What are the advantages of Egyptian cotton?

In this article, discover everything you need to know about this materials Very commonly used in making socks.

Origin, materials, Manufacturing process: What is Ecosse thread ?

Its origins:

Contrary to what its name suggests, Egyptian cotton does not actually come from Egypt. However, its manufacturing process does have its origins in that country, as it was John Mercer who..., son of a Scottish weaver, who made his discovery in 1844.

Raw material used:

The materials The first thing used to design the Egyptian cotton thread is simply... cotton !But not just any kind: Egyptian cotton is woven from High-quality cotton fibers. They measure a minimum of 3.5 centimeters in order to be extremely strong, and must be of immaculate white in order to obtain a quality dye and avoid pre-washes that could damage them.

Manufacturing process:

It was John Mercer who, somewhat by chance, developed the manufacturing process for mercerized cotton. While filtering caustic soda through a cotton fabric in his father's workshop, he noticed that the properties of the fabric used as a filter had changed: It has become smoother, silkier, more flexible, and stronger. John Mercer has just created "mercerization": caustic soda causes the cotton fiber to swell. by changing its shape to make it cylindrical, thus optimizing the regularity and uniformity of the thread.

However, his discovery also brought a drawback: at the same time, he noticed that the process was shrinking the fiber. It would then be necessary to wait for Horace A. Lowe to solve this problem a few years later. Discovering that fibers need to be moistened and stretched while adding caustic soda to prevent them from shrinking.

Using Egyptian cotton thread.

This preliminary treatment of the fiber having a cost, we often find Egyptian cotton thread. in high-quality textiles. Pledge elegance, it is frequently used in the composition of city clothing high-end. Some can even afford the luxury of wearing textiles that have undergone double mercerization, which consists of applying the mercerization process to the materials first, then on the finished product.

But previously reserved exclusively for high society, today we find a wide range of textiles made from Egyptian cotton accessible to everyone, especially in our sock drawers !

What are the advantages of Egyptian cotton ?

Its strength

As mentioned earlier, mercerization makes the cotton fiber more resistant. Thanks to this, materials, Therefore, the socks are less likely to snag and develop holes.

Its elasticity

Thanks to the natural elasticity of Scottish yarn, socks made with this fibre... materials provide effective non-compressive support.

Its finesse

The knitting of socks in Sea Island Cotton yarn is usually done on machines equipped with hundreds of needles. It is the fineness of this knitting that gives you a second skin sensation when you wear this type of sock.

Her gentleness

As mentioned earlier, mercerization makes the cotton fiber perfectly cylindrical and smooth. Therefore, socks made from Fil d'Écosse are very soft and do not irritate the skin, providing a certain level of comfort.

A silky look

Thanks to the total absence of roughness on the mercerized cotton fibers, the Fil d'Écosse socks have a slightly shiny and silky appearance.

Colors that withstand anything

The selection of perfectly white cotton fibers to make Egyptian cotton thread allows for the creation of textile products that hold dye perfectly: wash after wash, the colors remain the same.

Thermoregulating and breathable

This materials, like linen, is also thermoregulating and breathable: It helps regulate heat and thus reduce the phenomenon of sweating.. And thanks to its fineness, your feet breathe more easily.

What are the disadvantages of Egyptian cotton ?

Its cost

Textile pieces made from Egyptian cotton yarn are slightly more expensive than those made from regular cotton, indeed. However, their cost is justified by all the benefits that this fabric offers. materials Bring it. You won't regret the investment !

What are the differences between cotton socks and those made of...

What are the differences between cotton socks and those made of Sea Island cotton ?

Cotton socks or Fil d'Écosse socks? Still hesitating? To help you make your choice, the first major difference between these two materials is the appearance. Cotton offers a rather matte look. Fil d'Écosse has a shiny and silky appearance. It is also soft to the touch. Then, there's the fineness of the Fil d'Écosse thread that gives you elegant socks rather than sportswear.

You just have to !