Pima Cotton, Peruvian Cotton, Cotton Peru - Hogartex

WHAT MAKES A SHEET OF EXCELLENT QUALITY.

THE NUMBER OF THREADS FABRIC 

If you think the definition of a luxurious bed is the number of strands in your sheets... 

Think again. 

While the number of threads that can be one of the considerations, there is much more important elements to measure comfort, quality, and value of garments: the type of cotton, hand, or the feeling that leaves the fabric, and the nature of their finish. 

THE BASICS ON THE NUMBER OF THREADS 

For some years now the number of threads is consider "important" when it comes to bedding. It has even become a status symbol... You can even hear something like "Oh, my sheets have more threads than yours". This has happened because the garment manufacturers and final retailers -to sell more- are pushing the issue.

What should be understood by number of threads? It is simply the measure of how many threads - warp (lengthwise) and weft (across) are woven into one square inch of fabric. The number of threads of a standard cotton cloth (muslin type, for example) is around 150, good quality sheets with 180 thread and start a fabric with a thread number 200 or greater, is considered a percale. 

The number of threads also has to do with construction and yarn quality. With thinner wires, such as those occurring with Pima cotton (see photo), more threads can be woven into a square inch, with which you get a finer fabric, softer and more flexible. 

As a practical matter, how many threads can come in a square inch? 
The truth is that achieved great improvements in the technology of spinning machinery and looms, manufacturers have been increasing the number of threads of their webs even more than 500 threads per square inch. This already becomes an unnecessary and unhelpful exaggeration (and, according to many insiders, a waste of money). Most times, we must be careful because a very high number of threads may be because two threads are woven twisted together.

For marketing purposes, it is not uncommon to have thin wires twisted to form one, counted as two and, for example, describe fabric with 250 individual strands twisted 4-wire formed into a square inch as a product of 1,000 threads (when the truth is that it only has 250 wires).

But this is not acceptable and has been banned by the American National Textile Association. 
Each thread that crosses the tissue should be considered "one" although it has been twisted by 2, 3 or 4 wire. In the United States Association for Consumer Protection, has issued a warning to consumers that could thus be misled or misguided, buying clothes with inflated numbers of threads.

NUMBER OF THREADS VS. PERUVIAN PIMA COTTON

As already mentioned, the number of threads is not where the evaluation begins and ends, when it comes to sheets you love to touch.

The softness depends much more on the quality of fiber and that is why a 300 thread count Pima sheet can have a softer "hand" than a 400 thread count sheet that has been woven with a lower grade or double thread cotton.

The fine linen starts with fine thread, and the quality of cotton depends on the length of its fiber and its torque. The longer the better is the torsion fiber, and this depends on the quality of cotton. 

Thus the cotton thread could become a more resilient and flexible material which can be woven smoother and brighter. 

Hogartex, for its highest quality garments uses 100% pima cotton, which is recognized as the long-staple cotton of better quality in the world. Although historically occurred throughout the Pima in Peru.

Nowadays the "Peruvian pima" also occurs in other countries. When that happens, meets the standards as original Peruvian pima including a fiber length of 1 ¼ to 2 inches, compared for example with the length of 7/8 Egyptian cotton (which does not always come from "Egypt")

Be careful, there is another area in which labels can be confusing. Some may say pima cotton, but actually contain only 1%. Look for labels that say 100% Peruvian Pima cotton. 

THE FABRIC FINISH 

Once the cotton is removed from the branch and cleaned, it's carded to remove the broken fiber and the straws of the swift. If the addition of carded cotton, is combed, (as is the case Hogartex) is much better in terms of cleaning and therefore the length of the fiber during the spinning process. The best quality of cotton fiber is a very strong partner who has a soft hand. 

WE ARE NOT DONE JET

When we have the best quality cotton possible, what Is next? The finishing process has everything to do with how the sheet is going to feel. Mercerized and calendering the fabric will reduce the wrinkles and maintain color brightness.

The way in which the fabric is woven also has an effect on how it feels. A cotton sateen sheet, for example, is softer and has the feel and sheen of silk, while another, woven in the traditional form of flax has a recognizable froufrou. Which is better? It depends on personal taste because both Hogartex Pima fabrics are excellent.