Living In Linen: Timeless Elegance With Whitney Linen (Win!)

Inspired by summers in the South of France, Whitney Linen founder Whitney Westwood has built a brand that embodies effortless elegance. Rooted in sustainability and timeless design, Whitney Linen crafts collections for women, men, and home, celebrating the strength and beauty of linen—a fabric that evokes a lifestyle of understated luxury. —Noa Nichol

What inspired you to create Whitney Linen, and how did you identify a gap in the market for luxury linen clothing?

Spending summers in the South of France, linen is part of daily life. I also spent a few years modeling, so once I was thinking about my next move, I was interested in continuing to work within the fashion industry. It felt like a natural extension of the lifestyle that I grew up in to use linen as a starting point. Upon researching, there are few brands that solely use linen, so it felt like a great niche market to get into.

Linen is often associated with warm-weather fashion. How do you ensure your pieces are versatile enough to be worn year-round?

The benefits of linen are vast, not only is it a highly sustainable fabric, but there are so many benefits to wearing linen, including thermoregulatory properties. In the warmer months, it’s breathability keeps you cool and in cooler temps, it keeps you warm as the hollow fibres act as insulators. One of our best sellers is our Classic Linen Shirt, which is a great piece year round. In the cooler months, because linen is so soft and truly moulds to your body, it is perfect layered under a sweater. 

Can you tell us more about the sustainability aspect of linen as a fabric and how Whitney Linen integrates eco-conscious practices into production?

The inherent sustainability of linen makes it one of the most desired fibres. Linen comes from flax plants, which require very little water to grow. Compared to cotton, for example, which requires much more water and the use of pesticides to grow. In addition to using a fibre that is sustainable, we are thoughtful with our production. We manufacture locally in Toronto, allowing us to support our communities. We are also mindful of not overproducing.

What are some key elements you focus on when designing a new collection, and how do you balance timeless elegance with current fashion trends?

When designing, I like to consider multiple ways of wearing things. Our pieces are great for travel, so it’s important that they can be styled in different ways in order to minimize packing! We always have great tailoring that can be dressed up or down; our three piece suit is stellar worn all together, but you can wear the vest with your favourite denim, the blazer over a dress and the pant with a tonal swimsuit, you have three totally different ways of wearing the pieces.

As a founder, what has been your proudest moment with Whitney Linen, and how do you see the brand evolving in the next few years?

I strive to create a lifestyle brand that enhances one’s life through easy to wear pieces and great additions to your home. One of the best parts about being a founder is walking down the street and seeing someone wearing Whitney Linen; It’s a great feeling! I am looking forward to watching Whitney Linen grow and expand. We are working on growing our men’s category, as well as home items. I have seen a big increase in the amount of linen available in North American stores in recent years. To me, this is a great shift in the market and the North American shopper is more interested in linen. People are starting to understand the fantastic properties of linen and how easily it can fit into one’s wardrobe.

Win! A $350 Whitney Linen Gift Card!

Congrats Helen S. of Mississauga, ON, who will receive a $350 gift card to Whitney Linen; in studio shopping available by appointment if the winner is local, and the brand could also do a video call if the winner would like help shopping! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.