Why Choose Cotton Bedding?
Cotton fabric is everywhere—in our clothing, our furniture, our towels, our curtains, and our bedding. While bedding choices come down to personal preference, it’s no secret that cotton is among the top picks for sleepers and has been for generations. With so many different bedding fabrics available, why is it that cotton remains a top choice? Cotton’s versatility, durability, breathability, and softness all play a role in why this natural fiber continues to shine.
How Cotton Becomes Fabric
Have you ever wondered how cotton goes from those fluffy little puffs to a durable fabric? The first step after harvesting is separating the lint and seed. The “lint” is what we know as the desirable fibers of cotton. It is dried to remove moisture and brushed before creating a bale. These bales are then checked and classified by fiber strength and content to ensure that only high-quality fibers are used. They are combined to create uniform fibers, which are then cleaned and aligned into a thin web. This web creates a soft, rope-like strand that is drawn and twisted into yarn. Yarn is then woven into the soft, versatile fabric we love.
Fairtrade Cotton
While cotton is known as a natural, eco-friendly fiber, the way it is produced can have a large impact on the environment. That’s where Fairtrade comes in. Fairtrade International works with cotton farmers around the world to ensure that cotton production meets rigorous environmental standards every step of the way. Fairtrade not only looks out for the environment but also ensures that the farmers and workers are paid fair wages, have safe working conditions, and have the community support they deserve.
Benefits of Cotton Bedding
Cotton’s popularity through the years is no mistake. This all-natural fabric comes with a long list of benefits, some of which include:
- Long-lasting durability
- Soft, classic feel
- Easy to care for
- Highly breathable
- Absorbent & moisture-wicking
- Comes in a variety of textures
- Eco-friendly/all-natural
- All-season, year-round comfort
- Hypoallergenic and gentle on skin
- Blends with other fabrics
What Does Cotton Bedding Feel Like?
Whether cotton is used in sheets, quilts & coverlets, duvet covers, or pillow covers, it brings a soft, familiar feel to your sleep space. It also offers a great balance of breathability and coziness, which makes it perfect for year-round comfort.
However, as mentioned above, cotton’s versatility allows it to come in a variety of textures, so one cotton product may have a completely different hand feel from another. With sheets, this comes down to the weave of the cotton. Cotton can be woven to have a crisp, clean feel with a percale weave, a silky-smooth feel with a sateen weave, or a soft, plush feel as flannel.
Sources
“Cotton.” Fairtrade International. fairtrade/product/cotton
“Cotton: From Field to Fabric.” The National Cotton Council. cotton/pubs/cottoncounts/fieldtofabric/upload/cotton-from-field-to-fabric-129k-pdf.pdf
“How Fairtrade Works.” Fairtrade International. fairtrade/about/how-fairtrade-works
“Lint.” Textile Exchange. textileexchange/glossary/lint/
“The Story of Cotton.” National Cotton Council of America. cotton/pubs/cottoncounts/story/importance.cfm
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