Indwangu yelinen ingelinye lezinto ezindala kakhulu emlandweni wempucuko yabantu, ihlonishwa ngenxa yokuphefumula kwayo okumangalisayo, ukukhanya kwemvelo, namandla ayo ahlala njalo. Isuselwa esitshalweni seflax (Linum usitatissimum), ilinen iwumucu we-bast obelukwa ube yindwangu iminyaka engaphezu kweyishumi lezinkulungwane, okwenza kube yinto yamagugu ngempela emhlabeni wezindwangu. Ngokungafani nezindwangu zokwenziwa ezincike ezinqubweni ezisuselwa kuphethiloli, ilinen ingokwemvelo ngokuphelele, iyabola, futhi iyavuseleleka, okuyenza yathandwa ngabaklami nabasebenzisi abanakekela imvelo. Isakhiwo esiyingqayizivele samaseli alolu dwangu sivumela umoya ukuthi ujikeleze ngokukhululeka ngenkathi ukhipha umswakama emzimbeni, okuchaza ukuthi kungani lihlala liyindwangu ekhethwayo ezinyangeni ezishisayo zasehlobo nasezindaweni ezifudumele. Emashumini eminyaka amuva, izimboni zemfashini nezasekhaya ziye zabona ukuvuka okumangalisayo kwentshisekelo kulo mcu wekilasi, ikakhulukazi ngenxa yezimfanelo zawo zokusimama kanye nobuhle bawo obungaphelelwa yisikhathi. Lesi sihloko sizokuhola ohambweni oluthakazelisayo lomsuka welinen, inqubo yalo yokukhiqiza, izimfanelo zalo ezihlukile, kanye nokusetshenziswa kwalo kwanamuhla ezingutsheni nasezindwangwini zasekhaya.

Indaba yelinen iqala eFertile Crescent, lapho ubufakazi bemivubukulo buphakamisa ukuthi ifilakisi lalitshalwa futhi liphothwa libe nentambo kusukela ngo-8000 BCE ezindaweni zanamuhla zaseMesopotamia naseNear East. AbaseGibhithe lasendulo ngokungangabazeki babengabasebenzisi abazinikele kakhulu belinen, besonga amafaro abo ngezingqimba ezinhle zalendwangu njengengxenye yemikhuba yabo yokungcwaba, umkhuba ogcizelela ukubaluleka kwelinen njengophawu lobumsulwa nesikhundla. Imizimba yaseGibhithe eyomisiwe yalondolozwa ngelinen elalilukwe kahle kangangokuthi ochwepheshe banamuhla basamangala ngokungaguquguquki nokuhle kwayo, kanti ezinye izibonelo ezisindile ziqukethe izintambo eziyizinkulungwane nge-intshi ngalinye. Kusukela eGibhithe, ilinen lahamba laya eMedithera, lapho amaGreki namaRoma alamukela ezembathweni, emakhasini, nasezikhali zempi, kanti amaFenike asungula imizila yokuhweba echumayo eyasakaza lendwangu kulo lonke elaseYurophu. NgeNkathi Ephakathi, abampofu nabahloniphekile baseYurophu babencika elineni ngezingubo zangaphansi, amashidi, namatafula, kanti lendwangu yayisebenza njengophawu lokuhlanzeka nokucwenga esikhathini ngaphambi kokuba ukotini utholakale kabanzi. INguquko Yezimboni yaletha ukuhluzwa nokulukwa ngomshini ekukhiqizweni kwelinen, kodwa isiko lokwenza ngezandla lokucubungula ifilakisi laqhubeka ezifundeni ezifana ne-Ireland, iBelgium, neFrance, lapho ilinen lobuciko lusagujwa njengobuciko bamasiko kuze kube namuhla. Ekhulwini lama-20, ukuthandwa kwelinen kwashintshashintsha ngenxa yokwenyuka kukotini oshibhile nezintambo zokwenziwa, kodwa ukuhlobana kwalo nokunethezeka nokuphila kwemvelo kwaqinisekisa ukuthi alizange linyamalale emkhakheni wemfashini.

