Texas leads the U.S. in cotton production and it is our leading cash crop, ranking only behind the beef and nursery industries in total cash receipts. Texas annually produces about 25% of the entire U.S. crop and plants over 6 million acres! That’s over 9,000 square miles of cotton fields.
We’ve all heard the slogan “Texas is like a whole other country”, and from a cotton production perspective it’s certainly fitting. Almost anywhere you travel in Texas, you’ll be in cotton country. More.
How Long Has Cotton Been In Use?
Cotton has been cultivated and used to make fabrics for at least 7,000 years. It may have existed in Egypt as early as 12,000 B.C. Fragments of cotton fabrics have been found by archeologists in Mexico (from 3500 B.C.), in India (3000 B.C.), in Peru (2500 B.C.), and in the southwestern United States (500 B.C.).
78% of Consumers Prefer 100% Cotton Sheets
People like cotton even in their sleep. But why do sheets vary so much in price?
A single bed sheet can cost 10 to one hundred dollars. Fiber content, thread count and brand name
help determine the price. Cotton sheets are soft, absorbent, breathable
and offer the most sleeping comfort. They are generally more expensive
than cotton/polyester blends and tend to last longer. Thread count
refers to the number of threads in one square inch of fabric. The
higher the count, the softer and stronger the fabric, and the finer
the quality of the sheet. (Counts usually range from 128 to 310.)
Muslin, a simple weave, is a cotton sheeting fabric with a thread
count of fewer than 180. Percale is a closely woven cotton fabric,
usually made with combed yarns with a thread count of 180 or higher.
Fabric finishes and embellishments can affect cost. Mercerized cotton
has been treated with alkalis for a distinctive sheen; sanforized
cotton has been pre-shrunk; easy-care and wrinkle-resistant finishes
are chemical treatments intended to keep sheets looking smoother.
Distinctive details such as hem stitching, piping or eyelet trim
are also factors contributing to cost.
People like cotton even in their sleep. But why do sheets vary so much in price?
A single bed sheet can cost 10 to one hundred dollars. Fiber content, thread count and brand name
help determine the price. Cotton sheets are soft, absorbent, breathable
and offer the most sleeping comfort. They are generally more expensive
than cotton/polyester blends and tend to last longer. Thread count
refers to the number of threads in one square inch of fabric. The
higher the count, the softer and stronger the fabric, and the finer
the quality of the sheet. (Counts usually range from 128 to 310.)
Muslin, a simple weave, is a cotton sheeting fabric with a thread
count of fewer than 180. Percale is a closely woven cotton fabric,
usually made with combed yarns with a thread count of 180 or higher.
Fabric finishes and embellishments can affect cost. Mercerized cotton
has been treated with alkalis for a distinctive sheen; sanforized
cotton has been pre-shrunk; easy-care and wrinkle-resistant finishes
are chemical treatments intended to keep sheets looking smoother.
Distinctive details such as hem stitching, piping or eyelet trim
are also factors contributing to cost.