Cotton fabric, the best summer wear to beat heat, its manufacture, characteristics, and advantages
With the mercury scorching up in summertime, we would rather prefer to hide behind cotton fabric that breathes. Cotton fabrics being ideal summer wear for cooling the hot temperatures of summer not alone, but a complete outfit that looks stylish and comfy for other seasons I have attempted to key in about cool cotton fabric, advantages of its wearing, organic cotton fabrics in India, and growth of Indian cotton textile industry in this article.
Primitively called as "vegetable wool", cotton-woven fabrics that instinct the wearer a sense of cool and comfort may be a kind of fashion faux pas for some and tegument health point of view, maybe, seems to be of insignificance for these wearers. For those who love to be looking stylish and chic, cotton would be appropriate in modern days and varieties of cotton fabrics in different styles, designs and cuts have been available catering to the needs for budget conscious and style conscious as well.
Being a natural fiber, cotton does grow from the seed pod of the cotton leguminous plant. Though the fabric from cotton may not be a perfect kind, tends to shrink, fade, and may be prone to receding its shape it still has remained to be the best natural textile material that has been in usage to a wider extent in the global market. Furthermore, cotton has been farmed to produce cotton seed oil for cooking other than for its fiber.Source of cotton
Belonging to the mallow/hibiscus (Malvaceae plant) family, cotton plant can be classified into about 40 types of species, but four species alone have grown for fiber. Cotton cultivation dates back to more than 3,000 years in the Indus River Valley region though cotton fabric was believed to be found in Mexico about 7,000 years ago, yet no manifestation recorded for cultivation of cotton plant as such. Cotton plant that has grown for commercial purpose looks like shrub and four varieties are popular commercially whereas cotton in the wilds grows similarly as a perennial tree.Characteristic features of cotton as a fiber
The cotton fiber appears to be hollow in the middle and looks like a twisted ribbon under microscopical visualization. This natural fiber absorbs water easily and has been stronger while being wet. With this feature, it assimilates and vents perspiration quickly, thus letting the fabric to aerate. Cotton fiber withstands high temperatures and takes in dyes well. No challenge of disintegration of cotton fiber with boiling and sterilizing points. Cotton fabric can also be pressed relatively at high temperatures. Cotton fiber can be mercerized to be strengthened in which it becomes a soft and smooth resembling a rod-shaped fiber and appears highly lustrous. Cotton can be blended with other natural or manmade fibers such as linen, wool and polyester to obtain the best features of these fibers.
Since cotton is the most breathable clothing material that gives cool and comfort this has become primary clothing fiber of the human race. The cotton industry has emerged as a major influencing factor in the prosperity and economic stability of the world. In the modern era, the most requested choice of the consumer market has been "100% cotton." Permanent lustrous finishing added to the cotton fabric with wash and wear feature makes it a trendy wear in fact.How is cotton woven into fine fabric?
Cotton yet remains to be a king in the textile industry though manmade fibers have been in the market, unable to compete with cotton for its sheer advantages. Cotton plant has undergone transition into fine fabrics with the following stages.Growing and harvesting of cotton
The initial procedure involved in the transition has been harvesting cotton bulb from the plants that are grown naturally. As it is known that cotton is a shrub, has a white flossy bulb-like structure of fibrous material bearing the seeds. This fibrous bulb-like material of cotton has been gleaned by using large machines from numerous shrubs simultaneously. This harvested cotton has been further balled and transported to industrial plants to get rid of the seeds from cotton balls.Ginning of cotton
At the ginning mills, where the seeds from the cotton balls have been separated with the application of machine called gin and the cotton free of seeds obtained from this process is named as clean cotton and previously as seed cotton. After this process clean cotton has been further cleansed, baled and these bales have been blended together at a different setup to produce various kinds of yarn and cloth. After removing excess fibers and cleaning done by plenty of pickers the cotton has been allowed to be carded with the help of a carding machine.Spinning of yarn
The next stage has been to make the cotton into yarn which again has undergone weaving into a cloth or dress material. To get the cotton yarn, cotton from the picker machines has been converted into various strands and these strands of cotton have been then stretched out and fluxed before they are spun into threads finally by using spinning machines.Weaving into fabrics
When the yarn or cotton strand is whirled into thread form, this has further been processed with dyes or chemicals as and when required. It has been then sent to a loom or weaving plant in which the threads being loaded in large weaving machines and these threads have been interwoven into various yards of clothing. Several yards of cloth have been typically woven at these weaving mills or industries and this has been the conclusive stage in the transition of cotton fiber into cotton dress material.Glossary of cotton fabrics and weaves
Diaper cloth can be a weave of diagonal lines into textiles and dobby/plain and absorbant weave cotton.
