Inspiration

Philosophy

K&US Linen Collection

It was a profound love and appreciation of linen that in 1994 made Marie Karlberg, head designer and founder of K&US, start her business. There is evidence that linen was produced in Egypt around 5,000 BC and that this process eventually made its way to Europe. So, even though linen fabrics have been consistently in use throughout our history, they had become more of a rarity around the early 1990s. K&US and Marie’s sole ambition was to create feminine, colourful and beautifully made clothing in sustainable natural materials. To this day, we are still passionate about using luxurious linen fabrics alongside superior design and production techniques. We have even added several other luxurious and natural materials to the K&US collections. Vivid and fluid viscose dresses, cosy wool jumpers, comfortable, sustainable hemp tops and lightweight silk scarves have all been designed to allow for effortless pairing resulting in a complete collection of elevated, unique pieces.


Unique Linen Design

Buying a piece from our collection means that you will become the owner of a unique piece of natural linen clothing. Each piece is designed at our K&US Stockholm studio. We create clothes for the individual, not the crowd. We create luxurious, feminine and durable fashion and we intend for all women to feel stronger and more beautiful in our lasting classical collections, while providing an antidote to the culture of fast fashion. We work closely with a family-run business in Lithuania, investing in traditional craftmanship with skills and expertise passed down from generation to generation. Our classical colour palette of off-white, ink, black and natural is supplemented by the varying colours of the season. Seasonal prints are only produced in small numbers securing that your K&US garment is truly individual. By producing mindfully with only one store and very few stockists worldwide, we have the opportunity to offer luxurious, flattering and timeless pieces not owned by many.


What is Linen?

Linen is made from the stalk of the flax plant which inner threads are spun and woven into a versatile fabric. Apart from being strong and durable, the fabric is fully biodegradable. Flax can be grown without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilisers and is best suited to a temperate climate – which is why our linen is mainly sourced from Eastern European countries. Linen has a wonderful lustre and a varied texture. Occasional ‘slubs’ can appear in the weave. However, these are not faults but characteristic of the fibre. Linen has a crinkly appearance and gets softer with use. Our styles come in a whole array of different weights and textures for you to choose from.


Types of Linen?

Our linen fabrics consist of several different types and textures. We use a fine, almost gauzy, lightweight linen fabric for our summer shirts, dresses and trousers. A stronger, more absorbent medium-weight texture with a luxurious lustre is ideal for use in our melange styles, longer dress styles, trousers and shirts. Our heaviest linen fabrics provide a more shiny and sturdy finish to our collection and is popular for smart suits and herringbone styles.

How to Wear Linen Throughout the Year

Linen clothes are extremely comfortable to wear and the sustainability of the fabric is obviously one of the major reasons why it is so widely loved and desired. In recent years, a lot of people have shifted away from synthetic fabrics, such as nylon and polyester, towards natural fibres. Even though linen fabrics are the best choice for warmer months, linen is an all-year-round fabric, which should serve any season without strain. It is easy to layer a linen dress with warm woolly garments to increase the warmth. Due to the wide range of colours and textures, linen is a great fabric to wear all year round. You can mix and match pieces, you can create new outfits, and just add the necessary accessories.


What are the Advantages of Linen?

Especially in spring and summer, you want to feel comfortable in your clothes. Linen is the best material choice for these warmer months, as its good moisture absorbency properties mean that perspiration is readily and quickly absorbed. Linen fabric allows air to circulate freely and removes moisture that builds up, wicking it away from the body. •Often, less breathable, synthetic fabrics encourage sweating and bacteria growth. The antibacterial properties are clearly the reason why linen is preferable to synthetic fibres. Combined with the smoothness of the fabric, you are guaranteed to be feeling comfortable and fresh whatever the activity!


How do I Care for My Linen Clothing?

Airing your linen is an excellent way of getting rid of odours without needing to wash them. Less washing reduces the impact on the environment and washing your clothes less frequently will also allow your clothing to last longer, so you do not have to buy replacements. When you do have to wash your natural linen garments, we recommend machine washing them on 40 degrees Celsius. However, some of our Italian linen styles only tolerate a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius. Wash with similar colours and always make sure you check the care label inside the clothes. Turning your clothes inside out before washing them can also help protect the fabric and buttons during the wash cycle. Avoid using fabric softeners as they interfere with the environment and the absorbency of your natural linen clothing. After washing, gently stretch your garments into shape and hang them to dry. If you like a crisp, elegant style, always iron your linen when it is slightly damp. For a super soft look, use a gentle low heat tumble dryer for a couple of minutes.

Follow us at social media!