One of the defining features of many Egyptian tunics, particularly those worn by the elite, was the distinctive keyhole collar. It made the garment easier to put on while preserving its elegant silhouette, likely improved comfort in Egypt's warm climate, and may even have helped frame the elaborate jewellery that was central to Egyptian dress. Thousands of years later, echoes of this design can still be found in the traditional galabeyas worn across southern Egypt, a reminder that some traditions never truly disappeared.
That inspired a question:
What if we could bring that design language into the modern wardrobe?
Today, the linen shirt is one of the world's most recognizable summer garments. So we set out to combine its contemporary appeal with the functional beauty of the ancient Egyptian tunic.
Rather than simply recreating history, we wanted to reinterpret it.
Drawing inspiration from the proportions and construction of the original royal tunics, we designed a shirt that pays homage to its heritage while embracing clean, modern tailoring. The result is a wide, relaxed silhouette that remains true to its original purpose: timeless, breathable, and effortless. The generous cut promotes airflow, while the loose fit allows complete freedom of movement—just as these garments were intended to do thousands of years ago.
Sometimes, the best innovations aren't new.
They're simply waiting to be rediscovered.
But when trying to design our first product we were very conflicted between whether we should use cotton or linen, mainly because egypt has been known for the 2 centuries for its high quality cotton.
But the more research we did, the more sacred and essential linen turned out to be back in ancient egypt and for many valid reasons.
Historical evidence suggests that the production of linen in the Nile Valley dates back at least 10,000 years, with some of the oldest preserved garments appearing in Neolithic burials.
The primary reason for the material choice of linen was its unmatched performance in Egypt’s subtropical climate. The high temperatures and significant humidity near the river made it essential for clothing to be lightweight, porous, and moisture-absorbent. Linen possesses a high thermal conductivity, meaning it allows body heat to escape more efficiently than other natural fibers, providing a cooling effect for the wearer. Its ability to absorb moisture up to 20% of its own weight without feeling damp facilitated evaporative cooling, a critical survival mechanism in the Saharan environment.
Furthermore, linen is naturally durable and becomes significantly stronger when wet, which allowed for frequent laundering. In a culture where hygiene was not merely a physical preference but a religious mandate, the ability to maintain clean, fresh garments was of paramount importance.
What’s interesting as well is linens versatility since The quality of the final textile was fundamentally determined by the timing of this harvest. Young flax plants, pulled before the seeds had sprouted, yielded the most delicate and soft fibers used for "royal linen". Plants harvested at a more mature stage produced stronger, coarser fibers suitable for everyday clothing, ropes, and sails. This botanical flexibility allowed the Egyptians to create a wide spectrum of fabrics from a single plant species, ranging from heavy canvas to gossamer-thin gauzes that were nearly transparent.
The specific preference for white was also influenced by practical constraints and environmental factors. Flax fibers are inherently resistant to most natural vegetable dyes available in antiquity; unlike protein-based fibers like wool, which absorb pigments readily, the cellulosic structure of linen requires complex mordants to achieve lasting color. Consequently, the Egyptians embraced the natural cream color of the flax or utilized the intense Saharan sunlight to bleach the fabric to a brilliant white. This brilliance had a secondary practical benefit: white reflects solar radiation, whereas darker colors absorb heat, making white linen the most thermally efficient choice for outdoor activity.
The plant itself was held in high regard, often referred to in literature and hymns as the "color-of-heaven plant" due to the striking blue hue of its flowers
To the ancient Egyptians, color (iwen) was an ontological category—it was an integral part of an item’s or person’s nature and character. The color white, known primarily as hedj and sometimes shesep, represented the highest level of spiritual attainment: purity, sacredness, cleanliness, and omnipotence. Because white is the absence of color or the presence of all-encompassing light
By wearing white linen, which the Egyptians poetically termed "woven moonlight," the wearer was symbolically clothing themselves in the celestial radiance of the nighttime sky.
Lastly white was practical to reflect the sunlight and heat.