Bemount Exclusive Linen Shirts
Shop Bemount Exclusive Linen Shirts for men, cut for a fit that holds its shape.
Why French linen
Northern France and the Low Countries grow most of the world's fibre flax, the plant linen is spun from. The cool, damp coastal climate there grows long, fine fibres, and long fibres are what make a linen soft rather than scratchy and strong enough to last. Every shirt in this range is cut from French linen cloth and stitched in India.
What linen does in the heat
Linen is woven from a hollow fibre that lets air through and dries quickly, so a linen shirt feels cooler than cotton of the same weight on a hot, humid day. It also creases, and it is supposed to: soft creases at the elbow and waist are how you tell real linen from a blend pretending to be one.
How a linen shirt should fit
With room through the body. Linen does not stretch, so a shirt cut tight pulls across the buttons as soon as you sit down. Choose your size by the shoulders and let the body sit easy. Most of the range is a regular fit; the Smoked Taupe shirt is cut relaxed for a looser, more open look.
Which colour first
Start with white or misty blue: both go with every trouser you own. Indigo and deep espresso are the shirts to wear into the evening. Antique mustard, dusty blush and pale lemon are the summer colours, best against ivory, stone or white trousers.
Common questions
What is French linen?
Linen woven from flax grown in northern France and the neighbouring coast, the region that produces most of the world's fibre flax. Its long fibres make a cloth that is soft, strong and breathable, and that softens further with every wash.
Is a linen shirt good for Indian summers?
Yes. Linen lets air through and dries quickly, so it stays comfortable in heat and humidity where a heavier cotton shirt clings. It is the shirt to wear from April through the monsoon.
Why does linen crease, and is that a problem?
Linen fibres have little natural stretch, so they fold and hold a crease. Light creasing is part of how linen looks and is expected. A steam or a warm iron while the shirt is slightly damp brings it back.
How should I wash a linen shirt?
Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with similar colours, or hand wash. Do not bleach and avoid hot water, which can shrink linen. Line dry in the shade and iron warm while still slightly damp.
How does a linen shirt fit compared with cotton?
Linen has no stretch, so choose your usual size by the shoulders and do not size down. The shirts are cut with room through the body so they sit cool and hang well.
What do I wear with a linen shirt?
Linen or cotton trousers in ivory, stone, white or navy, with white trainers or suede loafers. Worn open at the neck with the sleeves rolled, a linen shirt is a complete summer outfit.
