The Importance of Egyptian Cotton

All sheets are made of egyptian cotton -- so why is it that they all feel different and some get softer than others? Well, like everything else out there, there is only a limited amount of egyptian cotton grown each year and it varies in grade and quality. The higher the quality and grade, the more expensive the cotton. And the European manufacturers (primarily in France and Italy) create the most luxurious linens in the world and not surprisingly, spring for the best egyptian cotton to go into their products. What makes egyptian cotton better than other types of cotton is its long staples. These long staples are woven together and result in fewer nubs in the fabric that are eventually seared off to make the fabric smooth. I visited the Yves Delorme parent company factories in France -- the Fremaux Corporation -- in 2000 and was able to tour the entire production process --from the raw cotton in bales, through the weaving and printing process through the eventual production of the sheets and duvets. A fascinating process and labor intensive. When you buy European linens made in France or Italy, you are buying a superior product which is essentially hand made and worth the investment!