MEET COTTON
FROM:
Plants of the genus Gossypium
IS IT SUSTAINABLE?
Yes, ideally look for organic options.
IS IT DURABLE?
Yes.
IS IT BREATHABLE?
Yes.
IS IT WARM?
Not really, it absorbs moisture and traps it near your skin which might leave you wet and cold.
HISTORY:
Cotton has been grown and used for making clothes for many years. People first grew cotton in the Indus Valley in Pakistan around 3000 BCE. After that, people around the world started growing and trading cotton, including in Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
During the medieval period, it became a popular textile in the Islamic world, where it was used for clothing and other textiles. It was also traded extensively along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected Asia with Europe and the Middle East.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the production of cotton became industrialized, with the invention of the cotton gin and other machinery. As a result, the industry grew in the United States. While the fabric played a significant role in the economic development of the United States, it is crucial to acknowledge that it built on the backs of slaves. Enslaved Africans were forcibly brought to the US and subjected to harsh, brutal conditions, working long hours under oppressive systems of control.
Today, it remains one of the most widely used natural fibers in the world, and is used to make a wide range of products, from clothing and textiles to paper and medical supplies. However, making the fabric also has caused many environmental and social problems. These include not having enough water, using too many pesticides, and farmers and laborers having bad working conditions. As a result, there is growing interest in sustainable and organic cotton production methods, as well as alternative fibers and textiles.
PRODUCTION PROCESS:
Cotton plants need a lot of water and sunlight to grow. It’s usually harvested in the fall using machines that pick the cotton bolls, which are capsules that protect the fibers.
After harvesting, a machine called a cotton gin is used to separate the seeds from the fibers. This leaves behind clean, raw cotton, which is then spun into yarn or thread.
The yarn or thread is used to make fabric, which can be cut and sewn into clothing or bedding. The fabric can be treated with different chemicals to change its color or texture.
