The Different Types of Cotton

March 18, 2021 12:45 pm

Cotton is definitely the first choice of people, especially during hot weather. Can any other fabric match the ease and comfort of cotton? Certainly not, because cotton is a natural fibre that is versatile enough to be worn for both daytime and nighttime. What more? It is an all-time favorite of people for everything from face masks to shirts to pretty summer dresses.

As such, the demand for cotton is increasing each passing day exponentially. Recent strides in agriculture have given us better quality cotton and higher yields, while relentless research in textile engineering has provided us with a variety of cotton yarns and fabrics.

You must have come across clothing with labels that read ‘100% pure cotton’. So, what’s your take on these labels? Do they assure 100% pure cotton? Maybe valid to some extent. This label would lead you to believe that you are buying an article of clothing that is made of pure cotton. Then, there are cotton purists who cannot think of anything less than ‘100% organic cotton. There is a difference after all between ‘100% pure cotton’ and ‘100% organic cotton. It gets a little tricky here. So, pay more attention.

We are sure that you will quickly answer if we ask you the best types of cotton apparel you have used. But, the question here is the types of cotton. It’s tough to be answered although cotton is a part of our daily lives. To help you understand better, we will discuss the different types of cotton fabrics available today while also telling you about each type’s characteristics.  This can help you to decide which material to choose for manufacturing various kinds of clothing

Unveiling the Types of Cotton Fabrics

 

100% Organic Cotton

100% organic cotton, as the name suggests, is cotton that is grown “organically.” This cotton is the purest form available. These are not genetically modified versions and are grown sustainably without using harmful chemicals or pesticides and using much less water than that used to produce regular ordinary cotton. Organic cotton comes with a certificate, for example, the “OCS 100 – Organic Content Standard” that guarantees you the purity of the cotton product you are buying. “The Organic Content Standard (OCS)” applies to any non-food product containing 95-100 percent organic material.

 

100% Pure Cotton

The ‘100% pure cotton’ label tells you that your garment is not made of ‘mixed cotton’ or blended cotton fabric. You will be curious to understand what garments can be made from 100% organic cotton fabrics. Pure organic cotton that is not blended with other materials has all the properties of cotton intact. So, this fabric is soft, comfortable, breathable, safe, hypoallergenic, and 100% biodegradable, and of course, sustainable. Garments manufactured from 100% organic cotton will absorb moisture, shrink, and wrinkle on drying too. Moreover, cotton clothes are very hardy and long-lasting though they may require ironing. And yes, they are a tad expensive when compared to other fabrics. But the stylishly elegant look and the next-level comfort are well worth the money you spend.

 

Recycled Cotton

Recycled cotton is made by recycling cotton scraps. During the production of clothing from cotton fabrics, there are scraps of unused fabric left. These fabrics may have different colors, prints, treatments. Instead of wasting these suitable cotton fabrics, they are sorted, shredded, and turned into cotton fiber again. This fiber is used to make cotton yarn and rewoven into cotton products. Yes, sometimes we too recycle old clothes.  Recycled cotton is quite a rage in the fashion industry now as sustainable fashion and clothing are trending. These clothes might not be as strong as virgin cotton, but they are in high demand nowadays. All types of clothes can be fashioned from recycled cotton, including accessories like masks, bandanas, bags, pet clothing, and so on.

 

Cotton/Polyester/ Elastane (or Spandex)

 This particular tri-blend of cotton, polyester, and elastane is a convenient and versatile fabric. This blend is even more sensible and pragmatic than poly-cotton. This fabric has all the good qualities of cotton, polyester, and elastane blended into it. The fabric is light, durable, and breathable, with high moisture-wicking qualities, as well as being slightly stretchable due to the elastane. The fabric does not shrink, does not wrinkle easily, and is pretty low maintenance. It can be used to make durable, yet comfortable workwear, casual wear as well as sportswear. Think of comfortable notch collar shirts for the office, or casual polo-shirts, or of cozy loungewear, or say sportswear like tees, joggers, shorts, you name it, this tri-blend comes in very handy. The possibilities are endless.

 

Cotton/Elastane

This is the ultimate ‘no-hassle fabric’ for your garments. The percentage of elastane or spandex in a cotton-elastane blend is usually very low. So this blend retains the main characteristics of cotton. Few fabrics can match the breathability and hypoallergenic characteristics of cotton. This blend does so with ease. This is also a low-maintenance fabric with little need for ironing or delicate care. As cotton is the main fabric here, it is ideal for inner-wear, underwear, intimate wear, shorts, boxers, sports bras, and so on. So, this fabric is best for all your comfy cotton basics and essentials, that is.

Wrapping Up

At Aryan Apparels, we take pride in as well as love the work we are doing in cotton. Being one of the largest cotton-producing countries globally, we have a long history of traditional handloom weaving and modern manufacturing of cotton clothing. So, we know the ropes well, or should we say threads?