Cotton is a vegetable textile fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, of the genus Gossypium. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions, with different native species existing in America, Africa and India.
The 4 species of cotton that are used commercially are:
- Gossypium Arboreum: Native to India and Pakistan, commonly known as Indian cotton.
- Gossypium herbaceum: Native to Africa
- Gossypium hirsutum: Native to America, commonly known as Upland cotton.
- Gossypium barbadense: Originally from South America, commonly known as Pima or Tangüis cotton or Egyptian cotton.
Well... And what is the difference between the species? Does one species matter the same as another? Of course, it is not the same to choose one species as another, they do not provide the same quality to the garments. Cotton is collected in fibers, and that is where the difference is found, the longer the fiber has, the better quality. Let's see how long each of the species mentioned above is:
| Species | cotton type | fiber length |
|
Gossypium Arboreum Gossypium herbaceum |
short staple cotton | <20mm |
|
Gossypium hirsutum |
medium staple cotton | 20-34mm |
| Gossypium barbadense |
Long or extra long staple cotton |
34-42mm |
In conclusion, we see that Egyptian cotton and Pima cotton are the best quality and indeed, they are used to make luxury garments.