Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Egyptian Cotton

Q: What should YOU know about Egyptian Cotton?

A: As the term implies, Egyptian cotton is used to describe cotton grown in Egypt. The fertile Nile River valley of Egypt has long been considered the most desirable setting for growing the finest cotton in the world. It has the perfect climate to produce cotton with extra-long fibers; the valley is sufficiently humid and the soil is rich in nutrients. This reputation is precisely what makes the term "Egyptian cotton" so meaningful to consumers.

It is important to recognize that Egypt grows a variety of different types of cotton, which are categorized by the length of the cotton fiber (known as staple). There is Extra-Long Staple (ELS), Long-Staple (LS), and regular cotton, and there are significant differences between these varieties.

The ELS fibers allow the cotton to be spun into much finer, softer, and stronger yarns. And fabric woven with ELS cotton is more breathable, providing greater comfort. It also produces less lint and has less of a tendency to pill. And as an added bonus, it becomes softer with every laundering.

Unfortunately, most products labeled "Egyptian cotton" are not made with ELS cotton yarns. Only a small percentage of the Egyptian cotton production is ELS, and within the ELS category, the finest varietals are not being grown in any significant quantities. Therefore, it is best to be somewhat wary when "Egyptian cotton" is listed as the fiber content.



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1 comment:

  1. Such a nice post and I like your notion and detail how to make Egyptian cotton. I am also use Egyptian cotton stuff. it's a fa-bilious. Linen

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