Ilimu linen linazo izici ezinhle zomzimba eziyingqayizivele ezilihlukanisa kuzo zonke ezinye izindwangu zemvelo, okwenza libe yigugu kakhulu ezingutsheni nasezimpahleni zasekhaya. Isici sokuqala nesidume kakhulu ukumunca kwalo okumangalisayo, ngoba ilinen lingamunca amaphesenti angamashumi amabili esisindo salo kumswakama ngaphandle kokuzwa kumanzi, okugcina umuntu ogqokile omile futhi ekhululekile ngisho noma ejuluka kakhulu. Ukuphefumula kungenye inzuzo echazayo, ngoba imicu ye-flax inesakhiwo esingumgodi, esiyishubhu esivumela ukushisa ukuba kuphume futhi umoya omusha ujikeleze esikhunjeni, okuholela emphumeleni wokupholisa wemvelo esimweni sezulu esishisayo. Ukuqina yilapho ilinen ligqama khona ngempela, ngoba imicu ye-flax icishe ibe namandla aphindwe kabili noma kathathu kuneyikotini, okunikeza izingubo zelinen nezindwangu zasekhaya impilo ende emangalisayo uma zinakekelwa kahle. I-linen nayo iyaziwa ngezakhiwo zokulwa namagciwane nezingezona i-allergenic, ezivela ekumelaneni kwayo kwemvelo nokukhula kwesikhunta, ukubola, nezinambuzane, okwenza kube ukukhetha okuphephile kubantu abanesikhumba esizwela noma abane-allergies. Uma iqhathaniswa ngqo nekotini, i-linen ivamise ukuba lukhuni futhi ithambekele ekushwabeni, kodwa iyaxepha ngamandla ayo aphezulu, ukumunca umswakama okukhulu, nendawo ehlukile, enokuthinta okuncane okuthandwa kakhulu abathandi bezindwangu. Ukukhanya kwendwangu nokugoqeka kwayo kuthuthuka ngokugezwa ngakunye, kuthambe kancane kancane ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, yingakho izinto eziningi zelinen zithandwa njengefa elingahlala amashumi eminyaka, kudlule kakhulu lezo zikotini.

Ngokombono wezemvelo, ilineni ibhekwa kabanzi njengenye yezindwangu ezisimeme kakhulu ezimakethe, futhi izinqubo zokulima kwalo zihambisana ngokuphelele nezimiso zesimanje zomnotho oyindilinga. Iflakisi isitshalo esiqinile esichuma ezindaweni ezinokushisa okumaphakathi ngaphandle kokungenelela okuningi, sidinga amanzi amancane kakhulu kunokotini, odume ngokudla amanzi amaningi kakhulu ngesikhathi sokunisela, kuyilapho iflakasi ngokujwayelekile incike emvuleni yemvelo kuphela. Ngenxa yokuthi iflakasi ikhula ngokushesha futhi iminyene, icindezela ukhula ngokwemvelo, iqeda isidingo samakhemikhali amaningi okubulala ukhula futhi ivumela abalimi ukuthi banciphise kakhulu ukuthembela kwabo kumakhemikhali. Isitshalo sonke seflakasi singasetshenziswa, imbewu isetshenziselwa ukudla nokukhiqiza uwoyela, imicu emifushane isetshenziselwa iphepha nezindwangu eziwugqinsi, kanti imicu emide isetshenziselwa izindwangu ezinhle zelineni, okuholela ekutheni kungabikho ukumosheka nhlobo kanye nokusebenza kahle okumangalisayo kwezinsiza. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukulima kweflakasi kuthuthukisa inhlabathi kunokuba kuyicekele phansi, njengoba izimpande zalo ezijulile zithuthukisa ukwakheka kwenhlabathi futhi zifake izinto eziphilayo, okuvumela izitshalo ezilandelayo ukuthi zichume ngaphandle kokukhishwa komanyolo okuningi. Abakhiqizi abaningi bezindwangu, okuhlanganisa nabaholi bezimboni abanjengoCi-sheng, lezi zimpawu ezisimeme sezamukelwa ngokufaka ilinen emikhiqizweni yabo kanye nezinye izinto zemvelo ezingenabungozi. Njengoba abathengi beya bekhathazeka kakhulu ngomthelela wemvelo wezimpahla ezishintsha ngokushesha, isidingo selinen siya sikhula, siqhutshwa ukukhishwa kwekhabhoni okuphansi kanye nekhono layo lokuthi ivuselelwe futhi yenziwe umquba ekupheleni komjikelezo wayo wokuphila.

