Natural fibers: Cotton
If chemical fibers have long gone beyond the stage of simple imitation, natural fibers have a rich past and remain considered noble fibers . Mademoiselle Grenade tells you almost everything about cotton.
The cotton :
Cotton is the down that surrounds the seed of the cotton plant, a plant that grows in tropical and subtropical climates and requires a lot of water to grow. When mature, the seed bursts and releases abundant down. Harvested by hand or machine, the cotton is then ginned and sorted according to the length of its fiber. the length is in fact variable depending on the species and the degree of maturity. The longer and finer the fiber, the better the quality and strength of the cotton.
Also note that the quality of cotton also depends on its color which varies from creamy white to yellowish. The closer the cotton is to white, the more it is appreciated because it will be easier to completely bleach it and then dye it.
The advantages of cotton are numerous:
First of all, it is a fiber that allows us to weave soft and comfortable fabrics. It is also a hypoallergenic fiber (very little allergenic). Soft thanks to its twisted fibers (they can stretch by 5 to 8%), cotton also offers good air permeability and thus allows skin respiration to take place. Hygienic, it withstands boiling and chlorine and can therefore be sterilized.
The disadvantages of cotton:
Despite the many advantages of cotton, its fabrics nevertheless have disadvantages. Note in particular a tendency to shrink as well as the fading of the dyes over time. Cotton tears easily and is sensitive to humidity. It is not uncommon to discover small moisture stains on poorly stored cotton fabrics.
