********Refined Over Generations*********

Heritage and Expertise
Thomas Ferguson is synonymous with high quality linen and is widely acknowledged to be the finest linen Jacquard weaver in the world. This reputation for quality has been developed through many generations of dedication and skill and owes much to the Company’s rich heritage. Founded in 1854 by Thomas Ferguson, an already established linen weaver, the Company has been weaving Irish Linen for over 150 years.

This weaving expertise combined with fine, high quality yarns, and modern looms  produce a linen damask cloth which is unusually soft and fine, has a wonderful natural lustre and yet is strong enough to last a lifetime, with normal domestic use.

Irish linen may no longer be a widespread everyday product, like it was up until the early 20th century. However, over the centuries our linens have been refined and distilled, and the majority of the coarser, commodity linens have been discontinued, so that we are left with only the best, refined over generations to delight our modern day customers.

Fabric of Choice
Consumers throughout the world buy Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen because they cherish the way it looks, feels and performs, and they know that we match, no compromise quality, with prices that aren't beyond peoples reach.

Our customers also know if they require a custom size or special design we will do our best to accomodate, even when only small numbers are required.

On top of this Thomas Ferguson linens comes with the world renowned Irish linen brand, which carries enormous brand equity built up over generations, that creates confidence, prestige and avoids negative surprises.

Thomas Ferguson Irish linen is being made aware of a growing demand for unique crafted products. This seems to be in part due to a dissatisfaction with the modern emphasis on mass-production, an increasing need by buyers to know the 'green' credentials of what they are buying, and people tiring of today's cultural globalisation and homogenization. There is a greater appreciation of products which express individual cultures and heritages, and which mean more than simple materialism.

Today we face the paradox that at a time when the world is concerned about the environment. Our natural products are more and more being replaced by synthetic substitutes which in spite of their attractive appearance and functionality carry the difficulty of disposal and long term damage to the environment. Irish linen is a truly natural, and sustainable, product which is completly biodegradable and during its processing gives little or no waste materials.

Dining                                                                                                                                                              To quote "The Big Book", i.e. The Universal Home Guide, 1932, Edited by Joan Wheeler, Odhams Press Ltd., London,

"Good quality linen can never be termed an extravagance. If one has the means it is always economy to buy the best. Though the initial outlay is bigger, the extra cost is an investment that pays dividends in appearance and wearing qualities"        

Thomas Ferguson Irish linen damask has a beautiful drape and lustre which will flatter any dining room. This superb cloth should be treasured for a lifetime, enriched with history and is so hard-wearing that in normal household use, it may be handed down as an heirloom, and might still be used generations from now.

Due to its sheen and smooth surface, linen releases stains easily. Linen also increases in strength when wet, which is why it stands up to the rough and tumble of repeated laundering so well. It can be easily laundered at home and requires no special laundering treatment.

Sleeping
Cool crisp linen bed sheets are prized above all others for their naturalness, purity, smoothness, durability and beauty, and they are considered by many to be the healthiest material for sleeping.  They are the epitome of coolness and there is nothing to match the way they feel, thanks to linen’s temperature-regulating properties. In hot weather, linen absorbs moisture and excess heat, whilst in cool weather it retains body heat. Linen presents a much less fluffy surface, and retains less moisture than cotton.Over time linen becomes softer and even more comfortable.

Drying & Wiping
Linen breathes, just like skin, it can absorb up to 20% of its own weight in moisture, while still feeling dry to the touch. The perfect pampering product, linen is truly healthy. Linen cannot provoke allergies, it is anti-static and can even help soften and preserve the skin due to its natural pH balance
Linen absorbs water better than most fabrics and does not "lint" making it excellent for drying dishes, and glass. Linen is the strongest natural fibre known to man and of all the textile fibres is the one which washes best. Linen actually increases about 20% in strength on wetting, giving it greater longevity than, for example cotton. The sails of the clipper ships, such as the Cutty Sark, were made from flax linen! Linen guest towels add luxury and genuine performance to the bathroom.

Health
Pure linen fabrics, made of flax fibres, are characterized by a pleasant and cool handle. At high ambient temperatures the physiological properties of linen outclass by far other fibres - in particulary taking into account direct contact with the human body. Linen has a very good absorption properties.

Currently the non-allergic,  antibacterial, and antimycotic properties of linen are emphasized more and more often. Even low blends of linen have an advantagenous influence on fabrics which are in direct contact with the human body, such as clothing and bedding.

The kind of static electricity that can build up on our bodies and everyday objects, and the mini-shocks that may result, usually only cause mild discomfort, and have not been shown to have a detrimental effect on human health. However, some people do appear to be particularly sensitive to static shocks, and in such cases the constant anticipation of the shock can contribute to high stress levels.

In some circumstances, static electricity presents a safety risk. Flammable liquid or vapour can be ignited by an electrostatic spark, and this needs to be protected against in certain industries.

Some people produce more electrostatic charge than others, for various reasons including body size and the materials their clothing and shoes are made of. Clothes made from wool, silk or synthetics, and plastic-soled shoes can all cause electrostatic charge to build up. Some people simply feel electrostatic shocks more than others.

Linen is one solution to this problem. It minimizes the build up of static electricity, and is not a source of it.

 "Tradition does not mean that the living are dead; it means the dead are living."

   Harold Macmillan (1894-1986)