Cotton is one of the world’s most popular and widely used textiles. Made from the fibrous plant matter around the seeds of the cotton plant (genus Gossypium), it’s characterized by its light, fluffy and soft texture. According to some estimates, world production of cotton is roughly 25 million tones per year, which translates into about 2.5% of the world’s total arable land. China holds the title as being the world’s largest producer of cotton, though the United States is the world’s largest exporter.
Giza Cotton: the Basics
Giza cotton is a type of high-end cotton that’s grown and harvested in the Middle East. If you’re familiar with Egyptian cotton, you already have an understanding of Giza cotton — even if you don’t realize it. Giza cotton is a type of Egyptian cotton, as they both originate from Egypt. Giza cotton is unique, however, in the sense that it’s grown and harvested close to the Nile river, giving it some unique qualities that simply aren’t found elsewhere.
Why Giza Cotton?
You might be wondering what makes Giza cotton better than standard — or even Egyptian — cotton. Well, its superior quality lies in the environmental conditions surrounding the region in which it is grown and harvested. Because Giza cotton originates from the Nile Delta, it’s an ideal environment for this plant. The Nile Delta offers the perfect amount of sunlight, humidity (moisture vapor in the air), and nutrient-rich soil to stimulate cotton growth. It’s a perfect combination that helps the cotton plant grow to become a spectacular specimen.
The Nile Delta, of course, is a triangular-shaped area in which the Nile River forks opens. It’s so large that astronauts can even see it from space. Like all deltas, the Nile Delta is a lush environment that’s never short of water. This is somewhat unique in the Egyptian region, as many other areas suffer from long spells of dryness and drought. With the Nile Delta’s ever-moist characteristics, however, it serves as the perfect environment in which cotton and other plants can grow.
Furthermore, the humidity in the Nile Delta is just right for Giza cotton. Depending on the season, it typically maintains a 60 to 70% relative humidity. This means the air is 60 to 70% filled of moisture vapor. If the humidity level was 100%, it means the air is completely saturated with moisture vapor and can no longer hold additional moisture vapor.
