Cotton

There are three main methods of producing fabrics: from natural fibers, from artificial and synthetic fibers.
Each type of fabric has a number of undeniable advantages that distinguish it from others. Natural fabrics are made from natural fibers of plant (cotton, linen) or animal (natural silk, wool) origin. Artificial fabrics are created chemically, but they are based on natural substances. Synthetic materials are produced by synthesizing chemical compounds.

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History of appearance

It is difficult to say exactly when and under what conditions cotton appeared. According to one version, his homeland is India . During excavations there, fabrics woven as far back as 3,250 BC were found. The texts of Indian songs have been preserved, in which cotton fabrics are compared with “gifts from heaven . According to legend, the gods slept peacefully and pleasantly on pillows made of this material, after which they became kinder to ordinary mortals.

Experts call Egypt . Remains of fabric created in 2500 BC were discovered there. The mummies of the pharaohs of that period were also wrapped in thick cotton.

Cotton came to Europe in the form of finished fabrics, which is why many did not know what the raw material actually looked like. There were rumors among the people about cotton as a fabulous lamb plant with an umbilical cord stem, which is why the price of such canvases was surprisingly high. In Ancient China, cotton was even more expensive than silk !

History of cotton

The oldest cotton products were found in a cave near the Mexican town of Tehuacan. The items date back to approximately 5800 BC. e.

In Pakistan, in the Indus River valley, fragments of cotton fabric and rope were discovered during excavations. Archaeologists suggest that these finds date back to 3000 BC.

India is considered the official birthplace of cotton. An ancient collection of Vedic hymns records the use of cotton around 1500 BC. According to Indian beliefs, cotton is a gift from heaven. One of the hymns of the Rig Veda glorifies the threads on a loom. The beds of the gods are made from these threads. After sleeping on such beds, the gods become kinder and more merciful to people.

The first mention of the trade in cotton fabrics, made by the Greek writer, merchant and sailor Flavius Arrian in the 2nd century, also dates back to India. In his description of the voyages, he talks about the trade of several Indian cities with the Arabs and Greeks, naming calico fabrics (calico), muslins and other fabrics with floral patterns as goods brought by the Arabs.

According to another version, Egypt is considered the ancestor of cotton. There is evidence according to which the Egyptians 2500 BC. e. knew how to make fabrics of the highest quality, in no way inferior to modern ones. The mummies of Egyptian pharaohs of that time were wrapped in fabric with a density of more than 500 threads per inch.

In China, the cultivation of cotton as a crop for making fabrics also began long before our chronology, but later than in India and Egypt. Although even earlier, cotton existed in China as an ornamental, beautifully flowering plant.

For a long time, cotton was supplied to Europe by Arab traders only in the form of finished fabrics, which is why legends arose about it as a fairy-tale creature, a lamb plant from which cotton is cut. This lamb allegedly had an umbilical cord-stem, with the help of which it was connected to the soil, like a pumpkin. Even books with similar drawings were published. The cost of a piece of fabric in those days was estimated by the number of gold coins equal to its weight. It is not surprising that since then there has been a belief that seeing cotton in a dream means good luck in business and prosperity!

The first tool for cleaning cotton from seeds in India was the so-called “chock”, consisting of two rollers, the upper one being stationary and the lower one rotating with a handle. Cotton with seeds is fed between the rollers, the roller grabs the fiber and pulls it to the other side, and the seeds that are unable to pass between the rollers break off and fall in front. With this operation, two or three shift workers could clean no more than 6-8 kg of pure cotton per day. Therefore, large-scale and cheap cotton production was out of the question.

According to various sources, the idea and concept for developing the first cotton processing machines belonged to Katherine Littlefield-Green. But since patents were not issued to women in the United States at that time, the patent was registered to Eli Whitney in 1792. This machine made the work much faster and cheaper. With the same 2-3 workers, they began to produce first hundreds, and then one and a half thousand kilograms of pure cotton per day with one machine. The driving force could be the hands of workers, the power of animals, water, etc. From that time on, cotton growing began to develop rapidly and widely, like no other industry in the world.

