The value of the quality

Cotton

Where the cotton is cultivated

Where the different types of cotton was cultivated, originating from tropical countries, cotton is cultivated in vast areas of the globe: from a latitude of 45° north to a latitude of 45° south.

    The actual cotton plant can be both annual or perennial type and is classified as:
  • herbaceous (its height varying from approximately 50 to 150 centimetres);
  • woody (which grows from 2 to 5 metres tall).

The most common species cultivated is the herbaceous type with a yearly crop.
Depending on the origin, there are considerable differences in the external part of the cotton: the colour varies from white to cream with different shiny aspects and technical characteristics.

dove-si-coltiva-1dove-si-coltiva-2
    The world's cotton production can be divided according to use:
  • basic production (upland), which is the biggest percentage of world production, cultivated in vast areas of the planet. It is suitable for the production of coarse and medium count yarns (up to a NE 40/1) used to make linen for the home, technical fabrics, denim and jeans;
  • the Long ed Extra Long Staple (hyrsutum barbadense), fundamental for producing fine fabrics for shirt making and clothing, but its percentage is lower. The type of long fibre cotton grows mainly in Egypt, the USA (California and New Mexico), China and India. Another two production areas, but of minor quantities, are Peru (Pima), Israel (Israeli Pima) and Sudan (Barakat). Very small type, high quality cottons are the Indian Suvin and Sea Island Cotton from the West Indies.
    Another breakdown is possible at a strictly geographical level.
    It would be:
  • Egyptian cotton, which has very long hair, soft and very white which is the better quality;
  • American cotton, with long, slender white fibres;
  • Asiatic cotton (this is the bigger plant, reaching 2 metres tall in some regions) with short, yellowy fibres, rougher to the touch compared to other varieties.
Read more