What’s the Difference Between Flax Linen and Hemp Fabric?

Ever wondered if hemp and flax linen are basically the same thing, just with different PR?

I get it. You've probably heard whispers that flax linen and hemp fabric are cousins in the world of textiles. They both scream "eco-friendly" louder than a Byron Bay hippie, but are they really twins separated at birth—or just two sustainable fibres sharing a passing resemblance?

First, Let’s Talk Feel

I’ve been spinning fibres (literally and figuratively!) for a good while now, and there’s something super interesting about flax linen and hemp when you touch them side by side. Flax linen is known for starting off a little stiff but softening with every wash—like your favourite pair of denim jeans. On the other hand, hemp starts its life somewhat coarser but quickly becomes softer and smoother the more you use it. And speaking from experience, our hemp sheets feel pretty dreamy after just a few washes.

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Durability, or Which Fabric Could Survive the Zombie Apocalypse?

If durability was a sport, hemp would have gold medals stacking up in the cabinet. There's a reason sailors once used hemp ropes: it’s ridiculously strong. Linen’s tough, sure, but hemp takes toughness to a new level, becoming an absolute legend in bedding and apparel. (If bedding ever needed to survive a zombie apocalypse, you’d choose hemp. Trust me.)

But this isn't just me raving—check out this comparison highlighting the toughness factor.

Temperature Control for Aussie Summers (and Winters)

Both hemp and linen are stars at temperature regulation, which is awesome when you live somewhere like Australia, where summer tries to melt you and winter…well, it tries but never really gets there. Hemp, though, goes a little further—it naturally adjusts to your body’s temperature. That means cool when you’re hot and warm when you’re chilly. Not bad, hey?

Flax linen’s no slouch either, especially if you’re looking for breezy comfort. But honestly, hemp just wins out, especially if you've ever had to endure those sweaty January nights. Here’s a little something I wrote earlier on surviving hot Aussie nights.

But Isn’t Hemp Itchy?

Some folks ask me if hemp is itchy or scratchy. Truth bomb—it used to be. But these days? Nope. Modern processing has made hemp ridiculously soft—actually softer than linen after a bit of use. It's gentle enough even for sensitive skin types. Our customers keep coming back to tell me how much they love our hemp pillowcases, which only get comfier with each night’s sleep.

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How Sustainable Are They, Really?

Here’s where hemp flexes some serious eco-muscle. Flax linen is pretty eco-friendly, requiring less water and pesticides than cotton. But hemp takes sustainability to the next level—it barely needs water, requires no pesticides, and regenerates soil wherever it's planted. Flax linen’s good, but hemp? It’s next-level good.

You can dive deeper into hemp’s environmental street cred in this piece I put together not long ago.

Let's Talk About How They Age

One cool thing I’ve learned from spinning both fibres myself is that hemp ages gracefully. While linen tends to wrinkle easily (some people dig that casually rumpled look), hemp is a bit sturdier and smoother over time. Yes, it'll wrinkle, but less aggressively. If ironing is your personal nightmare, hemp bedding is your best mate.

Here’s a tip on dealing with wrinkles for you linen lovers out there.

Hemp vs Linen: A Winner?

I’ll be honest—I might be biased (okay, I'm totally biased), but hemp takes the cake for me. It's tougher, softer after use, easier to maintain, and genuinely better for the planet. Flax linen has its merits, but hemp bedding is the kind of product you buy once and love forever.

If you're still on the fence, I’ve compared hemp with other fabrics as well— check that out here. Or even better, drop me a line and tell me what you're thinking!

Whichever you choose, remember that your bedding choice is more than just style—it’s comfort, care, and a conscious decision for our planet. But if you’re leaning towards hemp (good choice, mate), browse through our best-loved products here.

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Sleep tight and sustainably!

Love,

Oscar from Jo Dope