Cotton

How Cotton Fabric is Made

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1. Cultivation and Harvesting

   • Cotton plants are cultivated in warm climates and take about 5-6 months to grow.

   • Once matured, the cotton bolls (seed pods) are harvested, either manually or with machines, depending on the region and scale of production.

2. Ginning

   • The harvested cotton is sent to a gin, where machines separate the soft fibers from the seeds and debris.

   • This process results in clean, fluffy cotton called lint.

3. Spinning

   • The lint is carded (combed) to align the fibers and remove any remaining impurities.

   • The aligned fibers are then spun into threads or yarns using spinning machines.

4. Weaving or Knitting

   • The yarns are woven on looms or knitted to create fabric.

   • Weaving involves interlacing threads at right angles, while knitting involves looping yarns to form the textile.

5. Bleaching and Dyeing

   • The raw fabric, often called greige, is treated to remove natural oils and impurities.

   • It is then bleached for a uniform color or dyed in vibrant hues, depending on its intended use.

6. Finishing

   • The fabric undergoes finishing treatments to enhance its properties, such as softness, durability, and wrinkle resistance.

   • This may include processes like mercerization (to strengthen and add shine) or preshrinking to prevent future shrinkage.

7. Cutting and Sewing

   • The finished cotton fabric is shipped to manufacturers or designers, where it is cut and sewn into garments, bed linens, or other products.