Dimity looks like a thin, slue, white/printed fabric with longitudinal stripes, cords, or checks.
Drill that can be used in the slacks of men and women is a fabric of hard twilled cotton and awnings and tents have been made of this heavily-weighed drill fabric.
Duck is durable and heavy fabric that can be tightly woven and light-weighed duck has been used in the production of summer clothing.
Flannel may be a plain or twilled weave with soft surface texture on one side or both sides too.
Flannelette is a soft cotton fabric with soft surface texture on one side alone.
Gauze resembling cheesecloth is a lightly woven fabric that can also be made of silk.
Gingham is a fabric in which checks, stripes or plaids can be woven and this is washable and lightweight.
Lawn is a kind of plain cotton weave that has been soft and light-weighted with crispy finishing.
Muslin, also a cotton weave has been available in natural color or colored with dye.
Organdy looks like transparent thin cotton with a crisp finish.
Outing flannel, which has been expended in the production of diapers, soft baby wears and nighttime wear, is a delicate, twilled, plain weave fabric napped on two sides.
Oxford also may be woven in wool fabric with white and black fibers that is used for shirting material and it looks lustrous with soft finishing. It features narrow stripes and it can be plain weave or woven as in basket.
Percale, which generally has been printed with dark colors, is a hardy and tightly threaded fabric with light weight.
Pima cotton, otherwise known as Egyptian cotton is a fabric of fantastic variety with rich quality.
Poplin has been a fabric of plain weaving with rib-like thread in crosswise dimension.
Sailcloth is another kind of strong canvas cotton plainly woven.
Sateen, a fabric of satin weave, seersucker, a lightweight cotton fabric threaded in lengthwise stripes, and swiss cotton is a finer variety of cotton with plain or sometimes designed with dots or other.
Terry cotton is a curled pile fabric, either woven or knitted, quick absorbent of water mainly for towels and French terry cloth is a kind of this that can be curled on one side and fleece pile on the other.
Velveteen is a whole cotton pile fabric with pile being short that has velvet texture.
Finally, whipcord a fabric woven like diagonal round cords is firm cotton.Advantages of wearing cotton clothing
Greener fabric
In the prevalence of environmental consciousness to a greater extent, cotton is, in fact an environmentally-friendly fabric and is a renewable resource in the sense that we can grow cotton plant and regrow this plant every year as and when cotton fiber needs to be extracted. Cotton is also biodegradable source that other organisms can crack it down and will not landfill for years together after disposed. Cotton plant can be grown organically saying goodbye to the use of pesticides.Breathable
Cotton fabric is the best choice of summer wear due to its inherent breathable feature that makes it cool and comfort to wear. Cotton can absorb moisture quickly and after absorbing body moisture, the cotton lets the moisture to get evaporated into the air, keeping the skin dry while sweating in the hot and allowing it to breathe. This preserves the body temperature stable in utmost climatic conditions.Hypoallergenic
Cotton fabric has hypoallergenic characteristic feature that it has the least propensity to induce any allergic reaction. Certain fabrics may sensitize the skin and can even result in skin rashes, but this has not been an issue with cotton fabric. This is because cotton has been mainly used for swabs and bandages in the medical profession.Antistatic fabric
Cotton is known to be a neutral material and it remains antistatic. Static may be defined that some materials such as skin, fur, wool, etc., may tend to lose electrons and become positively charged. Certain may have a tendency to gain electrons and become negatively charged like silicon, Teflon, and polyester and when the positive and negative being kept aside there will be an electron exchange and static electrical energy can be created. Since cotton remains neutral, thus if we wear cotton fabrics, there will not be any electrical energy generated, free of static energy and no issue of static cling while wearing a cotton dress.Texture and care
