What Are Long-staple Cottons?
Bedding sets usually come in a range of materials like cotton, microfiber, linen, and silk. Different materials offer varying levels of comfort, softness, breathability, and style. Meanwhile, short staple cotton and Long-staple cotton bedding sets always are popular for consumers. The difference between long-staple cotton and other cotton is like the world difference between cashmere and wool:
- Long-staple cotton originated in South America and later spread to the southeast coastal islands of North America, so it is also called sea island cotton.
- Long-staple cotton is a raw material for developing and producing fine, thin and high-grade new textiles.
- Its inherent quality is good (the main length of fiber is more than 33mm, the specific strength of fiber is more than 27g/tex, and the micronaire value is mostly 3.5-4.2), and its market price is more than 1.6 times that of ordinary fine-staple cotton.
- It is mainly used for spinning high count yarns, and its products have high added value.
Excellent Xinjiang Long-staple Cotton
Compared with fine cotton, long-staple cotton has the characteristics of low yield, high value and increasing demand year by year. The quality of Xinjiang long-staple cotton is excellent, and all quality indexes exceed the national standards. Turpan is especially good, its fiber is soft and long, white and shiny, and has good elasticity. The main producing areas of long-staple cotton in the world are the United States, Egypt and China.
The output of Xinjiang in China is about 70,000 tons, while the domestic annual demand is more than 150,000 tons, and it is increasing year by year. The gap is mostly made up by importing from the United States. Xinjiang, as the only long-staple cotton producing area in China, is only suitable for planting in Turpan Basin, Aksu, Bayinguoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in Tarim Basin and parts of Turpan.
Thread Count Isn’t Everything – Real Factors That Contribute To Cotton Quality
As the old saying goes, quality is often more important than quantity. This holds true for cotton bedding, as well as any other cotton fabric. Just like a delicious meal, the quality of the ingredients used in a cotton material is paramount.
Unfortunately, thread count has been given too much emphasis in the world of bedding, due to its easy comparability and recognition. However, high thread counts can be misleading indicators of quality.
In reality, it’s far better to invest in bedding made from high-quality, long-staple cotton fibers, even if it means a lower thread count (above a minimum level of 2-300), than short-staple cotton woven into a high thread count sheet.
Aside from staple length, the weave used is the most significant factor in determining how your bedding looks and feels. For example, sateen bedding has a distinctive feel that sets it apart from other weaves.
Long Staple Cotton Versus Short Staple Cotton
So now we’re clear on the difference between long and short-staple cotton, let’s look closer at the pros and cons of each.
Why people like to choose short staple cotton?
Short staple cotton is often preferred due to its lower price point. It is quicker and less expensive to grow, process, and weave than long staple cotton, making cotton products made from short staple cotton more affordable. However, it’s important to remember that quality should take priority over price in the long run.
Cons of short staple cottons
When it comes to creating luxuriously soft bedding, there’s no way to avoid the fact that short staple cotton is a lower quality alternative. Cutting corners with sub-standard raw materials simply won’t produce the desired results.
Pros of long staple cottons
When it comes to cotton sheets, quality is key. As staple length increases, cotton becomes more desirable in terms of softness, smoothness, strength, and durability. Essentially, longer staple length is the key to achieving all the desirable qualities of high-quality cotton sheets.