While China, India, and the United States dominate global cotton production, Egypt still produces some of the finest, organic cotton in the world. The reason for this is down to the Nile River valley. The region provides the ideal setting for cotton plants and has enabled growers to raise long and extra-long staple varieties. The rarest and most prized of these kinds of cotton is Giza.
Cotton Plant
What is Giza Cotton?
Giza Cotton is the best Egyptian cotton fabric in the world. It is quality cotton that is graded higher according to fiber condition, length, and diameter. Esteemed as the finest Egyptian cotton, Giza is grown in a small area to the northeast of the Nile Delta close to the river. Its softness, highest quality, and extra-long fiber determine the popularity of Giza cotton fabric. Seeds are planted in April when it’s mild and then harvested in September to allow the plants to reach maturity. Giza Cotton is called high-quality Egyptian cotton, which is graded based on the diameter and length of the fiber. The smaller the diameter, the longer the fiber, which will give finer yarn, and contribute to a better rating of this cotton.
Representing around 0.5% of Egypt’s cotton production, Giza cotton is carefully picked by hand, rather than using mechanical harvesting. The way Giza cotton is harvested contributes to its strength and softness.
What is Giza Cotton?
Giza Cotton Harvesting
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Key Features and Benefits
- Fineness and length of fibers: The fine and long fibers of Giza Cotton Shirts, make it a unique, strong, and delicate fabric.
- Comfort and Breathability: The breathability of Giza Cotton is another best feature. You can wear Giza Cotton and stay cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather. It is because of open air circulation features of this fabric.
- Luxurious feel: The Giza Cotton gives you a luxurious feel that is apparent when touched. You feel soft by wearing this fabric.
The Uniqueness of Giza Cotton
These are greater than 36mm with very high uniformity. The fibres are ultra-fine and when spun into a yarn, they make the diameter smaller than other cotton types. The primary thing that affects the cotton quality is the location where it grows and what type of growing facilities are available in that location. Egyptian is one of the best geographical areas because of its soothing conditions. Based on the weather in Egypt, the humidity of the area will vary.
As we know Giza Cotton Fabric is Egyptian cotton. It is grown in a small area. It means there will be limited cotton growth every year. It makes the giza cotton a rare quality cotton. Due to its limited stock, the orders are filled quickly. Along with demand, the manual process and methods used to grow Giza Cotton also increase its cost.
Giza Cotton Fibers
Giza Cotton Varieties
There are a few varieties of Egyptian Giza cotton, but we select Giza 87 for its softness, high uniformity, and stretch resistance. For years, we offered the extraordinary Giza 45 Egyptian Cotton as our premium cotton sheet. However, thanks to advancements in textile engineering, agriculture, and bioengineering, supported by the expertise of specialist farmers and government collaborations, new cotton genotypes have emerged with superior qualities. That’s why we’re excited to introduce Giza 92 - the next evolution in luxury bedding. Everything you loved about Giza 45 has been elevated even higher with Giza 92. And this is not just from touching the fabric, there is science behind all this.
Giza 92 vs Giza 45
There are 8 indicators that are used to measure the quality of cotton fiber. Giza 92 tests better than Giza 45 on six, matches on 1 and is slightly lower on 1. Most importantly, Giza 92 is recognized as the strongest fiber in the world, which means it can be spun into finer threads without losing its integrity. When all of these properties are added up, it means that Giza 92 Egyptian Cotton can be spun into the finest threads, and then woven into the most luxurious sheets in the world.
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Although Giza 45 has the lowest micronaire and higher elongation, in every other indicator Giza 92 is superior, in uniformity, maturity, radiance, and the lowest yellowness. Other studies have been done and Giza 92 has been determined as the strongest fiber in the world with results in the 50-53 g/tex.
| Property | Giza 45 | Giza 92 |
|---|---|---|
| Micronaire | Lowest | Higher |
| Elongation | Higher | - |
| Uniformity | - | Superior |
| Maturity | - | Superior |
| Radiance | - | Superior |
| Yellowness | - | Lowest |
Uses of Giza Cotton
Giza Cotton is versatile, and it is used for various purposes. Because of its premium quality, it is used for the best clothing items, such as suits, shirts, and luxury bedding sets. We offer both sateen and percale, which are woven in mills in Italy that can handle the very fine fibres. Our Dream Cotton Sateen Collection offers bed linens in a luxurious 1,000-thread count. This is only achievable due to the long fine fibres of the Giza cotton. The cotton goes through a mercerisation process to give it a soft, silky feel and a lustrous sheen.
Our Drift Cotton Percale Collection in a 500-thread count has a different look and feel. Ultra-lightweight, it has a smooth and matte appearance. The combination of a lower thread count and extremely fine fibres means the cotton sheets have greater breathability than the sateen. Giza Cotton Shirts are woven and hand-picked fabric on traditional looms. It is versatile, which means it is used for various purposes, such as bedding, clothing, upholstery, towels, etc.
Both our Sateen and Percale materials are cut and sewn at our supplier in the south of England. The finishing is key for this luxury cotton, to showcase its unique properties. It’s ideal for the Spring/Summer collection of men’s suits. The reputation of cotton is widely known for its absorbent and breathable qualities. Giza is even better as it is lightweight and has a wonderful softness that will keep your skin cool even in the heat.
Ensuring Authenticity
There are a few things you should know before you go shopping for Giza. First and foremost, some companies may attempt to sell your “regular” cotton that’s labeled and marketed as Giza. This scam has been going on for years, and unfortunately, there’s no end to it slowing down anytime soon. As a consumer, you need to choose the companies from whom you buy carefully. Avoid fly-by-night companies with little-to-no reputation, and instead, choose a trusted and reliable vendor.
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Caring for Giza Cotton
If you’ve taken the plunge by investing in new Egyptian cotton sheets and pillowcases, it’s only logical to protect your purchase for the long haul. Avoid overloading your washing machine or using harsh detergents. For best results, wash products in cold water using a mild, liquid, biodegradable detergent. Dryer sheets should also be avoided if you want your Egyptian cotton bedding to stand the test of time. Protect your sheets by storing them in a cool, dry area.
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