Most of the time, cotton fabric is used in the textile industry and many other industries. Do you think it is more special? Yes, it has thousands and thousands of years of history. It has been cultivated and used for textiles since ancient civilizations. It can be used from everyday clothing to big home goods. As it grows in warm climates and uses more water, cotton has more versatility than many other fabrics.
Let’s understand everything about cotton in this cotton dictionary article. If you are a beginner in the textile industry, read this complete article to find out how to speak with your cotton fabric suppliers. Clarify your doubts and get answers to all your questions from this vocabulary.
What is cotton fabric?
Cotton fabric is derived from the fibers of the cotton plant, which are soft and breathable. As the cotton plant matures, its seeds become surrounded by cotton fibers, which are harvested and processed to create fabric.
How cotton grows and becomes fabric
Cotton needs a lot of sunlight, and it grows in warm places. It also needs fertile soil and moderate rainfall or regular watering to grow well.
The cotton plant goes through several stages. Foremost, it starts from a seed and grows leaves, stems, and flowers. After this process, the cotton bolls will be produced. The bolls burst open when the cotton is ready to harvest, usually in late summer or early autumn.
After the harvesting process, the cotton fibers are separated from the seeds through a process called ginning. Then the clean fibers are spun into yarn or thread.
History of cotton
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutism) has a history of thousands of years. It is one of the oldest crops grown by humans. The earliest evidence of cotton farming comes from around 5,000 years ago in places like India and Egypt.
In the 18th century, cotton became even more popular. Separating the seed from the cotton was the most difficult thing to do. To make this process easier, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793. The cotton gin definition refers to people who separate cotton fibers from the seeds faster. This made cotton production much quicker and cheaper.
As we know, today, cotton is still a lot used in the textile industry, and fiber is grown in many countries around the world. The top 5 countries producing cotton are China, India, Brazil, United States, Australia, and Turkey.
Cotton fiber production slightly fell from 25.1 million tonnes in 2021/22 to 24.4 million tonnes in 2022/23. After polyester, cotton is the second most produced fiber, representing 20% of global fiber production.
What are the different types of cotton fabric?
Understanding the different types of cotton fabric is very crucial. As explained in the cotton dictionary above, let’s now explore each type one by one.
What makes the fabric below different? Weaving or knitting structure, count of thread, weight of fabric. It can get very confusing for anyone starting in this field, but what needs to be understood first is the main vocabulary given below.
Cambric/Batiste
The cambric fabric is smooth, plain weave, and lightweight, and it is a perfect choice during hot climates or as a liner. It’s tightly woven, giving it a clean look. The fabric is less likely to shrink or stretch when washed or dried. This makes it an excellent choice for clothes that are washed frequently. The typical weight of the cambric is 90 g/m2.
Poplin
This poplin is a common fabric used for making shirts, blouses, skirts, pants, tunics, lining material, and more. It is a tight-woven fabric heavier than cambric and 115 g/m2.
Double gauze
Soft fabric made of two layers of cotton. The layers are loosely connected, and they are very breathable and airy. It is used to make comfortable dresses and is also used a lot for baby clothes. Most probably, the weight of double gauze is 125 g/m2.
Recycled cotton
This is all about converting used cotton fabric into cotton fiber again that can be used in textile products. It is a very sustainable option, but it may have lower quality compared to fresh cotton. This 100% recycled cotton has a weight of around 130 g/m2.
Interlock
This is a knit fabric stretchy and comfortable. It is great for babywear, pyjamas, T-shirts, sportswear, dressmaking, home decor items, and many more. The weight of interlock cotton is 220 g/m2.
Jersey
Jersey is another knit fabric. But it is a bit thinner than interlock. Its stretchy, soft, and comfortable feeling helps to wear clothes casually. It has a slightly more flexible feel compared to interlock. The weight of the jersey is 150 g/m2.
