Egyptian cotton has a reputation for being one of the best in the world, a material often associated with the highest quality fabrics.
In fact, for the last three centuries the famous Egyptian
thread has been one of Egypt's main advantages in terms of competition.
Although there are still those who do not know what exactly
its virtues are, how it is manufactured or even what uses it usually has.
Here we will answer these and many other questions, thus
revealing the secrets of the precious Egyptian cotton.
Egyptian cotton and its origin
The history of Egyptian cotton is deeply linked to that of
Egypt itself, given the role it has played in the development of its economy.
Its origin blind date back to the 19th century, when the
French Monsieur Jumel found some cotton plants in the garden of his house in
Cairo.
Jumel soon realized the excellent conditions Egypt offered
for growing the plant and began experimenting to create superior quality
Egyptian cotton.
This is how he found the famous Egyptian variety of
extra-long fibers that superseded flax, the quintessential Egyptian thread
since the time of the Pharaohs.
Soon after, Mehmet Ali, the ruler of Egypt at that time, saw
the opportunity to export a product in high demand and favor agriculture in his
country.
In this way Egyptian cotton flourished and became one of
Egypt's main economic engines.
What is Egyptian cotton?
Egyptian cotton is a type of cotton with fine and extra-long
fibers that is grown in Egypt, thanks to the country's special climatic
conditions.
In its purest state, this variety of cotton allows the
creation of very high quality fabrics, which offer a particularly soft touch
and superior resistance.
For many years, Egyptian cotton has grown in popularity as
one of the best in the world, yet not all cotton produced in Egypt is created
equal.
Technically any cotton produced in Egypt can be labeled
Egyptian and this leads to lower quality cottons taking advantage of the fame
of authentic Egyptian yarn.
Some manufacturers mix it with cheaper varieties and label
it Egyptian when it may only contain 1% of the total.
Others, on the other hand, divide the fibers to produce more
fabric with the same cotton, which in fact greatly diminishes its quality.
For this reason, it is very important to take into account
the characteristics of each cotton, and not just its origin.
How is it obtained?
Egyptian cotton is made from Gossypium barbadense , a
variety of cotton that grows along the River Nile in Egypt.
This soil has a chemical composition that makes it very
special, being very suitable for growing the popular Egyptian thread.
It is also collected by hand, which guarantees a higher
level of purity. While the mechanical harvest is more aggressive, the manual
does not press the fibers, which keeps them intact.
Thanks to these optimal conditions, it is possible to
produce longer and finer fibers that result in higher quality cotton.
Because the fibers are finer, Egyptian cotton has a higher
thread count per square inch, resulting in thicker and more durable fabrics.
What is cotton hold?
Simply put, the thread count is the amount of threads that
go down and through within one square inch of Egyptian cotton.
Therefore, for 200 lines, there are 200 overlapping threads
in one square inch. The higher the number, the more threads per square inch and
the denser the fabric.
200 thread count bedding feels plush and soft, making it
easy to clean and care for. This is because it is a highly flexible fabric.
However, on the other hand, 1000 thread count bedding can
guarantee quality for many years, but it is thicker fabric.