Cotton

Cotton is a natural fiber grown on a plant related to the commonly-found garden species hibiscus. its many uses within the interior include curtains, bedspreads, throw blankets, table cloths, and towels. Many products can be made of only cotton or mixed with another fiber to help add beneficial characteristics.

01: Cotton Based Bedding

Characteristics

Cotton has many characteristics that make it a very popular textile to use:
- Comfortable
- Soft hand
- Absorbent
- Good color retention, prints well
- Machine-washable, dry-cleanable
- Good strength
- Drapes well
- Easy to handle and sew

02: Cotton Mixed Upholstery

Production Process

Seeds are planted in spring and the plant grows into green, bushy shrubs about one metre in height.
Once the plant has been defoliated (sprayed so the leaves die and the plant is left looking like a collection of bare sticks), and the bolls have cracked open to reveal the lint, the cotton is ready to be picked.
important that cotton is dry when it is picked, or discolouration may occur and reduce quality.
The crop is harvested mechanically and placed into large modules. The modules are loaded onto trucks and transported from the farm to a cotton gin. Cotton gins are factories that separate cottonseed and trash from the lint (raw cotton fiber).

03: Cotton Bag by FleaBag

Environmental Impact

Because it’s a natural fiber, it can be biodegradable
Natural fibers come from renewable sources
Does use a lot of water, organizations like better cotton initiative are taking action to minimize other harmful impacts like care for the soil and surrounding areas, efficiently using water, and preserve the quality of the fiber itself.
Depending on the finish or chemicals sometimes added to the product, it can release fumes when burned

Application

One common application, upholstery, goes through many different tests to make sure that it is suitable for specific spaces. Within each test there are different grades that determines the fabric performance in different settings, in contract applications, the fabric must be at least a grade 4.

Maintenance:

Check the label to see if machine washing, hand washing, or dry cleaning is best. If machine, use the appropriate wash cycle. Avoid fabric softeners, as this can dull the finish.
Wash in warm or cool water to prevent shrinking and fading. Use hot water carefully, as washing cotton in hot water can cause it to shrink.
Cotton fabrics can be air-dried or machine dried using moderate-to-low heat. High heats can cause cotton fibers to shrink.
Iron on high heat while fabric is slightly damp. Use steam as needed. Note that ironing can usually be avoided by air drying or removing immediately from the machine.

Standards:

Abrasion test ASTM D4966-98
ISO-105-B02 the tested sample is exposed to the influence of the light of a xenon lamp under certain conditions.
ISO-105×12:2001 uses a standard white cotton fabric in both dry and wet state that is rubbed against the surface of the test fabric.
ISO-12945-2:2000 is for pilling
ISO-105-E104:1994 determines resistance to color change due to acidic or alkaline perspiration.
NFPA 701-89 measures ignition resistance of a fabric after it is exposed to a flame for 12 seconds.

Organization: The Cotton Foundation

04: Cotton Art Installation

Resources

Images:

01: Anthropologie

02: Dezeen

03: Fleabag

04: Dezeen

05: Ever Eco

Header: Dezeen

Information:

Page By Rachael Neitzel

05: Ever Eco Organic Cotton Bags