The oldest of the textile fibers is linen. The etymology of the word “linea”, from the Latin linum, derives from flax, as the term “filo” derives from the Greek λίνον [linon].

Today linen is still loom woven by a few elderly women but only in the Calabrian hinterland. Flax fibers are used for fabrics, paper, felts; flax seeds while its oil is used for food, paints and linoleum; other partsof the plant are used for gardening, isolation, bedding or potting soil. Every part of the plant can be used actually.