Fabric comparison
Muslin and linen are both natural, breathable fabrics parents reach for in warm climates. We build every Epic piece from muslin cotton because of how it feels against a baby's skin, but linen is a solid fabric too, and plenty of families like it for kids' clothes. Here is an honest look at how the two compare.
By Vanessa & Bob, Epic in Bali · Updated 21 August 2026
| Muslin | Linen | |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre & construction | Cotton woven in an open, loose weave; Epic's pieces use two layers of it for a bit more structure while keeping the gaps that make it breathable. | Made from flax fibre, woven in a tighter weave with a naturally coarse texture. |
| Breathability | The open weave lets air move through easily, which is why we chose it for Epic's clothes. | Flax fibres are hollow and let air move well too; linen is one of the more breathable natural fabrics, close to muslin here. |
| Weight & feel | Light and soft against the skin, especially once it has been through a few washes. | Also lightweight, but the fibres start out stiffer, so new linen can feel crisp until it has been washed and worn a bit. |
| Hot-weather performance | Dries quickly after a wash or a spill, so it does not stay damp against a baby's skin. | Handles heat well too, though it can take a little longer to dry fully since the fibres hold moisture a bit more than muslin's open weave. |
| Softness & durability | Gets softer with every wash. It creases easily, which is normal for this weave, not a flaw. | Starts out firmer and wrinkles heavily, but flax is a strong fibre and linen can hold up to years of washing. |
| Best for | Parents who want a fabric that feels soft from early wears, dries fast, and keeps softening over time. | Parents who like a more textured, structured look and do not mind a break-in period and more wrinkles. |
Choose Muslin if you want a fabric that is soft from the start, breathable in the heat, and keeps getting softer wash after wash.
Choose Linen if you like its textured look and durability and do not mind a firmer feel and more wrinkling while it breaks in.