What is Algodon? Algodon is simply the Spanish word used for the English word cotton Algodon term is used for both plant and fabric of it. There is no specific difference between Algodon or normal cotton.
What is Algodon?
The English word cotton comes from the Arabic word Al-qutn, which in Spanish is called Algodon and in English is called cotton.
The scientific name of Algodon or cotton is Gossypium. In today’s world, all the cotton we get is from the species Gossypium Hirsutum. Still, before the 19th century, it was obtained from 4 different Gossypium species of the Malvaceae family. These were:
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Gossypium Arboretum
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Gossypium Herbaceum
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Gossypium Hirsutum
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Gossypium Barbadians
Cotton or Algodon is a natural, soft fibre produced along the cotton plant’s seeds. There are different types of cotton plants. Some are grown in wild tropical and some in subtropical areas. Cotton is mainly produced over millions of acres all over the world.
The Cotton fibres are long and thin, like hair. So a single fibre is not strong enough. Numerous curling fibres are folded or straightened together to form a smooth thread that is further used for knitting. Cotton or Algodon has been a fixture of the textile industry for centuries.
It is the most important seed and food crop all over the world. Cotton is used to make soft fabrics. Its seeds are crushed to extract oil from it. It is sometimes blended with other products and makes different kinds of fabrics. Denim, Terry cloth, chambray, seersucker, twill, and others are cotton fabrics.
Characteristics of Algodon:
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Algodon is the most useful plant in the world
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Algodon is soft
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Algodon is lightweight.
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Algodon is sometimes blended with other fabrics to make different kinds of fabrics.
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Algodon cotton is strong and dyes absorbent
Algodon Paise, known as country cotton, grows in Peru and comes in different natural colours like white, tan, maroon and a few others. It is the only cotton that provides some natural colours and is not lightened by the sunlight or washing.
Summary:
Cotton or Algodon is a natural, soft fibre produced along the cotton plant’s seeds. Cotton is mainly produced over millions of acres all over the world. Fibres are long and thin, like hair, and curling fibres are folded or straightened together.
History of Algodon:
The exact dawn of the inception of cotton use is not confirmed. Still, it is generally said that many civilizations had their executions simultaneously. No one is quite sure where the cotton we use originated from.
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Cotton or Algodon is known for its role in the history of India, the British Empire and the US. It is known as one of the most important crops all over the world.
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It has been said that the earliest cotton fabric was found in Peru dated to about 6000 BC.
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Many scientists also say that the first proof of cotton use was found in Pakistan and India, dating from about 6000-7000 BC.
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Some cotton bolls were discovered in the caves of Mexico that dated to as early as 5500 BC. Although, there is a bit of doubt about this date.
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It has been said that cotton has been used as a fabric since 3000 BC in India and the Americas. Some pieces of the 4000 years old cotton cloth were found in the Indus valley.
The Arab merchants introduced cotton cloth to Spain and Italy in 800 AD. In this way, Europe was introduced to cotton or Algodon. The Chinese developed cotton in the 13th century. When America was discovered, it was found in Columbus that cotton was cultivated on Bahama Island. By 1500, cotton/Algodon was known all over the world.
Invention of the first cotton industry:
After the industrial revolution, the importance of the Algodon was enhanced by the invention of cotton grins in England. England was the first country to spin cotton by machinery. England began to spin cotton and develop a textile industry. But it was carried out by manual labour.
But when Eli Whitney invented the first cotton grin in 1793. The cotton grin separated cotton from the seeds by the power of the 10. This machine contributed a lot to the growth of the textile industry all over the world.
Uses of cotton Algodon:
Cotton is the most valuable textile fibre in the world, so it is considered the backbone of the textile industry. It is made in a lot of places around the world.
Whenever you pass along a retail store, you will know a lot of materials that are produced from different types of fabrics. In these, one of the most common materials is the cotton products on the shelves of almost every retail shop.
It is very important for making clothing all over the world. Despite that, it also has some other common uses of cotton/Algodon, which are mentioned below:
Uses | Explaination |
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Clothing | Cotton is often used for apparel. Blue pants, shirts, sweaters, and skirts are made of cotton. Soft texture, adjustable quality, soft feel, permeability, and mass manufacture make it a textile. |
Woven Fabrics | Algodon or cotton is used to make a lot of woven fabrics like damask, flannel and more. |
Diapers | many disposable diapers are a source of waste, and many parents now use cotton diapers as they are pleasant to the skin and reusable several times. |
Undergarments | As I mentioned above, the cotton fabric is quite soft and gentle; comfortable undergarments can be made from this. |
Home Accessories | Cotton is also used in manufacturing many home accessories like curtains, pillows, rugs and many other things. |
Animal feed and Fertilizer | Cotton seeds are useful. The seeds are crushed into three halves. These components feed cattle and make fertilizers. |
Cotton seed oil | The cottonseed oil, after the extraction, is used in various bathing products, cosmetics and candles. These are also used for salad dressing and margarine. |
Summary:
Cotton is considered one of the softest and gentlest fabrics, and can be used to make a lot of clothes and undergarments. Soft texture, adjustable quality, permeability, and mass manufacture make it a textile. Many parents now use cotton diapers as they are pleasant to the skin and reusable several times.
