Cotton

The most popular fiber in the world

Description 

Cotton is a seed fiber grown as a protective covering around the seed of the cotton plant.
Known to be the most popular natural fiber in the world, it is soft and fluffy to the touch and is usually off-white in color.

History

Derived from the Arabic word "Kutan", cotton has been cultivated for over 6,000 years.
It was first discovered woven around 3000 BC in Pakistan, then brought to Europe around 800 AD by Arab merchants, and by 1500 it was known throughout the world.

Manufacturing

Conventional cotton requires extremely high humidity levels, resulting from rainfall or irrigation during the growing season, and a hot, dry season during the picking period. The harvested cotton is then ginned to separate the fibers from the seeds.
The significant ecological and social impact caused by large-scale intensive production is a major concern in the industry.

Potential impact

Strong global demand for cotton encourages large-scale, intensive production. This requires a significant use of toxic chemicals and a large consumption of water.

Seed fiber

11-22 microns

10-65mm

Features

- Light
- Durable, stays strong even when wet
- Breathable and wearable all year round
- Absorbs and releases moisture very quickly
- Takes dye well but tends to fade after washing
- Is not stable and tends to shrink
- Tends to crease
- Does not accumulate static electricity

Cotton class

Cotton quality depends on the cleanliness, whiteness, length and strength of the fibers, but a longer spindle generally indicates higher quality with a softer feel.

Very long lifetime

Supima cotton from America, Sea Island cotton from the Caribbean and Giza cotton from Egypt are very high quality cottons. They are all extra-long fibers and very soft to the touch.

Sustainable options

Organic cotton and colored cotton are sustainable options that have been promoted to replace conventional cotton, with far less synthetic agricultural chemicals and water use.