Intrinsically soft fabric and light weighted, cotton would be the best suitable costume for the tender skin of the toddlers. Those with sensitive skin would also prefer cotton fabrics because of its gentleness. Since cotton woven fabric is very comfortable to wear and user-friendly no need for special care and it can be easily wash and wear at the washing machine itself and hanged out to dry. Due to its durability; it can be laundered repeatedly, still it can maintain its appearance.India – Second largest cotton producer
With the commanding position in recent times, the world's focus has been on India's cotton industry as India has been the second-largest cotton producer, consumer, and exporter globally (China being the top). Cotton textile industry has played a predominant role in Indian trade and culture throughout Indian civilization since plantation, spinning, weaving, and dyeing of cotton fiber in the history of Indian trade date back to at least 3,000 years. Cotton crop growth has been given importance primarily for domestic consumers and came forth as a key symbol of India's Independence campaign in the 20th century. India has assumed a dominant status in the global cotton industry in the 21st century with the advancement of high-tech equipment and market liberalization though at times eclipsed by China. However, with tremendous growth in the cotton textile industry, India has become the third largest exporter of cotton products to the U.S. for about 10% of its cotton imports and over the past decade India's domestic market for cotton has been expanded because of substantial economic growth and increased apparel preferences amidst consumers within the country.Ecologically conscious organic cotton fabric
Formerly, organic cotton fabrics confined only to lounge wear and meant to yoga clothing, but with increasing varieties of styles and fashions, ecologically-friendly organic fabric materials have changed over to mainstream stylish wear dresses such as T-shirts, tops in different styles, from cotton gauze to flannel, from waffle weave fabrics to terry robes, capturing the attention of the consumers who are also ecological conscious. There have been also some fabrics that are resistant to sweat, insect, and offer sun protection available in the market though these are not real organic cotton.
Despite there have been considerable odds demand for organic cotton fabrics has been more and this is because these fabrics may be a bit costlier. The pesticides used for cotton has been 11% in the world but just as small as 2.4% area of cultivated land, a survey revealed and synthetic fertilizers have not been used by the organic cotton cultivators. Hence buying organic cotton fabric promotes the growth of environmentally-conscious farming. In addition, several fabric companies have been specializing in the production of organic cotton products including tops, bottoms, t-shirts, pajamas, sleep wear, panties, and seasonal cotton flannel as well.
India, the leading organic cotton manufacturer has been strengthening its status due to a host of associated issues such as aversion to genetically modified cotton, usage of synthetic fertilizers in farming, and so on. However, more than 85% of the global organic cotton fabric production has been from the markets of India, Syria, and Turkey. Expensive chemical fertilizers and lack of availability of these pesticides have been mainly catering to the growth of organic cotton in India, it has been observed.Blending of cotton with other fabrics
Innovations at the cotton incorporated research laboratories lead to the creation of variety of casual fabric into sumptuous blends with wool and silk giving more luster to the blended fabric. The shawls made of silk and cotton exemplifies the latest fashion in fiber technologies. Cotton fabric with 20% wool has been more soft and washable than fabrics of pure wool, still with grand look and feel of the wool-woven fiber. Blending silk fiber with soft cotton is a wonderful creation of lustrous looking fabric that can be washable and durable too. Cotton-silk blends are an ideal pick for office or party wear in summer.Finishing touch
With distinct dashing styles available in the cotton textile industry, to find perfect cotton summer wear that fits one's personality has not been a difficult task in present days. No wonder cotton is the king in the textile market today, as of course, cotton fabric breathes, feels cool for our skin, has wash and wear feature not requiring high-tech treatment and finally is a greener fabric.