Fabric passports

Egyptian cotton

Gossypium barbadense

Origin

Egypt, mainly the Nile Delta

Fibre

Long-staple and extra-long-staple cotton (Giza varieties)

Type

natural plant fibre

Feel

Smooth and fine, with a subtle lustre when spun into a fine yarn

Breathability

High – the cellulose fibre absorbs moisture and breathes well

Durability

High – long fibres make a yarn that is both fine and strong

Best for

Bed linen, shirts, towels

Care

Usually machine washable; depends on the weave, finish and dye – follow the label

Pima and Supima

Gossypium barbadense

Origin

USA – Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas (Supima); Pima is grown elsewhere too

Fibre

Extra-long-staple cotton (American Pima)

Type

natural plant fibre

Feel

Smooth, soft, strong

Breathability

High

Durability

High

Best for

T-shirts and jersey, shirts, bed linen

Care

Usually machine washable; follow the label

Regular cotton

Gossypium hirsutum

Origin

Worldwide – most of the world’s production

Fibre

Upland-type fibre – shorter than the long-staple species

Type

natural plant fibre

Feel

Pleasant and more matt; softness depends heavily on the yarn and finish

Breathability

High

Durability

Medium

Best for

Everyday clothing, bed linen, towels

Care

Usually machine washable; may shrink at high temperatures and in the tumble dryer

Organic cotton

Gossypium (various species)

Origin

Largest share: India (50% in the 2019/20 season, according to Textile Exchange)

Fibre

Cotton from certified organic farming – staple length depends on the variety

Type

natural plant fibre

Feel

The same as regular cotton of the same variety and processing

Breathability

High

Durability

Medium – depends on the variety and yarn

Best for

Clothing and bed linen, where how the cotton is grown matters to you

Care

As for regular cotton

Linen

Linum usitatissimum

Origin

Europe – mainly France, Belgium and the Netherlands

Fibre

Bast fibre from the stem of the flax plant

Type

natural plant fibre

Feel

Crisp and firm at first, softening with every wash; a characteristic irregular texture

Breathability

Very high

Durability

Very high – one of the strongest natural fibres

Best for

Summer clothing, bed linen, tea towels, tablecloths

Care

Machine washable; do not over-dry, iron while damp

Bamboo viscose

Origin

Cellulose from bamboo, chemically processed into viscose

Fibre

Viscose – regenerated cellulose; none of the original plant’s properties remain in it

Type

regenerated cellulose fibre

Feel

Very smooth, fluid and cool

Breathability

High

Durability

Lower – the fibre is weaker when wet

Best for

Pyjamas, underwear, drapey jersey

Care

Gentle wash at a lower temperature; easily loses its shape and shrinks

Lyocell

Origin

Cellulose (most often from wood), processed with a solvent

Fibre

Regenerated cellulose fibre made by a solvent-spinning process

Type

regenerated cellulose fibre

Feel

Smooth and soft, with a gentle lustre

Breathability

High

Durability

Medium – stronger than viscose, especially when wet

Best for

Shirts, dresses, bed linen, blends with cotton

Care

Gentle wash; rough handling can make it fibrillate (develop a fuzzy, pilled surface)

Polyester

Origin

Synthetic polymer, usually made from petroleum-based raw materials

Fibre

Synthetic polyester fibre (most often PET)

Type

synthetic fibre

Feel

Depends on how it is made – from smooth to “plasticky”; microfibre tends to be soft

Breathability

Low – absorbs almost no moisture

Durability

Very high

Best for

Sportswear, fillings, blends with cotton for crease resistance

Care

Undemanding; take care with a hot iron