In the middle of the 16th century, thanks to trade relations with Bukhara, Samarkand, and other cities of Central Asia, central Russia became acquainted with the main wealth of Asia - cotton. This plant aroused such admiration that a decree was even issued on the cultivation of cotton near Moscow. Of course, nothing good came of this idea, but a long confrontation between native Russian flax and “distant” cotton began, from which cotton emerged victorious. At the end of the 18th century, cotton (calico) production began in the central part of Russia - the Ivanovo, Moscow, Tver, and Vladimir regions. By the middle of the 19th century, Russia already ranks fifth in the world in cotton spinning, second only to such industrialized powers as England, France and America.

Subsequently, cotton began to spread everywhere. Modern technologies and equipment have made it possible to significantly expand the range of fabrics produced from cotton.

Cotton fabrics now include: canvas, interlock, cambric, satin, calico, poplin, gauze, denim, pique, teak, percale and many others

Production history

The reduction in cost and acceleration of production coincided with the advent of the first cotton processing machines. In 1792, a patent for the creation of this equipment was registered. From that moment on, 2-3 workers could process thousands of kilograms of cotton per day. A professional cotton picker manually collects up to 70-80 kg of cotton per day, but special machines collect 10 times more in the same period of time. The following comparison will help to better visualize these numbers: one ton of cotton goes into the production of 600-700 pairs of pants.

Cotton Composition

Cotton fiber is extracted from an annual shrubby plant called cotton plant. For the plant to reach 1.5 meters in height, two months must pass after sowing. During this period, flowering begins. Flowers form capsules containing seeds covered with fibers. When the boxes ripen, they begin to crack. During collection, fibers with seeds - raw cotton - are extracted from the bolls. At cotton gins, the fiber is separated from the seeds to produce lint cotton, which is then processed into yarn.

Cotton fiber is a single plant cell that develops from the hull of the cotton seed:

Chemical composition: cellulose – 95%;
Fat and minerals – 5%.

The thickness of a single fiber varies from 15 to 25 microns;
The fiber looks like a hollow tube, curled around its axis (7-10 times per 1 mm);
The range of fiber lengths is much wider - from 5 to 60 mm;

The length of the fiber determines how it is processed, the thickness, strength and smoothness of the fabric:

Short-staple cotton – up to 25 mm;
Medium-fiber cotton – 25-35 mm. Thicker fiber, widespread;
Long-staple cotton is a thin, strong fiber 35-50 mm long. For the production of high quality yarn;
Extra long staple cotton is cotton that is longer than 34.925 mm. Extremely soft, silky, noble in appearance, lightweight, strong, durable, retains color well. The fabrics obtained from it are very dense and at the same time thin. Cotton is sensitive to climate and soil changes, so it is not possible to get the same result using seed in other areas. This leads to a shortage of long-staple cotton. Even at a high price, there are not enough raw materials for everyone who is ready to buy it.

You can recognize long-staple cotton even by its appearance: fabrics made from such cotton seem smooth and almost silky.

"White Gold": Facts and Legends about Cotton

My article is dedicated to the thematic week “ Cotton Tenderness” . Although I hardly use cotton fabric in my work, I want to share with you some interesting stories about cotton.

I will not describe what this plant looks like; it is difficult to talk about the technology for producing cotton fiber; I will not talk about the properties, advantages and disadvantages of cotton, etc. Firstly, a lot has been written about this before me (even at the Masters Fair), and secondly, I don’t write about what is not interesting to me (sorry if I offended anyone).

Natural resources are often called “gold”:

- black gold - oil;

— blue gold – natural gas;

- warm gold - cashmere;

- fluffy gold - expensive furs.

Here's a riddle about white gold:

In the high palace there are small caskets. Whoever opens them mines white gold.

As you may have guessed, “white gold” is cotton.

1. Cotton is a natural fiber that has been known since ancient times. Different sources call either Egypt or India . Cotton was called “white gold” in Babylon.

