Cotton Fibers

Cotton Fibers

Cotton’s unique physical and chemical characteristics, such as softness, moisture absorbency, breathability, comfort, and resistance to static buildup, makes it one of the most widely used fibers in the production of apparel, home furnishings, nonwoven textile, and personal care items. Today there are four species of cotton cultivated on a commercial scale, with the “upland” variety, native to Central America and the Caribbean, accounting for almost 90% of global production. Other varieties like longer staple fiber and tree cotton are cultivated on a smaller scale and are used in the production of more specialized consumer products.

Cotton is a warm-weather crop that requires adequate moisture to grow successfully. As such, the majority of cotton-producing countries are located in and around the tropics.