About Cotton Material

Archeological digs in Mexico revealed tiny bits of cotton material nearly 7,000 years old. From early Egyptians, to American colonists, to today's population, clothing and household goods created from cotton have provided warmth, protection and comfort. Though considered a common fabric, cotton provides desirable characteristics that have made it popular for centuries.

History

Cotton use dates back thousands of years however the general widespread use of cotton worldwide dates to the 1500s. In 1793, Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin made it possible for cotton material to become the important piece of everyday life it is today. Whitney's machine worked 10 times faster than humans can to create cotton material that soon became one of the United States' premier crops.

Raw Cotton

Creating cotton material requires harvesting, gathering into large rectangles called modules, then feeding it through the cotton gin. Removal of waste materials and separation of the fibers of cotton from the seed occur in the gin. The bales of cotton fiber removed from the gin then find their way to textile mill for further processing. At the mill, further cleaning and preparing of the fibers takes place before machines weave it into raw cotton material. The raw cotton, also known as greige or gray goods, then leaves the mill for a finishing plant where further processing takes place.

Processing

Cotton material receives numerous finishes, depending on its final use as clothing, household goods, toys or other objects. Before any other finishing process takes place, the gray goods pass through a heating mechanism that removes loose fibers so that the material has as smooth a finish as possible before any further processing. Further bleaching, cleaning or chemical reactions take place at this point before the fabric is ready to dye.

Dyeing and Printing

Dyeing and printing give plain bleached cotton fabric colors and designs. Dyeing, if not accomplished during the fiber stage before weaving, is done by submersing bolts of fabric into dye to produce solid colors. Fabric might also receive printing to create a design or pattern on it. Printers, much like the printers we use with our computers, complete this process at high rates of speed on huge bolts of fabric. Lastly, any number of finishes to change the appearance, feel or behavior of the fabric occurs before the fabric ships to manufacturers such as those of clothing, household or industrial goods and toys.

Facts

Since 70 percent of all male clothing uses cotton material, most of the United States' cotton used for apparel goes to men's or boys' clothing. United States currency contains 75 percent cotton. One bale of cotton fiber weighing nearly 500 pounds and turned into material can create almost 314,000 $100 bills, almost 22,000 handkerchiefs, more than 3,000 diapers, 765 men's dress shirts or 215 pairs of jeans.

References

• National Cotton Council of America: Cotton History
• National Cotton Council of America: From Field to Fabric
• National Cotton Council of America: Educational Resources