Cotton
The cotton seed called a cotton boll. Photo by @dietitian.mama
Cotton is the most versatile and most common fiber. It comes from a seed and it is the seed of modern manufacturing. This seed made the United States very wealthy with its use of slavery. It also caused the Civil War because plantation owners and even wealthy northerners who owned textile mills didn’t want to lower their profit margins. Chattel slavery is illegal all over the world, but labor conditions concerning cotton are nowhere near ideal in modern society.
Cotton was also the textile for the emerging middle classes and working classes to buy clothing at a lower price. It’s such a basic fiber that we rarely think about its importance. Besides we all know the jingle from the Cotton commercials.
Why Cotton?
Simple. Cotton is easy to care for. It washes easily and absorbs dyes well to make gorgeous colors. Its ability to absorb water make it breathable for hot weather and for physical activity. It’s also soft which makes it comfy. It does wrinkle easily and shrinkage is an issue. This is why cotton is often paired with a synthetic like polyester to get the best of both worlds. Polyester is known for its ability to resist wrinkles.
Cotton field. Photo by fred moreno
Where Does Cotton Come From?
All over the world. It requires a semitropical climate found in the United States, China, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Australia, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Syria, Greece and Egypt.
How do I know if it’s good quality?
Cotton quality is mostly based on the length of its fibers.
Short-staple cotton fiber is coarse and about 1/2”-1” (10-25mm) in length. This kind is typically grown in China, India, South Africa, and southeastern Europe. It is the most commonly used cotton. Most likely used for cheap leggings and t-shirts.
Medium-staple cotton fiber is 1-1 1/2” (25-35mm) in length. This is the Upland cotton that is the United States is known for. It is used for making denim aka jeans and soft pajama flannel.
Long-staple cotton is considered the highest quality with its 1 1/2”- 2 1/2” (35-60mm) fibers. It has less fuzz because of its fiber length. This quality is used for bed sheets, and designer clothing. Egyptian, Pima, Sea Island are all types of this long fiber. It can also give off a natural luster or shine.
Denim is a popular fabric using cotton fiber. Photo by Ergita Sela
Dyeing at home
Most at-home dyes like, RIT are made for cotton. If you want to change the color of your cotton garment, it very easy to do. Just a warning, the thread of your cotton garment might be polyester not cotton, so it might not dye well.
Cotton Care & Storage
One of the things that make cotton so easy to wear is its ability to be easy to wash. Most detergents are created for the care of cotton. Cotton is the standard fiber in laundry care instructions. And it doesn’t need to be dry cleaned. Yay!
Shrinkage
Not just a problem for men. Cotton tends to shrink
Mildew
Cotton is prone to mildew, so wet cotton fabric should be stored in a way that allows air to easily flow through the fibers. For example, those wet jeans that you wore when you were caught in a rainstorm should be hung up in a shower. Not a closet or next to other clothes.
Pests
Cotton is a carb. Silverfish and firebrats love carb-loading on cellulose fibers like cotton. Not only do they love your cotton clothes, but they also love cotton wallpaper and the paste used to apply it to the wall.
Light
Exposure to sunlight over many years can cause cotton fabric to yellow and fade. Consider that in buying or making your own window drapes.
Line drying will extend the life of your clothing. Photo by Erik Witsoe
Heat
Dryers can cause cotton to dry out which lessens the life of your clothing. Avoiding a dryer will help your clothes last longer. Consider line-drying your clothing to keep it longer. Or even just drying it on a lower setting. I know that this sucks for those of us that pay for the laundromat. But hey, line drying is free.
Shrinkage
Not just a problem for men. Cotton tends to shrink after a tumble in the dryer. You probably have noticed this and thought you gained weight. Most likely, you didn’t. To prevent this, just tumble dry your garment for a few minutes and hang it up to dry the rest of the way.
Learn More
The Fabric of Our Lives for fabric care
The History of Cotton for a little bit of history on cotton
Scene On the Radio| Season 4 Episode 3: The Cotton Empire for history on cotton in the United States
Overdressed by Elizabeth L. Cline for more current problems in textile and clothing manufacturing.
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