2. The very first cotton products were found in Mexico . Cotton products were decorated with fur and feathers.

3. Cotton threads were praised in ancient Indian texts. There is a legend that cotton fiber was used to make pillows for the gods. The gods who slept on such pillows became merciful to people.

4. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote the following about cotton production in India: “There are wild trees there, on which instead of fruit grows wool, which is superior in beauty and quality to the wool obtained from sheep. The Indians make clothes from this tree wool."

5. In China, where silk dominated, cotton was just an ornamental plant. However, it is known that in the 6th century the Chinese emperor had an expensive and surprisingly thin cotton dress (it is believed that this was a gift to the emperor, who knows!).

6. Caesar's army wore cotton clothing.

7. For many years in Europe there was a legend about cotton that it was a half-plant, half-animal, which, when it ripens, was sheared the same way as sheep are sheared. And in England, until the 14th century, cotton had no value: wicks for lamps were made from it.

8. Cotton is not only textiles, it is used to make money paper, gunpowder, soap, glycerin and stearin . Cottonseed oil is added to real pilaf , and honey extracted by bees from the cotton plant is a real healthy treat!

And finally, cotton is a valuable fiber (otherwise it would not be called “gold”), therefore, if you see a blooming cotton plant in a dream, this promises profit and good luck in business.

I wish everyone sweet dreams about cotton plantations!

Sincerely, Olga Lavrentieva, designer and specialist in working with fur and leather.

Properties and characteristics of cotton

The material is able to absorb moisture and increase in volume by 40%. When interacting with water, cotton becomes even stronger.
With prolonged heating and exposure to sunlight, strength decreases. Comfortable temperature for processing is 130 °C.
Hollow fibers allow air to pass through, so the fabric retains heat.
You can check its naturalness using an experiment: when set on fire, it will emit the smell of burnt paper.
Can be ironed and does not lose shape after exposure to high temperatures.
You can avoid wrinkles using processing or a special weaving method, as is the case with fabrics from the “Yoga” collection by Cotonificio Albini - cotton and linen fabrics stretch without adding elastane.

Types and varieties of cotton

Voile : A lightweight but durable plain weave fabric made from highly twisted threads. Smooth voile with a delicate silky sheen is an ideal choice for comfortable summer blouses and dresses.
Percale: At the end of the 18th century, this fabric was soaked in linseed oil and used to make sails. In the 21st century, not only sails and parachutes are made from percale, but also bed linen, dresses and blouses.
Batiste: plain weave fabric made from the finest twisted yarn. The origin of the name is associated with the name of one person, according to some versions, who began the production of cambric in Flanders in the 13th century.
Poplin: initially the canvas was made only from silk. Today, poplin is most often made from cotton. The material is a combination of a thin warp with a coarse cross weft in the form of a small rib. It received an interesting name in honor of the Pope, at whose residence it was produced in the 14th century.
Taffeta : glossy fabric, quite dense, stiff and durable. An ideal option for festive items, as taffeta drapes perfectly.
More beautiful: the main difference is the “bruised” effect due to special chemical treatment. Sometimes metallic gold or silver threads are added to the composition.
Kisey: light and transparent, almost weightless plain weave fabric. It is popular as an interior textile in the East due to the hot, stuffy climate.
Tulle : translucent, airy material, which is made not only from cotton. It received its name in honor of its historical homeland - the French city of Tulle.
Guipure : beautiful guipure lace on a fine mesh. The name comes from French. The word "guipure" translates as "airy lace", which is quite consistent with the appearance of this delicate fabric. To make the fabric, a special knitting machine is required.
Combed satin : a dense fabric with a satin weave. The front side is smooth, silky, and weft threads predominate on it.
Chintz : a thin, delicate plain weave fabric.
Calico: calico came to Russia from Asia, and independent production began in the 16th century. Fabric made of thick threads of plain weave. The density varies from 50 to 140 threads per square centimeter. The thinner the threads, the higher the density, which is why calico is more valuable. A popular material for making bed linen. It is not surprising, because such fabric practically does not wrinkle and can withstand up to 200 washes.
Carded Satin: A dense satin created from thicker threads than combed. There are mercerized and non-mercerized types of material.

