to 60 lea is advisable. As it is breathable enough but not completely transparent.
Linen Trousers- As pants and bottoms need to be slightly thicker, 25-30 lea is perfect. The content makes it breathable to be worn in the summers and also insulated for winter chill.
Linen Blends
Of course, plain linen which is 100% linen is a great option but as the industry is thriving and changing around the clock, new variations are making their way in the market. Linen blends such as linen satin, sustainable linen viscose blends, cotton linen, silk linen and even more. These blends elevate the luxury of the fabric and open doors to endless customisations.
Conclusion
No matter the lea of linen you go ahead with, there’s no denying that linen is a beautiful fabric crafted for various uses. We at RaaHaa Fabrics, carry the most premium selection of linen options with us. You can contact us and we will be delighted to assist you.