Process of Cotton/Algodon production:
The process of cotton production is very long. It takes some time to change the field cotton into fabric cotton. It generally is divided into four processes that are as under:
1.Cotton Growing:
The cultivation and growth of the cotton plant can take up to 6-7 months. So, it is important to plant the seeds as early as possible. The farmers must understand the requirements of these plants and keep a check on avoiding potential problems.
Cotton seeds are planted in the spring. In hot and warm locations, sow seeds deeper; in chilly places, less deeply. If the soil is wet and at a suitable temperature, seedlings will grow in 5 to 7 days. Six-week-old seedlings produce blossom buds.
Cotton balls are formed from cotton blossoms. Cotton balls contain 25 seeds. Cotton bolls are split apart eight weeks later to form fluffy white cotton. Crops are chosen next. Cotton pickers and strippers are used to harvest a lot of cottons. Then, the fresh cotton is manufactured into modules.
2.Ginning:
The seeds must be removed to utilize this cotton for thread or fabric. Grinning removes cotton’s waste and seeds. The cotton industry separates seeds from fibres and removes dirt, leaves, stems, and other fuzzy elements.
The opposite side collects seeds for animal feeding, paper manufacture, and other uses. Each bale weighs 500 lbs. The cotton mills transform these bales into cloths. This video explains cotton ginning.
3.Spinning:
After the lint is cleansed and the seeds are removed, it’s turned into thread and then fabric. Spinnin’. This procedure is lengthy and complex. They were stretching, twisting, and spinning to transform lint into strong, thin yarn—carding, combing, roving, etc. The yarn is spun around a large cone and is ready for the next step.
4.Weaving:
Next, the cotton yarn is woven into cloth. Two distinct arrangements of yarns or strings are interlaced to frame a texture or cloth. Knitting, wool roving, interlacing, and plaiting are wearable techniques.
5. Dying:
In the last step, this fabric is converted into usable after passing through dying or bleaching printing. It is given a PRE shrunk before being made into the cloths and other products if home. The other machines make the knits for the sweaters and blankets.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
People asked many questions about “What is Algodon?” We discussed a few of them below:
1. Does cotton Algodon shrink?
Yes, cotton Algodon shrinks. As you wash it after the first wash, it will shrink definitely.
2. What percentage of cotton will shrink?
From its original size, about 20% of cotton shrinks.
3. Do 60% cotton and 40% polyester shrink?
As we can see, cotton’s percentage is higher than polyester, so it will not shrink. Even so, wash it with cold water to prevent full shrinkage.
4. Which is the best cotton?
Around three centuries, Egyptian cotton is found to be the best in the world due to its strength, softness and many other characteristics.
5. Is Algodon smooth and silky?
Natural yarn that is soft, smooth, and easy on sensitive skin is perfect for summer knitwear.
6. What is cotton fibre?
The purest form of cellulose is in cotton fibres, which is the most common polymer found in nature. Almost 90% of the fibres in cotton are made of cellulose. Non-cellulosic is found on the outside or inside the lumens of the fibres. On the other hand, the secondary cell wall is made up of only cellulose.
7. Is cotton also wool?
The wool comes from the fleece of an animal, usually a sheep. Cotton comes from a plant. Wool is warmer and lasts longer than cotton, but it costs more. Wool is tricky to take care of and feels rougher than cotton.
8. Where is the best cotton grown?
Egypt produces the perfect cotton in the world. It is soft, strong, and has other great qualities that make Egyptian cotton products the best in the world. Egyptian cotton is picked by hand, ensuring it is as pure as possible.
9. What does 100% Algodon cotton mean?
Janice, you can be sure that the towels you bought are made of cotton the whole way through. “Algodón” is just the Spanish word for “cotton,” The towels you bought had a label in both English and Spanish.
10. Is cotton a vegetable?
So, that’s an interesting question. After about 100 days, where the flowers were, cotton bolls started to grow and open up. Each boll has about 32 immature seeds that will start to grow into cotton fibres. The boll is a fruit because it has seeds inside of it.
11. Why is cotton from Egypt so special?
Egyptian cotton is special because it takes longer and thinner fibres than regular cotton. When combed and spun, these longer, finer fibres make very smooth yarns, making very smooth, soft cloth when woven.
12. Is cotton a kind of tree?
Before people started harvesting cotton as an annual, it was a plant that lived for many years. Like the cotton plant, most perennials live for more than two years. Also, the cotton plant is usually taken care of as a shrub, but if it is not taken care of, it can grow into a tree.
13. What thread count is the softest?
In general, you should look for counts between 200 and 400, but those between 300 and 360 are likely to be the softest.
14. Is it the best cotton Pima cotton?
Because of its long, silky fibres, Pima cotton is the best cotton you can buy. Pima cotton T-shirts, dress shirts, and polo shirts will be some of your closet’s softest, strongest, and most colourfast clothes.
15. What causes cotton to grow?
Cotton seedlings are sown in the spring, and the plants grow into one-meter-tall, green, bushy shrubs. The plants have short-lived pink and white flowers that fall off after being pollinated and are replaced by cotton bolls, which are fruits.
Conclusion:
The word Algodon is the Spanish translation of the English word cotton. In Latin, it means polyester. Algodon is not different from cotton. The term Algodon is used for both the plant and the fabric of cotton in the Spanish language. We can also say that Algodon is derived merely from the Arabic language.
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