Cotton

Half of our wardrobe is made up of cotton! We wear it almost everyday without really knowing where it comes from, how to treat it, the different sorts and especially how to keep it as soft as it was the first time you wore it!

What is cotton?
Cotton is a plant fibre found surrounding the seeds of the cotton plant. The fibre is transformed into a thread that is woven into fabric.

Mixed and modified cotton
Cotton is usually mixed with synthetic fibres like polyester, which is not as good quality as 100% cotton, and it's more harmful to the environment because it's treated with chemical substances. 100% cotton is always best.

Taking care of cotton
Cotton is really easy to wash, and it's not delicate so you can machine-wash it easily (T-shirts at 40°C and delicates like underwear at 30°C). Don't wash cotton at very high temperatures or too frequently, as this can damage the fabric and make it lose its shape. If you use stain remover on coloured cotton, make sure it won't fade the colour. Cotton fibres are not elastic but they can be folded and ironed a lot.

Organic cotton
Organic cotton made by small producers (often fair trade) who do not use GM and only use natural pesticides (such as organic manure). The lack of chemical products makes the cotton more pleasant on the skin. Organic cotton is hypoallergenic. Wash it in your machine at 40°C with organic washing powder (if possible) and don't tumble dry.