Cotton is the oldest known fabric that is still being used to produce high-quality apparels and textile products since its first cultivation. The word cotton came from the Arabic word “KUTUN” that is used to describe any fine textile. Archaeologists found cotton around 5000 years back in Mohenjo Daro, an ancient town in the Indus River Valley. Initially, it grew in wilderness in East Africa, but for the very first time it was adequately cultivated in the subcontinent, and its early uses were in textile for clothing, binding for sandals and harnesses for elephants.
According to the research, cotton has been used as fiber since 3000 B.C, and at that time it was mainly used in India and America. The fragments of 4000 years old cotton were found in the Indus River. No one is quite sure about the origin of cotton products that we are using today, as its usage evolved with the passage of time and the textile industry is still finding new ways to utilize this fabric to produce high-quality products that could cater to our daily needs.
Plants of different species similar to modern cotton plants were domesticated in India, central and south America thousand years ago. Unlike silk that was only produced in Asia, cotton is produced all over the world. However, the quality of the product varies. The Chinese also developed the cotton fabric in ancient times, but didn’t use it till the 13th century. When the Spanish arrived in America in the 15th and 16th century, they found Aztecs and Incas were skilled at spinning, dyeing and weaving of cotton. Moreover, cotton was not used widely in Europe until raw cotton appeared in Italy in the 12th century.
The Evolution of Cotton Fabric
The surge in cotton consumption was triggered by the industrial revolution of the late 18th century in the rapidly developing countries. Spinning mills sprang up in places like Manchester that led to major cotton ports. With access to cotton labor the American colonies provided much of raw cotton, and with lower production cost, it became more affordable. However, the American Civil War changed everything as it forced the European nations to look for other producers to meet their needs, in the search, European nations looked into their colonies including Australia, later on these areas proved themselves as a good cotton producer. Cotton was widely used in ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt and subcontinent and early Mediterranean traders introduced cotton products to Europe.
Cotton, wool, and silk became the most preferred fibers for fine fabrics in the textile industry of developed countries. Undoubtedly, cotton was dominant, and still, it is especially in the less developed countries where cotton farming, home spinning, and village industry are unlocked. Today, cotton is widely used in making bed sheets, and dresses. Moreover, cotton fibers can be knitted into fabrics such as corduroy, chambray, jersey, velour, and velvet. In addition, textile manufacturers use cotton in textile products like bedding, fabrics, dresses, socks and shirts.
How Is Cotton Affecting Our Lives Today?
Cotton is the most important non-food crop as it supplies about 80% of the world’s natural fibers and continues to be the primary material in the half of the world’s textile despite the fierce competition of synthetic fibers. Cotton is a natural fiber that is known as the king of fibers; it is naturally absorbent, breathable & soft. Cotton is said to be ideal for dresses and clothing because of its fibers bond and interlock when spun into long strands that can be easily dyed. At present, the most essential uses of cotton are; clothing, rugs, cordage, batting, draperies, cellulose products and sewing threads. In addition, it can be ground into currency, crushed into vegetable oils and woven into coffee filters, bookbinding, tents, and fishnet.
Cotton dresses are light and soft, comfortable, and it is a perfect choice to beat the heat in summer. There are several species of cotton that grows wild, but they are not economically feasible, but there are a few types of cotton that are produced commercially around the globe.
Types of Organic Cotton
There are different varieties of cotton which are still not commonly known. Some types of cotton are Pima, Egyptian, Upland, and Acala. These various kinds resemble each other but differ in color of flowers, fiber and time of blooming.
Egyptian Cotton
Egyptian cotton is extra long staple cotton that makes it exceptional in vibrancy, softness, and performance. Egyptian cotton grows in a hot and dry climate of Nile River Valley in Egypt, and due to its place of origin, it is commonly known as Egyptian cotton. Egyptian grown cotton is known for its ability to create extra long stables or fibers. These fibers are used to produce yarns that are thinner than other kinds of cotton because of their longer length. This yarn or thread is smaller in diameter but stronger than other kinds of cotton. It used to create a more luxurious fabric which is stronger, weightless and more breathable than standard cotton. Another distinctive feature of Egyptian cotton is that farmers traditionally process them with their hands. Minimal use of pesticides and no chemical usage in Egyptian cotton makes it a completely natural product. Furthermore, 100% Egyptian cotton fabrics resist surface balling after repeated washing.
Pima Cotton
It is considered a good cotton type for its extra-large staples and long fibers that make it more soft and robust. These characters make it a luxuriously smooth fabric that is resistant to fading, wrinkling, tearing, fraying and pilling. So many fabrics claim to be pure Pima but, studies found that 89% are not pure Pima cotton.
Upland Cotton
It is believed to have originated in Central America and spread around the world through cultivation. Upland is relatively short cotton fibers, and it is perfect for producing quality products for everyday use. It is the most common type of cotton in the United States makes up 95% of the cotton planted on American soil. It is cultivated primarily for its vegetable seed fiber, and the raw material is used for the large volume of textile products. This species of cotton is considered the most important of the cotton-yielding plants that provide the bulk for commercial cotton.
Acala Cotton
A particular variety of cotton known as San Joaquin Valley Acala is among the highest quality Upland cotton produced in California. Acala cotton benefits from the ideal climate of the San Joaquin Valley, which increases production and results in an elegant product. Due to irrigation requirements, it tends to be more expensive than American grown Upland cotton.
Bamboo Cotton
Cloth or yarn produced from bamboo fibers is known as Bamboo textile or Bamboo cotton. Bamboo cotton is a very soft material, but it is half organic. Bamboo cotton requires less water and no pesticides and also fewer nutrients than other plants. It can grow in bad soil, and the land can be reclaimed for other plants. Manufacturers use crushed bamboo mixture along with organic cotton to make clothes and fabrics. It is one of the best choices for the environment and skin. Bamboo cotton and its products are increasingly popular in the United States but its production still lie in Asia.
Cotton Alternatives
We come across cotton every day in our homes, from the sheets you sleep on to the clothes you wear on. Our lives are intertwined with this fiber, and we never think about our other choices. Every individual adorns cotton clothes and it is one of the most popular fabrics around the world. Here the question arises that, do we have any alternative to cotton fabric? Well, some clothes manufacturers found a substitute for cotton just as effective and much more sustainable. Few cotton alternatives are given below,
Polyester
Cotton and polyester together make 80% of the world’s fiber production, and there are significant advantages and disadvantages of polyester over cotton. It requires a minimal amount of water for production, but its energy use during production is higher than cotton. Polyester fabrics are extremely strong, very durable, resistant to most chemicals, wrinkle resistant and abrasion resistant. Like cotton, it is increasingly popular in the apparel industry. Polyester is more wrinkle resistant than cotton, fades less, and is long lasting and durable. Polyester is less absorbent than cotton which is why it is more stain resistant.
Hemp
It is the fiber that has been used by sailors and soldiers for centuries. It can grow with little irrigation, and organic hemp require more energy than organic cotton. Its processing has not been changed over 50 years, and it is still dependent on good weather conditions. Moreover, it needs less land for every ton of finished textile.
Cotton is the world’s leading agricultural crop, and it is easy to care for, as it is comfortable. To avoid damage to cotton by wind and air, it is picked as soon as the bolls open. It does not matter if your cotton has grown in Egypt, India, China, Brazil, Pakistan or United States if the cotton staples are large, the quality is pure. Moreover, if the bolls are picked by hands and farmed with care, then you can get the most luxurious cotton fabric.
But quality of fabric is not dependent upon the type of cotton only, there is much more to it and to learn more about the fabric and textiles, sign up for monthly newsletter.