Ukukhiqizwa kwelineni kuyinqubo edinga umsebenzi omningi, enezigaba eziningi, futhi isagcina isendleleni yendabuko yize kunezinto zobuchwepheshe zesimanje ezithuthukile, futhi isigaba ngasinye sidlala indima ebalulekile ekunqumeni ikhwalithi yokugcina yendwangu. Uhambo luqala ngokutshala, lapho imbewu yeflakisi itshalwa emhlabathini onamanzi aphuzile, onodaka ngentwasahlobo, futhi izitshalo zivame ukulungele ukuvunwa phakathi nezinsuku eziyikhulu zokukhula. Ukuvuna kuhilela ukudonsa isitshalo sonke emhlabathini kunokusika, okulondoloza ubude obugcwele bomsonto futhi kwandise isivuno sezinto ezisebenzisekayo zeflakisi. Iflakisi edonsiwe ibese ifakwa enqubweni yokuboliswa, lapho amagxolo angaphandle evunyelwa ukuba abole ngokuchayeka emazolo, emanzini, noma kuma-enzyme, kuvuleke izinyanda zomsonto ngaphakathi kwesiqu. Uma ukuboliswa sekuqediwe, iziqu ezomisiwe ziyaphulwa futhi zishaywe esinyathelweni esibizwa ngokuthi i-scutching, okususa umgogodla wokhuni futhi kuhlukanise imicu ebalulekile ye-bast ezintweni ezizungezile zesitshalo. Imicu etholakele ibese ihlungwa noma ihlukaniswe ngezinkambo, lapho idluliselwa kumakamu acwengekayo kancane kancane ukuze imicu iqondaniswe futhi kususwe noma yiziphi izinsalela noma imicu emifushane. Ngemva kokuhlukaniswa, imicu emide, ebushelelezi iphothwa ibe yintambo kusetshenziswa ukuhlanganisa okumanzi, okukhiqiza intambo yelineni ecebile, ebushelelezi, noma ukuhlanganisa okomile, okukhiqiza intambo ekhahlelayo, enokuthungwa okuningi efanele izindwangu ezisindayo. Ekugcineni, intambo ilukwa emishinini yokuluka ibe yindwangu, engakhiwa ngezinhlobo ezahlukene zokuluka okuhlanganisa okulula, i-twill, ne-damask, ngayinye ikhiqiza ukuthungwa namaphethini ahlukile achaza isimo sendwangu yelineni eqediwe.

Embonini yezindwangu zanamuhla, ilineni ibhekene nokuvuseleleka okumangalisayo, isuka emihembelweni yasehlobo noma amatafula endabuko iye emkhakheni wezembatho eziphakeme, izindawo zokuhlala zikanokusho, kanye nezingxube zendwangu ezintsha. Izinkampani ezidumile zemfashini zivame ukufaka ilineni emaqoqweni azo asentwasahlobo nasehlobo, zigubha ubuhle bayo obukhululekile kanye nemiphetho yemvelo njengezimpawu zobuhle obungacacile, kanti izinkampani zesimanje zezimpahla zasezitaladini seziyithathile ngenxa yokuphefumula kwayo okunethezekile. Ngaphandle kwezembatho, ukusebenza ngokwehlukahlukana kwelineni kuyakhanya ezindwangwini zasekhaya ezifana namashidi, amakhethini, izihlalo, kanye nezindwangu zasekhishini, lapho izakhiwo zayo zokukhipha umswakama nokulawula izinga lokushisa zithuthukisa ukunethezeka kwezindawo zokuhlala unyaka wonke. Indwangu ivame ukuxutshwa nezinye izintambo zemvelo ezifana nokotini, ihemp, iramie, ngisho nosilika ukuze kudalwe izindwangu eziyingxube ezihlanganisa izimfanelo ezinhle kakhulu zento ngayinye, zikhiqize izindwangu ezithambile, eziqinile, noma ezikanokusho kakhulu kunelineni elimsulwa lodwa. Inkomba ephawulekayo yokufinyelela kwelineni emhlabeni wonke yithakazelo elikhulayo egameni layo lamazwe ngamazwe, njenge-tablecloth ngeSpanishi, elaziwa ngokuthi "mantel de lino," okukhombisa izimpande ezijulile zamasiko zelineni emakhaya aseLatin America naseYurophu. Abakhiqizi bezimboni zendwangu abanjengoCi-Sheng banwebe iminikelo yabo ukuze bahlanganise hhayi i-linen emsulwa kuphela, kodwa futhi nezinhlobonhlobo zezindwangu zemvelo, okuhlanganisa indwangu ye-hemp kanye indwangu kakotini, okuhlangabezana nesidingo esikhulayo sezinto ezisimeme. Njengoba abaklami bezama ngelineni elingahluziwe noma elinemibala ehlukahlukene ehlonipha imibala yemvelo yefayibha, indwangu iyaqhubeka nokukhuthaza ubuchwepheshe obusha kulo lonke uhlelo lwezindwangu, kusukela ku-izixazululo zendwangu ezenziwe ngokwezifiso ukuya emaqoqweni elungele ukuthengiswa emakethe enkulu.

