While some of us may not realize it, we use cotton more often than most think. I mean, it’s in our clothes, sheets, bedding, towels, and sometimes even the towels that wipe away sweat!
But do you know exactly where it all comes from? What exactly is it made of?
By reading this blog, you’ll learn an abundance of fun and interesting things about cotton.
What Is Cotton?
Cotton is a natural fiber–it originates from the plant of the same name.
Native to tropical and subtropical regions, cotton can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are different varieties of commercial cotton. The two most common are long-staple cotton, which grows in Africa and the USA, and short-staple cotton, which grows in India.
The word “cotton” comes from “qutun” – Arabic for ‘strong fiber.’
Cotton is composed of cellulose, an insoluble organic compound of carbon atoms bonded together in chains. The biggest producers today are China and India.
Now, let’s get started with some facts.
Cotton Plant Produces Fruit!
The last thing you would think of is cotton and fruit. Whenever you think of cotton, you think of long thick fibers and not fruits! But what many people don’t know about cotton is that this amazing plant produces fruit! This incredible plant pops out matured, dried pods right before drying out, which encase the fruit called “bolls.”
Cotton Is A Completely Natural Fabric
Cotton is a soft, durable fabric that’s created from the cotton plant.
The term ‘cotton’ refers to the part of the plant that grows in the seed ball, which is a protective form around seeds.
The cotton is subsequently spun into yarn and then woven to create the soft, durable material when harvested. We’re fortunate enough to live in an era where we have been given many gifts from mother earth.
Cotton Has Been Around For Over 8000 Years!
Well, it may not be all that surprising to some of you, but cotton is quite the old-school fiber.
Not only is this starchy staple a long-time love, but it’s already got a lot of history under its belt. How far do you think does cotton dates back? Think? It dates back to 8000 BC. That’s how old school your cotton fiber is.
Some cultures, such as the Indus Valley Civilization in Pakistan/India, have used it as far back as 8000 years ago. Even during the time of the Mesopotamians and Egyptian pharaohs, it has been used extensively.
Cotton production gained even more momentum during the Industrial Revolution when inventors used mechanized ways to process it.
Sign in to leave a comment.