Canvas
This is a basic and long lasting material. It is heavy, strong, durable, and rough to touch. You can find this canvas in making bags, tents, and shoes. Most people use canvas for painting because it provides a sturdy surface for artists. The normal weight of the canvas thick is 280g/m2.
Denim
Denim is a strong, durable cotton fabric. It is commonly used to make jeans, jackets, hats, skirts, aprons, and other things. In blue jeans, you may notice white stitches alternating with blue. This is due to the warp threads being dyed blue, but the weft threads appearing inside the denim are usually left white.
More than 2 billion pairs of jeans are sold worldwide every year. This makes denim jeans one of the most popular clothing items around the world. Approximately, the weight of the denim fabric is 250 g/m2 to 400 g/m2.
Flannel
Basically, flannel is a warm fabric usually made from cotton or wool. Due to its fuzzy texture, it can be used in cold weather. It is often used for making shirts, pyjamas, blankets, sheets, and many more. The fabric is usually plaid or checked, but it can come in many different patterns and colors. The weight of flannel cotton fabric typically ranges from 140 g/m2 to 200 g/m2.
Muslin
Muslin is a loosely woven cotton fabric that has lightweight, absorbent, and delicate sheers. Most of the time, it can be used in summer clothes because it gives a smooth, airy, and breathable feel. The fabric is reusable and soft for making muslin swaddle blankets, baby bedding, and quilts, and it can also be used in children’s and women’s clothing. The weight of the muslin is around 70 g/m2 to 150 g/m2.
Corduroy
Due to the cord or wale texture, the corduroy fabric can be easily recognized. It is a heavy and sturdy fabric, and it gives a warm feel on colder days. It can be used in making pinafores, frocks, women’s wrap dresses, corduroy bodycon dresses, maxi dresses, tunics, peasant dresses, and also furniture coverings, home decor items, and many more. The weight of the corduroy is approximately 150 g/m2 to 400 g/m2.
We hope you can understand the different types of cotton fabric. Each type has its own unique qualities, and that makes it suitable for different uses.
Benefits of cotton fabric
As defined in the cotton vocabulary, it is particularly in hot weather that 80% of people prefer cotton clothes for their comfort compared to synthetic clothing. In most countries, particularly in the regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, cotton farming takes place. Using cotton fabric helps many farmers in the rural areas.
Cotton is easier to wash and care for as compared to other fabrics. It is not clingy and needs low maintenance. It is hypoallergenic, odor-free, and eco-friendly, and you can sleep better with it. It is also natural, very comfortable, and biocompostable. One of the great benefits is their moisture-wicking, quick-drying properties, and you can wear them any season.
Disadvantages of synthetic fibers
Today, the top 5 fibers used in the industry are polyester, cotton, nylon, wool, and silk. Synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon are widely used because they are cheap, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, and absorb synthetic dyes easily, and many are available.
However, they have many disadvantages. The fabrics take a long time to break down. That’s why these are not eco-friendly. These fibers also don’t let air pass through easily, and it makes them uncomfortable to wear in hot weather. In particular, people with sensitive skin may have skin irritation. Additionally, they can melt when exposed to high heat. Which can be more dangerous. They also don’t absorb moisture well, so they can feel sticky or sweaty.
Cotton fabric vocabulary closing thoughts
By understanding the different types of cotton, you can make better choices for your natural dyeing projects. Cotton is a great choice because it absorbs colors beautifully and it gives rich and vibrant results. Overall, cotton remains one of the best fabrics for natural dyers due to its features like softness, durability, and ability to hold dyes well. We hope you have gotten some ideas about cotton fabric with this cotton dictionary.
Are you searching for a sustainable cotton fabric? At Green Tailor, we offer natural and sustainable-quality fabrics and products. Our eco-friendly fabrics include cotton, organic cotton, recycled cotton, silk, wool, kala cotton, linen, wild silk, khadi cotton, and many more.
Still, have any questions? To clarify all your questions, contact us directly at [email protected].