Njengoba imboni yezindwangu ibhekene nezinselele eziphuthumayo zemvelo zokushintsha kwesimo sezulu, ukushoda kwamanzi, nokungcoliswa kwepulasitiki, ilineni igqama njengesibani sokuthi ukukhiqiza okusimeme kungabukeka kanjani futhi kufanele kubukeke kanjani. Inhlanganisela engenakuqhathaniswa yendwangu yokuqina, ukubola ngokwemvelo, kanye nomthelela ophansi kwezemvelo iyibeka njengensika yomnotho oyindilinga, lapho izinto zokwakha ziklanyelwe ukuthi ziphinde zisetshenziswe, zilungiswe, futhi ekugcineni zibuyele emhlabathini ngaphandle kokulimaza. Abathengi baya ngokuya befuna imikhiqizo yelineni, hhayi nje njengomkhuba kodwa njengokukhetha kwendlela yokuphila okucatshangelwayo okubonisa ukuzibophezela ekudleni okunokuziphatha nokuphila ngokuqaphela. Abakhiqizi bayasabela ngokutshala imali ekulimeni kwe-flax ephilayo, izindlela zokucubungula ezonga amanzi, kanye namaketanga okuhlinzeka acwebile aqinisekisa ubuqiniso belineni esigabeni ngasinye sokukhiqiza. Ukubambisana phakathi kwabaklami nezigayo zamagugu kuvuselela izindlela zasendulo zokuluka, kuyilapho intuthuko entsha ku-enzyme retting nokuphrinta kwedijithali kwenze ukukhiqizwa kwelineni kube kuhlanzekile futhi kusebenze kahle nakakhulu. Emabhizinisini afuna ukuthola ilineni yekhwalithi ephezulu nezinye izindwangu zemvelo, abakhiqizi abasunguliwe abanolwazi olujulile, njengalabo abavezwe ku-Ikhasi Mayelana Nathi le-Ci-Sheng, nikehlinzeka ngobudlelwano obuthembekile obusekelwe eminyakeni eminingi yobuciko kanye nokusungula izinto ezintsha. Ubufakazi bucacile ukuthi ilinen ayilona ifashini elidlulayo kodwa iyindwangu yokuqala esimeme, elethwe emlandweni futhi elungele ukuchaza ikusasa lokukhiqiza izindwangu ngendlela enesibopho, ngakho-ke noma ungumklami, umkhiqizi, noma umthengi onakekelayo, ukwamukela ilinen yisinqumo esizuzisa abantu kanye nomhlaba.

Indwangu yelinen yenziwa ngemicu yesitshalo se-flax, esaziwa ngokwesayensi njengeLinum usitatissimum. Iziqu zesitshalo ziyavunwa, zifakwe emanzini ukuze zibolile ungqimba lwangaphandle, bese kucutshungulwa ukuze kukhishwe imicu emide ye-bast ephothwa ibe yintambo futhi ilukwe ibe yindwangu. Ngenxa yokuthi i-flax iyisitshalo semvelo, esivuselelekayo, ilinen ithathwa njengenye yezindwangu ezihambisana kakhulu nemvelo ezikhona.

Yebo, ilinen ibalwa kabanzi njengenye yezindwangu ezisimeme kakhulu emhlabeni. I-flax idinga amanzi amancane kakhulu uma iqhathaniswa nokotini, ngokuvamile incike emvuleni yemvelo kuphela, futhi ikhula ngaphandle kokuncika kakhulu emithini yokubulala ukhula noma izinambuzane. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sonke isitshalo singasetshenziswa, okuholela ekunciphiseni kwemfucuza, futhi ilinen iyabola ngokuphelele futhi ingavuselelwa ekupheleni kokuphila kwayo okusebenzayo.

Ilinen ngokuvamile iqine futhi ihlale isikhathi eside kunokotini, ngoba imicu yeflax icishe ibe namandla aphindwe kabili noma kathathu kuneyokotini. Nakuba ukotini uthambile futhi unwebeka kalula ekuqaleni, ilinen imelana nokugqoka nokudabuka kangcono ngokuhamba kwesikhathi futhi iyathamba ngokugezwa ngakunye. Ilinen iphinde imunce umswakama omningi futhi yome ngokushesha kunokotini, okwenza ibe ngcono kakhulu ekugqokeni ngesikhathi sasehlobo.

