Hibernating linen, spring-sleeping linen. Is it true that the linen we love so much can be used all year round?

Linen is something everyone loves. As you wash it again and again, that crisp, slightly rough texture softens up, and it becomes something you can't help but feel attached to. But according to our linen-loving staff, "Linen isn't just for summer!" Among our team, linen has always been recommended as perfect for summer—cool and comfortable to wear even in the heat—but it turns out linen can actually be worn comfortably all year round. It's said to be especially well suited for pajamas and loungewear, so let's take a look at why.

Linen is recommended for spring, summer, autumn, and winter

Mia Bathrobe Wash Natural

[Special Order] Oise Linen Pants, 8-Length (Herringbone Black)

When you hear the word "linen," don't you tend to picture summer? A linen shirt worn breezily under the harsh, blazing sun. But in fact, linen is a material that can be worn comfortably all year round (especially indoors, where heating and air conditioning are available).

That said, many people may still wonder, "But why?" The reason linen can be worn in every season lies in its high thermal conductivity and moisture absorption and release, and also its ability to hold air within its fibers (that is, its insulating properties).

【Summer】

[Special Order] Linen One-Piece Dress (Natural)

Simply put, linen is recommended for summer because it is a material that helps support the work of sweat, which the human body produces to regulate its temperature.

For example, think of linen clothing sitting in a cool, air-conditioned room. Because linen has high thermal conductivity, it feels cool and refreshing the moment you slip your arms through the sleeves. And as you actually wear it and begin to sweat, the fabric quickly draws the moisture in between its fibers and releases it. This is because linen fibers contain hollow spaces that absorb sweat rapidly—which is also why linen doesn't cling to the skin and instead feels crisp and dry against it.

Another reason linen feels cool is that, since it's a coarsely woven material with little stretch, garments made from it tend to have a loose, relaxed fit. This allows air to flow through easily, adding to the cool sensation.

【Winter】

Spica Linen Night Shirt (Natural)

For winter, the key is linen's ability to hold air within its fibers.

Linen left in a cold winter room will feel cold at first, owing to its high thermal conductivity—but that's only true at first. Leave it in a warm room, and it warms up just as it would in summer; the conditions don't really differ. And once you put it on, it quickly adapts to your body heat, settling at a comfortable temperature without releasing that warmth. The reason is this: in summer, moisture is drawn in and released between the fibers, but in winter, when you're not sweating, the fibers take in air instead. Fabric that holds air works on the same principle as down—it feels warm. Of course, the amount of air held is different, but it's thanks to this property that linen can be worn comfortably even in winter.

Come to think of it, linen sheets can be used all year round—even if they feel a bit cool at first, once you slip into bed, they quickly turn warm. So don't assume, just based on impression, that "linen is a summer thing." It's truly a material meant to be used all year long.

Linen Pillowcase (White)

Winter especially is a season when laundry doesn't dry easily, which can make doing the wash feel like a chore. Linen dries quickly even after absorbing moisture, and it's also less prone to static electricity—a welcome quality in winter.

In this way, natural materials, unlike synthetic fibers, tend to adapt well to their environment. This property of linen helps support the natural "air control" that people (and animals) perform instinctively—sweating to cool the body through evaporation when it's hot, and, when feeling cold, raising body hair to trap air around the body (in humans, since we have little body hair, this instead takes the form of blood vessels constricting).

Hibernating linen: sleeping in linen pajamas even in the cold of winter

Worn here in rotation is fog linen work's special-order linen night shirt. Its fine check pattern pairs nicely with a stole or a gown.

On a winter day that stays cold from morning to night, what kind of pajamas do you sleep in? Even in winter, it's best to avoid wearing bulky, outdoor-style pajamas or layering too many clothes. Doing so hinders your ability to turn over comfortably in your sleep and interferes with sweat evaporation, making it harder to sleep well and lowering the quality of your rest.

The best choice is a thin natural material that absorbs sweat well. Cotton and wool are good options, but linen—often thought of as a summer-only material—deserves a spot on your list too. Nightwear usually isn't something you change into the moment you get home; more often, you put it on after spending some time in your room. So it's a good idea to leave it in a heated room beforehand, letting it warm up gradually. That said, in homes where the heating is turned up high, or right after a bath when your body is still flushed with warmth, cool linen can feel wonderful too—like the blissful moment of eating ice cream in a warm room.

That said, spending the depths of winter in nothing but a linen night shirt is a bit too chilly. In winter, layering a fleece cardigan, a gown, or a wool stole over your nightwear will keep you nice and warm.

Gown worn on top: [Special Order] Hand-Spun Cotton Shawl Collar Room Gown

Merino wool slippers: Merino Slippers, Beige

Pair an organic cotton gown with wool slippers. If your feet tend to get cold, adding room socks or leg warmers works well too.

The reason layering a different material over linen nightwear keeps you warm is that it helps linen retain heat. When it's cold, the hollow fibers of linen work in a way similar to down, though of course they can't match the warmth of a down jacket. This layering traps just the right amount of the warmth from your bath without making you sweat. That "just right" balance is perfect for a warm indoor room in the depths of winter.

Shawl draped over the shoulders: Pocket Shawl (ROST)

Here, a wool shawl helps guard against the cold. When heading to the living room for a cup of herbal tea before bed, a shawl comes in handy so you're not caught off guard by the temperature difference between the heated room and an unheated one. When you want to relax in the bedroom, it doubles as a lap blanket, or you can simply wear it while the room warms up. Even when you're not wearing it, a colorful shawl brightens up the room.

Spring Sleep Linen: Also Great for Warm, Balmy Weather

During seasonal transitions, it's easy to get stuck deciding not only what to wear outdoors but also what to wear for loungewear or pajamas—but if you have even one linen nightwear piece on hand, you'll be fine. Even if you sweat in it, you can simply wash it thoroughly, wring it out, and hang it to dry, and it dries quickly. That means you don't need many spares, which makes it convenient.

Slippers: Linen Slippers Natural

A long-sleeved nightshirt is perfect for spring sleep. Since it has no collar, there's no bunching or tightness around the neck. On warm spring days, the morning sun can make a room feel a bit hot, and you might work up a sweat. But even then, linen's inherent quick-drying, moisture-wicking properties and crisp, breathable feel keep you comfortable.

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In this way, linen plays a helpful role as nightwear that keeps you comfortable indoors all year round. For those who don't do well with air conditioning, it's also recommended for midsummer, since it won't chill your upper arms. So don't say "it's still a bit chilly, so linen doesn't quite seem right"—please do try wearing your favorite linen nightwear.

◇The linen nightwear featured this time: Spica Linen Nightshirt (Steff, ZUTTO exclusive)

The new linen nightshirt that debuted in the depths of winter features a Steff pattern made exclusively for ZUTTO. Until now, we've tended to recommend colors with a summery feel—natural tones or cool, pale blue stripes—but this time we created a navy check exclusively designed to be easy to coordinate as loungewear all year round. It's not too simple, yet versatile enough for layering—a navy check that fits the bill perfectly. Of course, it looks great worn on its own, and it's also fun to coordinate the color with a gown, cardigan, or stole layered on top. The check pattern is fine and doesn't stand out too much, so it pairs well even with items that have larger patterns.

The Spica Linen Nightshirt has always been a popular item at ZUTTO. Its long length, reaching nearly to the ankles, makes it look charming on wearers of any age. In summer, many people seem to pair it with linen slippers, also from fog linen work.