Mercerization is a short-term treatment of fabric with solutions to improve the characteristics of the fabric. John Mercer first used mercerization of cotton in 1851. The processing process was named after him. The purpose of mercerization is to give cotton fiber shine and the ability to dye more intensely, as well as to increase its mechanical strength. The essence of the process is to treat fabrics or yarn with concentrated solutions of caustic soda (240-280 g/l) at a temperature of 16-20 ° C under tension, followed by vigorous washing with hot and cold water.

Creton : A dense plain weave material commonly used for upholstery. They are created from pre-dyed threads that form different patterns.
Tricots : cotton fabrics with a distinct weave pattern.
Fleece : A warm, cozy fabric usually made from wool. Cotton baize is valued for its lower cost and light weight.
Flannel : A plain or twill weave fabric with an even fluffy pile on one or both sides.
Fumazeya : dense twill weave fabric with brushing on the reverse side, sometimes brushed on both sides.
Peña : silky knitted fabric of the highest quality. Elastic and smooth surface.
Ring : knitted fabric made from medium-length cotton fibers. Fleecy and smooth.
Opened: Open End - knitwear with short fibers, quite loose and not very durable. It often stretches out greatly, loses its shape, tears and becomes covered in pellets.

Cotton fabric. History of cotton and its properties.

This type of fabric, which each of us has been familiar with since childhood, is an excellent representative of natural materials. Of course it's cotton. Thanks to its excellent qualities, it has been valued at all times and remains incredibly in demand to this day. Cotton fabric , produced in different countries, finds application in a wide variety of areas of human life. The history of cotton and its properties deserve special attention, since this material has been known since time immemorial and has gone hand in hand with man for many millennia.

“Cotton has been spun, woven and dyed since prehistoric times. The population of ancient India, Egypt and China dressed in it. Hundreds of years before our era, cotton textiles were woven in India with inimitable skill, and the use of cotton spread to the Mediterranean countries.”

Columbia Encyclopedia

People who lived on the banks of the Indus 7,000 years ago knew how to cultivate cotton. Confirmation of this was found during archaeological excavations. In Mexico, cotton fabric began to be produced several centuries BC. It then entered Europe and the Greco-Roman Empire and gradually spread westward. And since the discovery of America, active cultivation of cotton began there too. Millions of local residents were turned into slaves and worked on cotton plantations.

Cotton is the most widely grown crop. It is cultivated in 80 countries of the world, on five continents. Cotton accounts for 40% of the total fabric production in the world, ahead of wool and silk. There are about 50 species of it.

What is he like? This is nothing more than a shrub that grows from a meter to one and a half meters tall. It is very thermophilic and grows well at temperatures of about + 30 degrees. Although there are many types of cotton, only four are used for mass cultivation. Different types of cotton grow in different regions of the planet.

Cotton is a very interesting plant, the stages of development of which are difficult to determine: bud (flower bud), flower, fruit (seed pod) - all this can be on the cotton bush at the same time. This box contains cotton fibers. But even the flower changes its color in the process. It first blooms white and turns pink after pollination. An ordinary miracle!!!

The fact is that cotton is a hermaphrodite and pollination occurs inside the flower itself. The crucial point is that if pollination does not occur within 24 hours, the flower withers and dies. Once the flower develops into a boll, it contains about 50 seeds that begin to produce cotton.

Cotton fruits ripen at different times. When is it collected? The fact is that the boxes with valuable cotton are constantly monitored and when they open 95% they begin to be collected. By this time, there are almost no leaves on the bushes. This comes from the use of a special defoliant, which accelerates the fall of leaves. Initially, the cotton plant has a lot of foliage, and in this case it is quite difficult to collect the bolls. Therefore, they try to get rid of the leaves.

Cotton fibers grow inside a seed pod, which is divided into 3 or 5 separate nests. And each nest contains from 10 to 12 seeds. After the seeds ripen, the fibers stop growing. Their length can be from 1.5 cm to 4 cm. At this time, the box dries and opens. That's when you can start picking cotton.

