Egyptian cotton is reputed to be the best cotton in the world. It is essentially the Mercedes of the cotton industry. Because it is incomparably fine, soft and supple. Since its fibers are particularly long, they can be used to spin a very thin but yet durable yarn, from which the most exquisite fabrics are woven. Egyptian cotton is therefore viewed worldwide as a luxury material and is used to produce high-quality bed linen, clothing and towels. Here we explain exactly what the advantages of this exquisite type of cotton are and why it does not dominate the world market despite its incomparable quality.
The Story: A Modern Wonder of Ancient Egypt
One of the finest fabrics of our time comes from ancient Egypt. As early as the 3rd century BC. Cotton was grown here in the fertile Nile floodplains in the 4th century BC and harvested by hand. Due to the humid climate and nutrient-rich soil, the Nile Valley already proved to be an ideal place for cotton production. In order to ensure the excellent quality of Egyptian cotton to this day, its cultivation is subject to strict government regulations. Due to these restrictions and the complex handwork, Egyptian cotton only accounts for around 0.5 percent of the world market, but usually costs more than twice as much as its American brother, which dominates the global cotton market.
Production: Every step is handmade
The harvesting, selection and combing of Egyptian cotton is all done by hand. A laborious and time-consuming process, but one that is necessary to ensure the excellent quality of the raw cotton. To do this, the ripeness of the plants is first analyzed in detail, the cotton is then picked meticulously by hand and the particles are then sifted through piece by piece. Special spinners are now used to produce the best yarn in the world and use it in the final step to produce our luxury items.
The quality: Extra long fibers for a particularly soft yarn
Egyptian cotton is the premier class of cotton because it has exceptionally fine and long fibers. The length and thickness of the fiber is directly proportional to its resilience and quality: the higher the staple length, the smoother the cotton fabric. Compared to other types of cotton, this extreme fiber length can be processed into particularly elegant fabrics that can be used for years thanks to their durability. If you want the finest cotton in the world, you should choose a high thread count - the maximum for Egyptian cotton is 500 to 1,200.
All the advantages of Egyptian cotton at a glance
✔ long-staple cotton with fine fibers
✔ temperature-balancing properties
✔ great breathability and moisture regulation
✔ particularly high absorbency
✔ durable and long lasting material
✔ gentle on skin and hair
The advantages: Soft, delicate and yet robust
Egyptian cotton is characterized by particularly long fibers and great purity. The basis is an extra-long-staple cotton variety, the crowning glory is a meticulous hand-made manufacturing process. The combination of exclusive original material and carefully controlled production processes creates a luxury product that outshines its competitors in all areas: it is softer, gentler and yet more robust than all other cotton products. In addition, extra long-staple Egyptian cotton is very absorbent, breathable, temperature-regulating and durable. And that's exactly why we at Finole only use Egyptian cotton - because we only want the best and finest for our bed linen.
