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Materials · Cotton · Fiber Basics

What Is Cotton, Really?

Cotton Guide 01·Fiber Science·3 min

What you're wearing is, botanically speaking, a seed's survival mechanism.

The Basics

A Seed's Coat, Not a Plant Stem

Cotton fiber is the seed hair of the Gossypium plant — a fluffy protective coating that surrounds the seeds and helps disperse them in the wind. The fiber is roughly 90% cellulose, which gives it its characteristic softness, breathability, and ability to absorb moisture. The remaining 10% is water, waxes, proteins, and inorganic salts.

Properties

What the Numbers Actually Mean

Cotton fiber runs 22–38mm in length, absorbs 7–8% of its weight in moisture (which is why it feels breathable), and is actually stronger wet than dry. It withstands heat up to about 150°C before yellowing, takes dye exceptionally well, and fully biodegrades in 1–5 months when untreated. Its one weak point: it pills relatively easily under friction.

22–38mmFiber Length
7–8%Moisture Regain
1–5 moBiodegrades In
Grades

Not All Cotton Is Equal

The industry sorts cotton into three grades by fiber length: short-staple (under 25mm) is the standard commercial grade used in most volume production; long-staple (25–35mm, like Pima) spins into finer yarn with a softer hand, used in premium shirting; and extra-long staple (over 35mm, like Supima or Egyptian Giza) is the finest grade, reserved for luxury fabrics. Longer fiber means finer, stronger yarn — it's the single biggest factor separating a budget T-shirt from a luxury one.

Next in the Series

Cotton Fabric Types Explained

Materials Encyclopedia

Cotton in the Materials Encyclopedia

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