Egyptian Vs. Turkish Cotton

Egypt and Turkey are two of the biggest producers of premium cottons. Many of the world's finest hotels boast high-count Egyptian and Turkish threads, making their names synonymous with deluxe cotton products. Since they are considered more luxurious than other cotton, you'll pay quite a bit more for their products, but their durability and smooth textures may be worth the higher price.

Picking Cotton

Egyptian cotton is hand picked, rather than by a machine, which is gentler on the fibers. Conversely, Turkish cotton is machine picked.

Long Staple Cottons

Both Egyptian and Turkish cotton are long staple--also known as long fiber--cotton. Long staple fiber is narrower in diameter, which means more threads can fit into the cloth per square inch.

Absorbency

Egyptian cotton is extremely absorbent while Turkish cotton sacrifices a bit of absorbency for long-term staple integrity. More threads per square inch (mentioned above) means that the fabric is lightweight and can breathe well.

Softness and Sheen

Egyptian cotton is extremely soft, making it a favorite in the textile industry when softness is needed, such as for bathrobes. Turkish cotton is also incredibly soft, and it possesses a natural sheen that cannot be matched by other cottons without a lot of processing.

Uses

Egyptian cotton is well-suited for shirting and sheets because of its super absorbency. Turkish cotton is better for towels because too much absorbency means that a towel takes a long time to dry and towels that are too absorbent can become wet in humid climates by themselves.

Care Suggestions

Egyptian and Turkish cotton are best washed in warm water using half the amount of a gentle detergent recommended. Fabric softener will actually decrease the absorbency of the towel, so avoid using fabric softener.

References

• Egyptian Cotton
• Towel Guide
• urkish Cotton vs. Egyptian Cotton

Resources

• Crunching Cotton Numbers