Short answers, pulled from the story.
A cave in the Caucasus region of Georgia holds dyed flax fibers that date back 36,000 years. These fragments suggest ancient people used wild flax to create linen-like fabrics long before recorded history.
The Tarkhan dress dated between 3482 and 3102 BC stands as one of the oldest known woven garments in human history. This artifact originates from ancient Egypt where white linen was worn daily because it handled extreme heat better than other materials.
Huguenots fled France and settled in the British Isles after King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685. These refugees brought improved production methods that boosted Irish linen output significantly under the leadership of Louis Crommelin in Lisburn near Belfast.
Flax fibers range in length from approximately 25 to 150 millimeters with diameters averaging 12 to 16 micrometers. The cross-section displays irregular polygonal shapes contributing to a coarse texture while nodes along the fiber add flexibility and unique textural qualities.
China exported $732.3 million worth of woven linen fabrics in 2018 followed by Italy with $173.0 million in exports. Belgium contributed $68.9 million and the UK added $51.7 million to global trade figures for that year.