Cotton plantations are sometimes simply huge, and in this case a mechanized harvesting method is used. However, manual assembly is more gentle and gentle. But in one day a person can collect only about 80 kg of cotton, and a machine can collect 800 kg in only an hour of work. The difference is very significant. For example, in Africa, entire families work on cotton plantations and live off it.

After the cotton is collected, it is cleaned. Previously, this was done by hand, but now in special factories. In the 19th century, a machine was invented that separated seeds from fibers and was many times the amount of material processed. It was truly a revolution in cotton production.

The fibers are bored and pressed, and the seeds are not thrown away, but are left for later use. Some of them are replanted, and cottonseed oil is squeezed out of the rest for cooking. The cake obtained during processing and rich in proteins is sent to feed livestock.

Cotton fibers undergo special classification. There are certain standards by which the quality and condition of cotton are assessed: color and fiber length. The length of the fibers is measured using a special device similar to a ruler. Fiber colors are white, cream and yellow. Transparency and degree of contamination are also some of the criteria for cotton quality.

A short digression into history). Previously, cotton fibers were carefully combed by hand with special carding brushes. In Britain, all this was done at home by women and children. And then the thread was spun using a spindle. The process was very long and monotonous. The spinning wheel was invented back in the 10th century, but when the amount of fine cotton fabric supplied from India to Europe flooded the market, homemade hand spinning wheels could no longer cope with such a flow.

Despite the large selection of Indian cotton, British producers wanted to take the market back into their own hands. In 1760, James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny machine, which also could not cope with the volume of production. And whoever could invent a more efficient machine could make a fortune.

In 1764, Richard Arkwright (a barber and wig seller from the North of England) invented a ring-spinning machine driven by a water wheel. It became a real breakthrough in the production of cotton threads. And since this machine was too bulky and did not fit into the house at all, special large buildings were made, which then turned into factories. They appeared in England already in 1769. And this was the beginning of mass production, for which home spinners were completely unnecessary.

With the development of production, the price of cotton decreased greatly and became affordable to almost all segments of the population. And since the conquest of Indian territory by the British Empire, cotton production in India itself began to decline. Over time, laws were even introduced that forced India to buy ready-made cotton fabric from England.

Next, the cotton fibers go to the factory, where they are made into yarn and threads. At the factory, in order to make the threads strong, they are pulled about 50 times and twisted, and sometimes synthetic fibers (polyester) are added. Fabric is made from the resulting threads on special machines.

Through numerous treatments, cotton becomes hydrophilic as the fibers are stripped of the waxy film that protects them from moisture. That’s why cotton items absorb it so well. Cotton is dyed or left as is. Natural and artificial dyes are used for coloring.

But it turns out that cotton can already have a color different from white when grown. Other colors are obtained by crossing different varieties of cotton. They come in brown, green and even purple!

To increase yields, many countries use various chemicals, such as pesticides, which affect not only pests, but also people working on cotton plantations. Every year, about 20 thousand people die from exposure to pesticides. The statistics are terrifying! Therefore, not everything is so rosy in the cotton kingdom(.

But in some countries, organic cotton is still grown, without fertilizers or harmful chemicals. It is more expensive than usual, but unfortunately, when buying in a store, they are unlikely to tell you what kind of cotton is on the shelf.

Even fashionistas of the 18th century enjoyed wearing bright and cheerful crinoline dresses with chintz skirts. Just then in India they came up with a method of very high-quality dyeing of fabrics. But then there were no chemical dyes and ladies had the opportunity to wear dresses made of very high-quality materials.

A lot of different things are made from cotton threads. They are used in sewing, fabric production, and knitting (hand and machine). Our favorite jeans are also made of cotton fabric. In order for it to become soft and silky like satin, it is subjected to many treatments.

After the fabric is produced, it is sent to different countries to garment factories, where it is turned into a variety of beautiful products. These are mainly countries of the East and Asia, where labor is cheaper. And this ultimately affects the pricing of finished products.