Ilineni liyashwabana ngokwemvelo ngenxa yesakhiwo esiqinile samangqamuzana emicu yefilakisi, engabuyeli esimweni sayo kalula njengokotini noma imicu yokwenziwa. Nakuba imishwabano ivame ukwamukelwa njengengxenye yobuhle be-linen obukhululekile, ungayinciphisa ngokukhipha izingubo kumshini wokomisa zisemanzi kancane, u-ayina ngesitimu, noma umane wamukele ukuthi ukubukeka okukhululekile kuyingxenye yobuhle bendwangu.

Igama le-tablecloth ngesiSpanishi ngu-“mantel,” futhi i-linen tablecloth ibizwa ngokukhethekile ngokuthi “mantel de lino.” I-linen ngokomlando ibiyinto ekhethwayo yamatafula emazweni akhuluma isiSpanishi ngenxa yokuqina kwayo, ukumunca amanzi, nokugoqeka okuhle, okwenza ibe yinto ebalulekile ekudleni kwansuku zonke nasemikhosini yokugubha.

Yebo, ngokwemvelo ilineni alibangeli ukungezwani komzimba futhi liyabulala amagciwane, okwenza libe ukukhetha okuhle kakhulu kubantu abanesikhumba esizwelayo, i-eczema, noma abangezwani nezinto ezithile. Imicu yendwangu ebushelelezi, engalimaziyo ayilimazi isikhumba, futhi ukumelana kwayo ngokwemvelo nokukhula kwesikhunta, ukungcola, kanye nezintwala zothuli kusiza ekwenzeni indawo yokulala nokugqoka ibe nempilo engcono.

Ilineni lingagezwa ngezandla noma ngomshini wokuwasha ngamanzi abandayo noma afudumele kancane ngomuthi wokuwasha othambile, futhi kufanele lomiswe emoyeni noma lomiswe kumshini wokomisa ngezinga eliphansi ukuze kugwenywe ukufinyela ngokweqile. Ukuze uthole imiphumela emihle kakhulu, i-ayina ilineni ngenkathi isimanzi kancane usebenzisa i-ayina enomusi oshisayo, futhi gwema izinto ezinamandla zokukhanyisa noma ukushisa okuphezulu okungenza imicu ibe buthakathaka. Ngokunakekelwa okufanele, izinto zelineni ezisezingeni eliphezulu zingahlala iminyaka eminingi.

Ilineni ingancipha kancane lapho iwashiwa izikhathi ezimbalwa zokuqala, ngokuvamile cishe ngamaphesenti amahlanu, kodwa lokhu kwenzeka kanye kuphela uma indwangu ingachayekile ekushiseni okwedlulele. Ukunciphisa ukuncipha, geza ilineni emanzini abandayo, gwema umjikelezo wokomisa oshisayo, futhi ubumbe kabusha ingubo isimanzi ngaphambi kokuyomisa emoyeni. Abakhiqizi abaningi baphinde bageze ngaphambilini izindwangu zabo zelineni ukuze banciphise ukuncipha kokuqala.

Yebo, ilineni ngokuvamile ibiza kakhulu kunekotini noma izindwangu zokwenziwa ngenxa yenqubo yokulima nokukhiqiza edinga umsebenzi omningi, kodwa ukuqina kwayo okungavamile kusho ukuthi izinto zelineni zivame ukuhlala isikhathi eside kunezinye izindlela ezishibhile izikhathi eziningi. Uma ucabangela ukuphila isikhathi eside, ukunethezeka, nezinzuzo zokusimama, ilineni inikeza inani elihle lesikhathi eside elivumelana nenani layo eliphezulu kokubili ezingutsheni nasezindwangu zasekhaya.

Amabhizinisi afuna ukuthola izimpahla zelineni ezingobuningi ezithembekile kufanele abambisane nabakhiqizi bezindwangu abasunguliwe abagxile ezintanjeni zemvelo, njengobaUmkhiqizo wezindwangu zelinen we-CI Sheng. Ngaphezu kweminyaka engu-45 yokuhlangenwe nakho, abakhiqizi abanjalo banikezela ngelinen langempela, ukuluka okungaguquki, nokuqinisekiswa kwekhwalithi engaguquki, futhi ungahlola uhla lwabo olugcwele lwe-izinketho zendwangu yemvelo noma xhumana nethimba labo ngqo ngemibuzo eningiliziwe nangezilinganiso zentengo.