Cotton has been in existence for thousands of years and comes from the seedpod of the cotton plant. Conventional cotton relies on pesticides for growth, however, the production of organic cotton has grown considerably in the last decade. Ventile fabric is woven in Switzerland from extra-long-staple Supima Cotton, which is only grown by 2% of the world’s cotton farmers. The tightness of the weave makes it totally water repellent but does not impede breathability. Ventile’s origins were in the UK in 1943; it was originally developed in WWII to use as flight suits for British pilots to survive North Atlantic Seas. This article looks at regular cotton and Ventile in-depth detailing what they have in common and what distinguishes them apart. Introduction to Regular Cotton and Ventile Cotton The cotton plant is a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, Africa, Egypt, and India. Cotton is ubiquitous in the textile world, from t-shirts to homewares, to art canvas, to rope, and is best known for its comfort and breathability. More recently, cotton grown without the use of pesticides has become more popular in the fashion industry. Ventile cotton is woven from premium-grade, extra-long-staple cotton that constitutes just 2% of the world’s overall cotton supplies. The result of this is increased garment durability, as well as increased lifespan, which in turn reduces the needlessly high frequency of consumer purchasing. The end result is a decrease in the negative impact of textiles production on the environment. After the cotton fibers are picked, they are sorted and carefully spun into an even, uniform yarn. High precision spinning results in a streamlined yarn which is essential for giving Ventile its unique waterproof characteristics. After spinning, the yarn is then doubled in order to increase its durability and abrasion resistance. This tough yarn is then wound onto cones for ease of handling. Ventile fabric is carefully inspected by their team of textile experts who run several tests to expose potential faults. Following this inspection, which is always done by hand, only 100% ‘Grade A’ fabrics are sent off for dyeing and finishing. Due to the incredibly dense structure of the fabric, Ventile fabric is pre-treated and dyed using a specifically developed process to ensure the best possible dye penetration, whilst avoiding creases, stains, and shading which would affect the end product. After dyeing, the fabric is finally treated with a durable water repellency finish (DWR) on both sides of the fabric for added performance and water resistance. Ventile fabric is subject to strict inspection procedures and laboratory testing throughout all stages of processing, all of which guarantee an impeccable end product. Similarities Between Regular Cotton and Ventile Cotton
Cotton and Ventile Cotton both come from the cotton plant.
Both are lightweight fabrics with great breathability and softness.
Both have a huge range of applications from apparel to homewares.
Both fabrics dye well.
As neither requires the tending of or use of animals, both are vegan-friendly.
Both can be machine washed and are relatively quick to dry.
Differences Between Regular Cotton and Ventile Cotton
Conventional cotton is in general very damaging to the environment, Ventile cotton a little less so, since its production results in a more long-lasting durable garment.
Regular cotton works well next to skin, however, Ventile cotton is used mainly as an outdoor fabric due to its DWR (durable water repellant) properties.
Cotton is generally very cheap to buy unless it is organic. Ventile cotton on the other hand is more expensive because of its higher cost production processes.
Regular Cotton and Ventile Cotton: Environmental Impact
All cotton is biodegradable, even conventionally grown cotton, whereas synthetic fibers take hundreds of years to degrade.
Conventional cotton farming use pesticides. Every time it rains or the plant decomposes, chemicals leak into the groundwater and surrounding waterways. Cotton takes a lot of land and water to grow and needs to be harvested using motorized farming equipment. So all in all, cotton demands significant land, water and energy resources.
Organic Ventile uses paraffin wax in place of C6 fluorocarbon as DWR and the raw cotton is organically grown, therefore is significantly less harmful to the environment than regular cotton.
Regular Cotton and Ventile Cotton: Conclusion We have compared the similarities and differences between these two fibers. Both have quite varying applications, mainly due to their production processes. Ventile cotton is the more durable and long-lasting of the two, and its organic Supima fabric, which CommonShare offers, is more environmentally friendly than conventional cotton. Regular Cotton and Ventile Cotton: Applications
Cotton fabric is one of the most widely used fabrics in the world. It is used in everything from bedding to socks, car upholstery, art canvas and rope to coffee filters. Also, cotton fibers can be woven together to create a multitude of completely new fabrics. Ventile fabric is used in outerwear garments, and also has military, medical and workwear applications due to its increased water repellency over regular cotton.