Hot Items, Organic Collection

Cotton is known to be the most popular and has the longest history in the textile industry. Cotton is made from the natural fibers of cotton plants, which are from the genus Gossypium. Cotton fabrics are used in a wide range of products such as clothing, bedding, and many other products.

100% Organic Cotton is highly recommended for sensitive skin and is used for premium products.

So, what differentiates Organic Cotton and normal Cotton?

What is Organic Cotton?

Cotton is grown traditionally and grown organically offer different values for customers:

Conventional Cotton – is the cotton that is grown traditionally. Traditional cotton production relies heavily on the use of agrochemicals, such as pesticides, fertilisers, soil conditioners, etc. Some conventional cotton is also genetically modified (GM Cotton), which is harmful to the ecosystem and to consumer health as well.
Overall, conventional cotton not only does affect the environment (as it is very energy-consuming and especially water-consuming), but it might also affect sensitive skin like creating allergies.

Organic Cotton – is the cotton that is organically farmed without GMO. Organic cotton production is more eco-friendly as it uses fewer chemicals, less water consumption, and is less harmful to the soil. Organic cotton is also better for sensitive skin.

There are a lot of Cotton fabric varieties in the market. The most popular ones are:

• Silk Cotton – a combination between cotton yarn and silk yarn, with the blend ratio varies up to 9:1 depending on the demand. It is extra soft compared to other cotton blends. It is also airy and absorbent.
• Spandex Cotton – a blend between cotton and spandex. Spandex Cotton is known for its durability, elasticity and moisture-wicking ability. It is commonly used for sportswear.
• Polyester Cotton – a blend between cotton yarn and polyester yarn. There are 2 common types of Polyester Cotton: CVC (65% Cotton, 35% Polyester) & TC (35%Cotton, 65% Polyester).
• Cotton 100% – solely cotton yarn, without any mixture. It is known for extra moisture absorption.
• Bamboo Cotton – a perfect combination between cotton yarn & bamboo yarn. This blend utilizes the outstanding advantages of both cotton (airy & moisture wicking) and bamboo (UV-resistant & antibacterial). Learn more about Bamboo Cotton fabric provided by Greenyarn here.

The production process of Organic Cotton yarn

What differentiates Organic Cotton and Conventional Cotton lies in the production process. Organic Cotton production makes sure that the health of the soil, the ecosystem, and the health of consumers are safely ensured.

The Organic Cotton production process is as followed:

• Farming & Harvesting – Cotton plans that are grown in a certified organic farm will not be genetically modified and fewer chemicals will be used. This will help improve the soil quality, reduce soil environmental pollution and water pollution. When it’s harvesting time, the cotton will be hand-picked, eliminating the use of defoliants.
• Ginning – Cotton bolls after harvesting will then be fed into the ginning machine that separates the cotton fibres from the seedpods. This process is to remove dirt, stems, leaves and linters from the cotton fibers.
• Spinning – Cotton fibers after cleaning will be transferred to a carding machine that separates the fibres. The fibres are then combed by a range of machinery and are spun to form soft textured yarn.
  From yarns, it can be weaved or knitted to form Cotton fabrics and then dyed according to the demand.
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To be considered 100% Organic Cotton yarn, all of the steps in the production process above must be certified. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is one of the leading standard setters to define organic textiles, including Organic Cotton.

Outstanding advantages and application of Organic Cotton yarn

Organic Cotton is favored in many product categories due to its ‘friendliness’. Comparing to conventional cotton, Organic Cotton is more eco-friendly in terms of production. It is less harmful to the earth as it uses fewer chemicals and requires less water and energy. Organic Cotton is also better for customers with sensitive skin and is especially safe for children’s skin.

Cotton that is 100% Organic is also a good choice for environmentally-conscious consumers. It is better for consumer health and for the earth as well.

Organic Cotton application varies from clothing (casual wear, sportswear, childrenswear, etc) to home furnishings (bed sheets, duvets, pillow covers, etc.). In clothing, Organic Cotton is even safe for baby skin and is commonly used for baby clothes.

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How to evaluate standard Organic Cotton yarn?

Standard Organic Cotton yarns are certified by at least one of the worldwide standard setter, such as:

– The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
– The Organic Content Standard (OCS)

Organic Cotton yarn provided by Greenyarn are GOTs certified.