Cotton has a number of useful properties:

It is hypoallergenic, which is why children's clothing is mainly made from cotton fabrics.
It is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture well).
It is easy to care for.
It lends itself well to deformation during heat treatment.
Has heat-protective properties.
Convenient in sewing products.

Negative properties:

It wrinkles quite quickly.
Shrinks when washed.
When exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, the cotton thread becomes thinner.
When exposed to moisture, cotton begins to rot.
Doesn't stretch at normal temperatures.

Cotton accompanies us everywhere. It is used to make cotton wool, cotton fabrics, threads, cotton yarn, and paper. The range of fabrics made from cotton is quite wide: calico, satin, chintz, cambric, lace, velvet, corduroy, flannel and others.

In order to obtain fabrics with other more wearable characteristics, cotton is intertwined with other artificial threads. Cotton fabrics themselves are distinguished by the thickness of the thread, the method of weaving, and the type of cotton.

Caring for cotton fabric is quite easy.

If you are not afraid that the fabric will shrink, then you can wash it in hot water, but if you are worried, it is better not more than 40 degrees.

Some cotton fabrics are best ironed slightly damp, as this will smooth them out better.

Do not dry in direct sunlight to prevent the fabric from fading.

If the fabric is dyed in different colors, then using powder with bleach is not advisable.

Cotton fabrics are widely used for the production of bed linen, kitchen utensils, children's clothing, handicrafts, bath accessories, sleepwear and as upholstery materials for interiors. So many people around the world prefer cotton fabrics over others. And the cotton products produced are included in many fashionable clothing styles.

This cotton bush is so wonderful. Nature gives man everything he needs. The generous earth shares its riches with us, we just need to know how to properly care for them and use them correctly.

Do you like cotton?

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Best regards, Irina Shirokova.

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Methods of applying patterns to cotton

Plain dyed is a deep, uniform coloring. The finished fabric can be dyed in rolls. A brighter shade is obtained by dyeing fibers or threads.
With a printed pattern - this application of a colorful design can be done either by hand or by machine. Direct printing is especially popular among machine machines.
Harsh is the name given to fabrics immediately after weaving, straight from the loom. No painting or finishing.
Bleached - before applying the design, the fabric is most often bleached or pre-dyed in light shades.
Multicolored - the pattern on such fabrics is revealed during the weaving process. The main patterns are herringbone, stripe, check.

Variegated Finish - Formed during the weaving process where threads (yarn) of different colors are used to create the warp and weft fabric. The main patterns are stripes, checkers, checkerboard patterns, herringbone.

Advantages and disadvantages of cotton

Democratic and accessible. The cotton industry plays an important role in the economies of at least 70 countries. There are two main reasons - fast and inexpensive mechanized production, as well as the wide availability of cotton plants. However, there are countries where cotton is harvested by hand. Manual collection is a more expensive method of collection, but also of higher quality, because a minimum amount of waste enters the raw materials, and the raw materials are very clean.
Durable and hygroscopic. Excellent moisture absorption. An amazing property: when wet, cotton becomes even stronger!
Practical . Products made from natural cotton are easy to care for. Can withstand washing easily. They do not look worse even after exposure to powerful bleaching agents.

Cotton can be subjected to mercerization , which will highlight the best properties of cotton and reduce its disadvantages:

mercerized threads are much stronger;
this type of cotton does not shrink when washed and almost does not wrinkle;
easy to paint in bright, durable colors;
paint holds much better on mercerized cotton;
Mercerized cotton becomes soft and silky and acquires shine.

The most expensive method of mercerization is mercerization of yarn, this method is also the most durable. This kind of mercerization never wears off.
It is easy to define “ naturalness” . Carefully pull out one thread, being careful not to damage the canvas, and set it on fire, carefully monitoring the combustion process. Natural fabrics burn, and synthetics melt. When cotton burns, it leaves behind ash and a slight smell of burnt paper.

The main disadvantages include:

Doesn't like sunlight. Natural fabrics are sensitive to light, but there is no need to worry too much about exposure to the sun. Empirically, the researchers calculated that it takes about 1,000 hours of continuous exposure to hot rays for cotton to begin to deteriorate.
Does not like prolonged heating. After three days of exposure to high temperatures up to 150 °C, the strength of the fabric will be halved.

