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India at 75: The humble Indian cotton is the healthiest fabric ever

For a warm country like India, cotton has been the best fabric grown and worn over the decades. And ever since we became independent, cotton has seen a lot of changes with the fabric quality improved significantly. Not only is desi cotton sustainable but also one of the healthiest fabrics today.

Ashima Sharda Mahindra

Updated Aug 12, 2022, 07:19 IST

Called the healthiest fabric ever, Indian cotton has seen significant changes in production qualities for being strong, flexible, easy to care for, and breathable.

New Delhi: Over the last seven and a half decades the cultivation and productivity of cotton have seen a massive upgradation – from 33.36 lakh bales of 170 kg each in 1947 to 300 lakh bales in 2021, an increase of a whopping 500 per cent.

Cotton is the backbone of the Indian textile industry, which consumes 70 per cent of the country’s total fabric production and accounts for at least 40 per cent of the exports, and fetches crores annually to the exchequer.

Called the healthiest fabric ever, Indian cotton has seen significant changes in production qualities for being strong, flexible, easy to care for, and breathable.

Let's see what are the advantages of Indian cotton:

Breathable: Unlike most fancy fabrics, cotton easily absorbs sweat from the body and allows it to evaporate easily. Once the sweat disappears the skin feels fresh and light devoid of any bacteria or yeast growth. Hence, most doctors advise even wearing cotton innerwear and sleepwear. Softness: Since cotton is a soft and stretchy fabric, it is very comfortable.
Durable: Cotton is durable and more resistant than other fabrics. Its fibres are more than 30 per cent stronger than any other fabric.
Naturally insulating: Since cotton does not conduct temperature well, it makes a good insulator. The fabric remains cool in summer and dry in winter. It also resists static.
Non-allergy: Since it is a natural fibre, cotton does not cause any kind of skin allergies. Doctors recommend newborn babies and the elderly wear only cotton clothes for the same reason. Bandages and gauze are also made with cotton for the same reason. It is also resistant to dust mites and so people with asthma do not have to worry about anything.
Infection free: Since cotton is breathable, it does not trap oils and odours and can be easily washed with mild detergents.

India is the only country to cultivate four cotton species

As we celebrate 75 glorious years of our independence, it is noteworthy to know that India is the only country in the world to date that cultivates four species that are grown on a commercial scale. The species of cotton viz. Gossypium arboreum, G.herbaceum, G.hirsutum, and G.barbadense are all native to the old world.

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