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Pima Cotton

The Many Benefits of Cotton

The natural fabric of cotton is used more than any other fiber, in the production of clothing - and for good reason.  Cotton offers numerous benefits over most all other synthetic materials.  Cotton clothing is also easier for companies to dye, so the options of cotton coloring are endless.  It can also be used to create any type of clothing, from socks to sweaters.  It is a durable fabric, inexpensive and extremely easy to care for.

There are several types of cotton:

o    Shiny Cotton - This type of cotton is has a similar resemblance to satin.  It is a reprocessed version of the cotton fibers, although it does not absorb as well as the original cotton.  It makes for great suits and pants, but is not fit for towels or socks.

o    Egyptian Cotton - This cotton is used more as a luxury item, used in upscale brands worldwide.  The Egyptian cotton fibers are grown within the rich soils of Egypt, near the Nile River.  As these cotton fibers are longer than original cotton fibers, they can be spun out into long soft threads.  This particular cotton is long lasting due to its extreme durability.

o    Pima Cotton - Pima Cotton is a thicker, more extensive weave than both the Shiny and Egyptian cottons.  It is often woven for fabric used for absorption; such as towels, bathrobes and sheets in warmer climates.

For anyone concerned with the environment, cotton is biodegradable.  Less than nine percent of all cotton grown is not used to create cloth. The remainder of the cotton plant is also put to use in plastics, and paper products.  Organic cotton does not even require pesticides to grow healthily, which can cut down on the amount of chemicals put into the environment.

The main benefit of cotton is that it is hypoallergenic.  This can be beneficial to anyone with sensitive skin, or allergies to irritations.  For this reason, most all hospitals choose to have everything from their bed sheets, to their uniforms, created with cotton fabric.  Bandages, gauze and medical wraps are also created from cotton.  As a breathable fabric, cotton can naturally absorb moistures on the body and allow for a healthier air circulation.  With this, cotton has become a very popular fabric to wear in humid climates.

Comfort is another reason why cotton is such a popular clothing product.  It is not a coincidence that infant clothing is made out of this extremely soft material. Most find cotton to be the softest fabric against your skin.  Even the hottest of stars are trading in their synthetic materials for basic cotton necessities. Even better, the more cotton clothing is washed and worn, the softer and more comfortable the items become.  

Cotton fabrics can also be beneficial when it comes to weatherproof clothing and gear.  Cotton can easily be manufactured into waterproof, fire-resistant and all-weather-repellent material.  Firefighter uniforms are made from fire-resistant cottons, just as professional outdoor athletes use uniforms and gear that are often waterproofed cotton.  Interestingly enough, after adding any resistance to cotton, the fabric still retains is breath ability factor, as well as its general comfort.  Also, cotton has been proven to be thirty percent stronger when wet, so warm-water washings rarely affect cotton threads (before or after weatherproofing).

It is no wonder cotton is the first choice for consumers when it comes to picking out the most comfortable and durable type of clothing.

About the Author

Sheila Harris is the general manager of Cotton Island a womens fashion boutique. Cotton Island always carries the newest and freshest styles that won't break your pocketbook. The womens boutique can be found at http://www.cottonisland.com.

Egyptian cotton vs. Pima (Supima) cotton? How to choose bedsheets?

I was looking at bedsheets and there were a few options for the 600 thread count versions.

What are the noticeable differences between Egyptian and Supima?

Also, what's the difference between two-ply Egyptian cotton? This one brand says it uses 2 ply yarn to achieve full thread count. Does that mean 2 sheets of 300 thread cotton?

Am I missing out huge, because I bought the Supima? It feels good, and Ralph Lauren makes it. Although they sold a 100% Egyptian Cotton 600 thread count at Target for the same price.

Does brand matter?
it says: "Woven with lustrous 2-ply yarn to achieve total thread count", what does that mean?

I know my answer will not really answer all your questions, but it might give you a start.

According to the two of the sites I pasted below, the ply multiplies the thread count. So a 2-ply sheet that has a 180 thread count has the feel of a 360 count. Also they stated that the higher the thread count, the thinner the thread, and so they do not wear as well.

I found the sites on Supima and Egyptian cotton quite interesting. Supima is pima cotton grown in the U.S. and a couple of other countries. It is ELS (extra long staple) cotton. True Egyptian cotton is also ELS. Apparently ELS cotton can be made into finer threads that are more durable. The one site mentioned that not all Egyptian cotton is ELS.

I hope the sites I posted are useful to you.

Pima Cotton -- Thanks to the UA

Tags: clothing, cotton, manufacturer, peru, pima, pima cotton, pima cotton fabric, pima cotton sheets, pima cotton t shirts, pima cotton wiki

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 10:51 pm and is filed under bedding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.