Cotton is a soft fluffy fiber with grows in a protective casing around the seeds of cotton plants. Cotton fibers are natural hollow fibers; they are soft, cool, known as breathable fibers and absorbent. Cotton fibers can hold water 24–27 times their own weight. They are strong, dye absorbent and can stand up against abrasion wear and high temperature.
Cotton fiber was widely used in India and China many years before the Common Era, and cotton yarn and fabric were made by hand. Until the Crusades, cotton cloths were unknown in Western Europe. Cottage production began in Europe in the 14th century, mostly for linen warps and cotton wefts; cotton fabrics from the East Indies were commonly imported. Machine manufacture of cotton fabrics began in Great Britain in the 1770s as a result of developments in the spinning frame. The fabrics produced, however, were coarse and heavy, and delicate cottons were still imported. Manchester, Great Britain, was the site of the first cotton textile plant.
Cotton materials are hygienic, sturdy, and resistant to wear, washing, and light, but they lack the necessary elasticity, causing them to stretch and wrinkle easily. Depending on their intended use, cotton fabrics are classed as domestic or industrial. Cotton fabrics, including apparel (underwear, shirts, skirts, and suits), moisture-absorbing, and decorative fabrics, account for over 80% of all cotton fabrics.
Cotton fabrics for undergarments are generally made of carded and combed yarn and are woven in a plain weave. Men’s underwear and bedding are made of heavy materials (100–165 g per sq m), such as bleached coarse calicoes and linens. Face and terry-cloth towels, as well as handkerchiefs, are made of moisture-absorbing cotton materials. Towels are constructed of carded yarn and weigh between 150 and 380 grammes per square meter. Because of the high hygroscopicity of the yarn and the waffle or pile weave utilized, they hold moisture well. Combed yarn with a plain weave is used to make handkerchiefs. Upholster furniture and make draperies with decorative fabrics (tapestry, napped, and other sorts). They’re created from twist yarns in plain, small-figured, and large-figured weaves, with viscose yarn thrown in for good measure.
The world uses cotton more than any other natural fiber and it is primarily grown and used to make cloth. According to Cotton Incorporated, cotton fabric is breathable and transfers moisture away from the body, as well as absorbent and eliminates fluids from the skin like a towel. Cotton keeps moisture from building up between your skin and your clothing, allowing you to stay comfortable while exercising.
Cotton fabric rarely causes allergic reactions and wearing cotton is often recommended for those with skin allergies, notes Cotton Incorporated. Because cotton is hypoallergenic and does not irritate skin, it is used in medical products like bandages and gauze, and is the fabric of choice when it comes to baby clothing.
Cotton is a comfortable fabric to wear since it is soft and stretches easily. According to the International Forum for Cotton Promotion, it is frequently used in undergarments and undershirts due to its softness and comfort.
Cotton has a high tensile strength, making it strong, durable and less likely to rip or tear. It is 30 percent stronger when wet, withstanding many washings in hot water.
