Cotton
🌿 Natural: plant Also called Pima, Supima, Egyptian cotton, Organic cotton.
The everyday plant fiber: soft, breathable and easy to wash.
What it's made from
The fluffy fiber around the seeds of the cotton plant, cleaned, combed and spun into yarn.
At a glance
| BreathabilityLets air and heat through | Very high (5 of 5) |
|---|---|
| WarmthFor its weight | Low (2 of 5) |
| Absorbs sweatPulls moisture off your skin | High (4 of 5) |
| DurabilityResists wear and pilling | Medium (3 of 5) |
| Wrinkle resistanceStays smooth | Low (2 of 5) |
| Easy careMachine wash and dry | Very high (5 of 5) |
| Sheds microplasticsWhen washed | No |
| Biodegradable | Yes |
A general guide. The weave, weight and finish of a fabric matter as much as the fiber.
How it feels
Soft and matte. Gets softer with washing.
Good for
- T-shirts and underwear
- Jeans (denim is cotton twill)
- Sheets and towels
- Hot weather
Watch for
- Holds water and dries slowly, so it chills you when wet (why hikers avoid it).
- Can shrink in a hot dryer unless it is pre-shrunk.
- "Cotton blend" and "CVC" often mean a lot of polyester. CVC only means cotton is the larger part.
Care
Machine wash warm or cold. Tumble dry low or line dry to limit shrinking.
Often blended with
What those blends mean: Cotton + polyester · Cotton + spandex · Cotton + modal
Compare
Guides
More natural: plant fabrics
See it before you buy
TruTag reads the fabric on every clothing listing at Amazon, Target and Walmart and shows how much cotton is really in it, right under each search result. See how it works →