Cotton is the essence of many clothes these days and is easily accessible by anyone. However, it wasn’t always like this. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century, cotton was valued higher than silk and wool, and now it has become an everyday fabric loved by the fashion industry.
Every part of the cotton plant can be used, but not for the reasons you think. Plastics and explosives can be made from the fuzz on the seed (linters) because of the cellulose that it provides. High quality paper products and furniture padding can also be made using linters. And finally, cottonseed oil is used in the kitchen for cooking or as a salad dressing.
Synthetics fibers, such as polyester, can achieve the same aesthetic outcome as cotton. However, it was not until recently that they were developed to feel and be as comfortable as cotton.
Cotton provided the world with a new form of fashion with its look and feel. Because of cotton, clothes became more soft and comfortable to wear as the texture of cotton was unseen and different than any other fabric. Cotton was soon used for coats, garments, apparel, and more.
Therefore, with so many parts of the plants that can be used for different materials and products, not only has cotton changed fashion, it has opened up the fashion industry to new products and textiles. Fabrics such as velvet, corduroy, velour, and flannels are just some of many that have changed the fashion world. On top of this, cotton fibre can be woven or knitted. Of course cotton is also used for underwear, but what you probably won’t expect is that cotton is used in coffee filters, and the cottonseed oil is used in cosmetics, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and more.
Now, cotton growth is not great for the environment, as cultivation severely damaged soil quality. Because of this issue, many companies have adapted the sustainable cotton production, from which Adidas, Levis, and even Ikea. So when shopping, keep in mind these sustainable brands to work on your carbon footprint, and also feel a bit better about having bought sustainable products.
