"Bed linen" sounds like it should mean sheets made from linen fabric. Usually it doesn't. It's one of those bedding terms that's stuck around long after its literal meaning stopped applying.
What "bed linen" actually means today
In retail and everyday use, "bed linen" is a catch-all term for bedding in general, fitted sheets, flat sheets, pillowcases, doona covers, whatever fabric they're actually made from. It's a category name, not a fabric claim. Cotton bed linen, jersey bed linen and actual linen bed linen are all technically "bed linen."
Where the term came from
The name dates back to medieval Europe, when linen, woven from flax fibre, was the standard household fabric because cotton was still a rare, expensive import. That's when calling bedsheets and similar items "linens" took hold. Cotton only became the affordable, dominant choice after the Industrial Revolution made it cheap to produce at scale, but by then the word "linens" had already stuck, and it never changed even as the fabric did.
What fabrics actually fall under "bed linen" today
A few main ones show up. Linen itself, made from flax, breathable and textured, softens over time. Cotton, in various weaves, breathable and durable. Polyester and microfibre blends, budget-friendly and wrinkle-resistant. And cotton jersey, a knitted rather than woven fabric, the same stretchy construction as a t-shirt. All of these get sold under the same "bed linen" umbrella, despite being genuinely different materials.
If you're curious what jersey feels like as bed linen, It-Fits fitted sheets are made from 100% Australian cotton jersey, soft and stretchy enough to grip the mattress properly.
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