Guide to The Different Types of Cotton Used in Clothing

Cotton has been used to make clothing for thousands of years, and it remains one of the most popular fabrics in modern textile manufacturing. What you may not realize, however, is that there are actually different types of cotton used to make today’s clothing. Below are several different types of cotton you may have on your body right now:

Muslin

Muslin is a type of fabric that is often used to make 0-3 month cotton baby clothing. The reason muslin works so well for 0-3 month cotton baby clothing is that it is incredibly soft but also breathable. This works well to protect delicate and sensitive baby skin while also providing comfort by regulating a baby’s temperature.

Muslin is available in different weights, but many pieces of muslin cotton clothing are made of fine sheers. This can give lightweight muslin a silky feel without trapping heat like silk is known to do.

Flannel

On the opposite end of the cotton spectrum, flannel is usually a heavy cotton weave that is used to make cold-weather clothing. Flannel shirts, coats, scarves and other items are worn during the fall and winter to protect against the elements. Flannel also features a woven nap that gives its fibers a tight bond to keep heat in and protect against the outside cold.

The distinctive look of flannel comes from the tartan pattern, a visual pattern that is believed to have evolved from Scandinavian countries. Today, flannel patterns are still used, but the traditional look of flannel eventually gave the fashion world plaid.

Denim

Although you may not associate the rugged look and feel of denim with soft cotton, the fact is that denim is made from cotton. The thing that makes denim unique is that each piece of denim cloth is created by weaving cotton strands across one another to create a tight-knit. This helps to give denim its durable reputation, and it’s also why denim has been the choice for jeans, jackets and other clothing items that needs to stand up to rough conditions.

Read a similar article about cotton newborn burp cloths here at this page.