FALA The Natural Fabric Index

In this issue

Stories

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Cotton

  1. Pima and Supima

    The difference between Pima and Supima cotton, why both belong to the same species as Egyptian cotton, and what the Supima trademark guarantees.

    Updated

  2. Organic cotton: what the label means

    What an organic cotton label guarantees, how GOTS certification and its “organic” and “made with organic” grades work, and what organic cotton does not change about how a fabric feels.

    Updated

Linen

  1. Linen or cotton?

    Linen and cotton are both cellulose fibres, yet they behave differently: in the heat, when damp, in the wash and when it comes to creasing. A comparison without the marketing.

    Updated

  2. European linen and certifications

    Where European linen comes from, what the Masters of FLAX FIBRE™ (formerly European Flax™), Masters of LINEN™, Belgian Linen™ and Irish Linen marks guarantee, and who manages them.

    Updated

Weaves

  1. Percale or sateen?

    The difference between percale and sateen lies in the weave, not the fibre. How they differ in feel, sheen, warmth and durability – with accurate weave diagrams.

    Updated

Glossary

  1. Thread count: what it does and doesn't tell you

    What thread count on bed linen means, why “1000” often isn't what it seems, and better ways to judge the quality of a fabric.

    Updated

  2. Fabric weight (GSM) explained

    What fabric weight in g/m² means, how it relates to how a fabric feels to sleep in and wear, and why it should not be confused with quality.

    Updated

  3. Staple length: why it matters

    What staple length is, the short, long and extra-long staple categories for cotton, and how fibre length affects softness, strength and pilling.

    Updated

  4. “Bamboo” on the label: what bamboo viscose is

    Most “bamboo” textiles are viscose made from bamboo cellulose. How it should be labelled under EU rules, what the FTC says, and why the plant's properties don't carry over.

    Updated

Care

  1. How to wash linen

    Washing, drying and ironing linen step by step: temperature according to the label, why not to over-dry it, how to limit creasing and shrinkage, and what to do about stains.

    Updated

  2. Care label symbols

    The five groups of textile care symbols under ISO 3758:2023 – washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning – and how to read them.

    Updated

Egyptian fashion

  1. Egyptian cotton: varieties, fibre and the origin of the name

    What Egyptian cotton is: the species Gossypium barbadense, long and extra-long staple, the Giza varieties, its history since 1821 – and why origin alone does not guarantee quality.

    Updated

  2. How to tell genuine Egyptian cotton

    The Egyptian Cotton™ trademark, the list of licensed manufacturers, DNA testing and the questions worth putting to a retailer. A verified method, no guesswork.

    Updated

  3. Ancient Egyptian linen: from the Tarkhan Dress to royal linen

    Linen was the main fabric of ancient Egypt. How spinning and weaving developed, what the Tarkhan Dress reveals and what “royal linen” was – based on museum collections.

    Updated

  4. The galabeya: traditional Egyptian dress

    The galabeya (galabiya, jellabiya) is a loose, traditional Egyptian garment. What it is made from, how men's and women's cuts differ, and why the summer galabeya is cotton.

    Updated

  5. From field to fabric: the Egyptian textile industry

    How Egyptian cotton gets from the field into fabric: cultivation in the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt, hand picking, spinning and weaving in El-Mahalla El-Kubra, and the industry's history since 1927.

    Updated