Cotton is a staple fiber made from natural fibers from Gossypium plants. It is primarily composed of cellulose, an insoluble organic compound essential for plant structure. Cotton is soft and fluffy, requiring sunlight, frost, and rain. The term “cotton” refers to the part of the plant that grows in the boll, which is spun into yarn for a durable fabric.
Origin
The word cotton comes from the Arabic word “quton.” The earliest production of cotton was in India, where the material dates back to the fifth millennium B.C.
The first cotton gin, which is a tool that separates the cotton fluff from the plant seeds, was invented in India in the thirteenth century. The cotton gin made the production of cotton much easier and faster, helping the fiber spread as a widely-used textile.
During the Industrial Revolution, with the invention of new technologies like the spinning jenny, spinning frame, and spinning mule, Britain became one of the leading cotton producers. All of these spinning machines allowed manufacturers to spin cotton at increased rates.
Properties of Cotton
- Softness. The cotton plant is soft and fluffy and results in a fabric often retains that soft feel.
- Durability. The cotton plant’s cellular structure is strong, creating a tough and wear-and-tear resistant fabric.
- Absorbency. Cotton fabric is very absorbent fabric because there is a lot of space between the cotton fibers.
- Holds dye well. Due to its absorbent nature, cotton takes dye very easily and can be made into a wide variety of colors.
- Breathability. The fiber structure of cotton makes it more breathable than synthetic fibers.
- No static cling. Cotton does not conduct electricity, therefore static is not an issue with cotton.
4 Varieties of Cotton
Pima cotton considered the finest type of cotton in the world, pima cotton’s fibers are extra soft and extra long. The cotton is native to South America and the American Southwest. Pima cotton fabric is very highly-sought after, as it is resistant to fading, tearing, and wrinkling.
Egyptian cotton is very similar to pima cotton. The two are even in the same scientific class: gossypium barbadense. It has the same resistant qualities, but it is grown in the Nile River Valley in Egypt.
Upland cotton has very short fibers and makes up about 90% of the world’s total cotton production. The crop is native to and grown in Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and southern Florida.
Organic cotton is any type of cotton that is grown without chemicals and from plants that are not genetically engineered.
Types of Cotton Fabric
- Cambric – a lightweight cloth with a long history; a cambric shirt is mentioned in the folk song ‘Scarborough Fair’. It’s also used for handkerchiefs and lace. Cambric was originally made of linen but nowadays you’ll find it in cotton as well.
- Canvas – a heavy, long-lasting fabric, often rough to the touch. It’s used to make things that will need to withstand the elements, such as tents, sails and rucksacks, but you might also find it in your favourite hat.
- Corduroy – with its distinctive ridged pattern, is often used to make trousers or jackets. You can run your finger across it and feel the cords.
- Denim – the rough, sturdy twill weave that’s usually used for jeans. It’s interesting to take a close look inside blue jeans; you’ll usually find white stitches alternating with blue. This is because the warp threads are dyed blue, but the weft threads, which only appear on the inside of denim, are usually left white.
- Flannel – a soft, slightly fuzzy fabric with a bit of weight to it. It’s often used for casual shirts and cuddly pyjamas. As with many kinds of cotton fabric, flannel can also be made from other materials, such as wool.
- Gauze – very loosely woven and often sheer. Cotton gauze is often used to dress wounds, but it can also add stunning transparent accents to your clothes.
- Lawn – a light, smooth, finely woven fabric. It’s silky to the touch and great for colourful summer dresses.
- Muslin – a light, loose-woven, affordable cloth. If dressmaking has always been your dream, you might use muslin to make test versions of clothes before you break out the more expensive fabric.
- Oxford Cloth – a textured fabric, opaque and wrinkle-resistant, which makes it very practical for shirts.
- Poplin – strong, straightforward, versatile fabric with a bit of ribbing to it, as the weft is thicker than the warp. It’s got a slight sheen and it’s used for all sorts of clothes: shirts, trousers, coats, dresses and more.
- Sateen – satiny feel and sheen. It’s weaved in the same way as satin, but it’s made of cotton rather than silk. It’s popular for bedsheets.
- Terry Cloth – the fabric that’s used to make towels, bathrobes and face flannels, covered in tiny loops of thread. It’s an absorbent design that enhances the natural absorbency of cotton. It’s confusing that flannels aren’t made of flannel, but that’s the world we live in.
- Velour – a very soft pile, and at first glance, its lustrous sheen is similar to velvet. Velvet is traditionally made of silk, though, so cotton velour is a lot more affordable. It’s used for both clothes and upholstery.
Common Uses for Cotton
- Woven fabrics. Cotton is used to make a variety of woven fabrics, including canvas, denim, damask, flannel, and more.
- Clothing. Cotton is a fixture of the textile industry as a result of its mass production, soft feel, durability, and absorbency. Cotton is frequently used for T-shirts, blue jeans, dresses, sweats, and so much more.
- Bed sheets and towels. Since cotton is extremely soft and absorbent, it is an ideal fabric for bedroom linens and towels needed to sop up moisture.
- Home decor. Cotton is also used throughout the home for curtains, rugs, pillows.
- Cottonseed oil. Cottonseed is a byproduct of the cotton production process, and the seeds are used to manufacture cottonseed oil, which is used for salad dressing and margarine. It can also be used in makeup, soap, candles and more.
- Upholstery. Cotton upholstery is soft and breathable, making it comfortable for seating such as couches and sofas. It’s available in various patterns and textures, allowing for diverse design options.
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