If the fabric is not further processed, it will wrinkle easily and wear out quickly . To make it more resistant to abrasion, some manufacturers add synthetic fabrics to the composition.

Any extreme distortions often lead to disasters. The same thing happened with cotton cultivation in Uzbekistan. Excessive irrigation of fields and depletion of soil by plants led to an environmental tragedy - the disappearance of the Aral Sea.

NATURAL FABRICS

Cotton natural fabrics are made from the soft hairs of the seeds of the cotton plant. This fabric is strong and durable. Cotton is highly breathable and absorbs moisture very quickly. However, cotton fabrics get dirty very quickly, which requires special care for products made from them. Cotton also shrinks a lot after washing and easily loses color when directly exposed to sunlight. Today you can buy cotton fabrics with the addition of synthetic fibers (from 10 to 90%), which makes them stronger and more durable.

Linen

Linen is also a natural fabric made from the skins of flax seeds. This fabric is rough and highly durable. Linen does not shrink when washed, does not fade, has high thermal conductivity and easily absorbs moisture. The use of linen fabrics in the interior helps to achieve a cozy atmosphere and emphasize the environmental orientation of the overall idea of the room.

Natural silk

Natural silk is one of the most attractive fabrics. He was and will always be appreciated. Fabrics such as velvet, gauze and satin are produced from silk. Natural silk is made from threads that are extracted from the cocoons of silkworms. Silk thread is soft, durable and has a special shine. Silk fabrics can be either dyed or bleached; you can purchase printed silk and even melange silk. The downside of silk is the need for special care. Silk fabrics shrink and do not tolerate rough handling.

Wool

Wool is one of the oldest techniques for creating fabrics. Wool fiber is created from the hair of an animal (usually sheep, llamas or camels). Wool fabrics retain heat well, absorb moisture well and are excellent at breathability. Fabrics made from wool fibers practically do not wrinkle and are very resistant to dirt. However, they require special care, as they shrink and harden when washed. Today, artificial fibers (acrylic) are added to wool, which give it new properties. Wool in the interior is always fashionable, but quite expensive.

Recommendations for caring for cotton products

First, pay attention to the color of the fabric :

If the fabric is white, wash at a temperature not exceeding 95 degrees;
Colored cotton of regular thickness - at a temperature not exceeding 60;
Thin fabrics - no higher than 40 degrees.

The same goes for detergents . White cotton can easily withstand even powerful bleaches. When washing colored cotton items, use delicate gels without bleaches.

Important details:

Do not wash cotton items together with synthetics and other materials. After such a seemingly “harmless” joint wash, the color of the cotton may fade, and pellets may appear on the surface of the fabric. An important feature: the longer the fiber, the fewer pellets are formed.
Carefully study the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for the fabric or product.

How to dry

Do not squeeze the product too hard.
Do not dry items made from natural fibers in direct sunlight. We have already told you that cotton, like other natural materials, does not like prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Be careful not to dry things out.

About ironing

Before ironing, check the material's reaction to high temperatures. This can be done on a small area of fabric.
If the item is still too dry, you can wet it with a small amount of water. Start ironing after 40 minutes.

Where and how to store

There are no strict requirements or rules on this point. It is important that the storage location is not exposed to direct sunlight. Dyed or printed fabrics of low quality may fade in the sun or lose color during washing.

COTTON IN TISSOUR

Our main suppliers of cotton fabrics:

Hausammann (Switzerland) is a premium brand specializing in cotton fabrics of various densities and textures, ideal for shirts, blouses, dresses, and suits.
Liberty (UK) is a manufacturer of premium cotton fabrics that are “living pictures” created by prints inspired by nature, cultural heritage, European and Eastern artistic traditions.
CotonificioAlbini (Italy) + ThomasMason (Italy) are the largest European manufacturers of premium shirt fabrics. When creating fabrics, our suppliers use the best varieties of long-staple cotton of the highest quality.