Cotton is one of the most important materials in the world, and it’s the basis of so many garments across all AWDis ranges. If you’re looking to start your customization journey, you might be wondering why cotton is so popular and be eager to learn more about this iconic and versatile material.
If you’re searching for answers, look no further because here at AWDis, we have the ultimate cotton material guide. Here, you will find everything you need to know about the material itself, how to care for it, and what makes it such a staple of personalized apparel.
Understanding Cotton: Everything You Need to Know
Cotton is one of the most commonly used fabrics in the world. As humans, we’ve used it for thousands of years thanks to its softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties. To better understand what makes cotton such an important material, let’s start at the very beginning: how is organic cotton made?
Organic cotton, or that which is grown and processed without the use of chemical substances, is harvested from the fluffy fibers of cotton plants. Grown across the world’s warmer climates in nations like China, Brazil, and here in the United States, cotton plants are nourished with composting and crop rotation before being harvested, cleaned, and processed, at which point they are spun into yarn and woven into fabrics.
There are several types of cotton, including Upland and Egyptian, each with distinct properties. Let’s take a closer look at two cotton types that are important to the AWDis range.
What is Sustainable Cotton?
Is cotton sustainable? The answer to this question is complex, as cotton can be sustainably produced. The only problem is that many producers use excessive quantities of water, pesticides, and fertilizers, causing pollution and soil degradation. For this reason, it’s important that AWDis sources its cotton responsibly.
Slightly different from organic cotton, sustainable cotton is produced with the aim of mitigating its environmental impacts. Not only does it eliminate the use of pesticides and fertilizers, but it also supports organic cultivation methods.
What is Heavyweight Cotton?
Heavyweight cotton is heavier and thicker than common cotton. Ideal for wrapping up warm on a cold day, it’s denser and longer-lasting thanks to a thicker weave and higher thread count. Heavyweight cotton garments like our Urban Heavyweight Sweat boast a higher GSM (grams per square meter) than other cotton pieces, making them durable and ideal for workwear and premium merchandise.
Looking After Cotton: Our Fabric Care Guide
Properly caring for cotton clothes is essential for ensuring garments last a long time and keep designs fresh and vibrant. The most important aspect of this is knowing how to wash cotton clothes correctly. Here are our essential tips:
- Drying: Air-dry your cotton garments to prevent shrinkage.
- Labels: Before washing, always check the label of your cotton garment to see whether it can be machine-washed. Some may be hand-wash only.
- Temperature: To prevent shrinking, always wash cotton clothes with cold water. This will put less strain on the fibers, protecting color and shape.
- Detergents: Selecting a pH-neutral detergent and avoiding bleach can help prevent fiber damage.
Does Heavyweight Cotton Shrink?
Although its dense weave makes it less prone to shrinking, heavy cotton can shrink. It happens when hot water and high heat cause the fibers to contract. To prevent this, we recommend following the steps outlined above, even with heavier garments!
Cotton for Customization: Why it’s the Best Fabric for Apparel Printing
Why is cotton a good material for t-shirt customization, and what makes it such an effective canvas for hoodie personalization? The answers to these questions have actually already been answered throughout this blog—cotton’s quality speaks for itself!
At AWDis, we utilize organic, sustainable and heavyweight cotton across our ranges because of how comfortable, versatile and durable this material is for custom garments. Its softness makes it a joy to wear, and its quality means it will last wear after wear.
From our staple AWDis T—made from 100% ringspun cotton—to our Signature Heavyweight Hoodie, our cotton garments are specially built for customization. From DTG and embroidery to plastisol and vinyl, cotton can accommodate a wide variety of design methods, making it the perfect choice for long-lasting results, no matter whether your design is a colorful expression of school spirit or a crafted touch of corporate class.
Discover the Potential of Cotton at AWDis
Cotton is such an important material, and at AWDis, we know just how integral it is to creating customizable garments that make your designs pop and stand the test of time without costing the Earth.
No matter what you’re looking for, we’ve got the customizable apparel you need at AWDis. Got questions? Contact us – our team is always here to help!
