The Cotton Club

Cotton is among the traditional textiles that are known for its comfort and ease. This comfortable fabric has been able to keep at bay the stiff competition posed by various new synthetic blends. Cotton has always been there on the market for the reason that it is the most comfortable of all fabrics. Cotton has never been displaced from the world of fashion, as many manmade fabrics have come and gone. It is difficult to dream of t-shirts and undergarments among other apparel that are not made from cotton.

The first quality that comes to mind when we think of cotton is its comfort and power of absorption. Being breathable too, it allows for sweat to dry quickly. It is a very skin-friendly fabric, which makes the wearer fresh all day through. As dictated by fashion, many cotton blends have emerged offering varying levels of comfort.

Cotton is Trendy
With varying blends showing up on the market, cotton has acquired an added characteristic of being trendy. Shirts, trousers, and t-shirts made from cotton are being accepted by designers and used to design trendy outfits. Its biggest selling point is greater comfort, absorbing ability and breathability. Prints on cotton make it look extravagant, especially during the summer. The beauty of cotton is that it keeps you cool during the summer and warm in the winter.

Many people complain of skin problems that occur while wearing different kinds of synthetic fabric. Sensitive skin may react to synthetic fabric touch. Cotton being natural is truly healthy for the skin. It works just perfectly for people with skin complaints.

Cotton clothing is easy to maintain for it can be hand-washed or machine-washed. However, there is no restriction to its being dry-cleaned. The fact that it can be washed at home makes it an attractive proposal. Dump your cotton shirt in the washing machine and iron it after it is washed and dried.

A fabric for the young and old alike, cotton will always be there among all other fashionable and trendy fabrics.

As the world gets more conservationist in its thinking, big fashion houses are becoming more conscious of their responsibilities towards the degenerating environment triggered by modern technology. Eco-friendly products that do not use health harming chemicals at any stage of production, are what Armani is conscious about.

Armani has been among the very first to follow European Oeko-Tex Standard 100 that certifies the elimination of health-harming chemical substances during production. The standard that started in 1995 has become more complex and diversified with time. The year 1996 saw Armani display its first eco-friendly jeans at the Innovations Exhibition at the Science and Technology Museum at Milan. Details describing the process at each stage of production were on display along with the jeans. To ensure reduction in the use of insecticides and weed killers, other recycled materials were used in the autumn/winter 96/97 collections. These included recycled woolen cloth and recycled cross-dyed cotton.

As the younger generation is getting increasingly aware of environmental issues, Armani had its target audience interested in its jeans by introducing hemp to the production process. Hemp that had gone off the fashion producers’ mind, made a come back in men’s and women’s fashion. Hemp is a strong plant that survives tough conditions, and does not require pesticides or insecticides for support. Moreover, hemp efficiently and effectively converts carbon dioxide to oxygen through photosynthesis. After processing, hemp makes a durable and clean yarn that can absorb up to 95% of infrared and ultra violet rays. This makes the fabric cool in the summer months and conversely warm in the winters.

Following the EC directives to develop new industrial ethics, Armani participated in an experiment at the Ecomoda event at the Milan Triennale, where production policies concerning environment improvement, energy saving, and beco-compatible technological advancement were studied.

Armani’s expansion plans include production range in organic cotton free from residues of pesticides and insecticides. This forms part of a fair trade pact with Bolivia and Peru to help resurrect their economy and encourage natural farming. The local farming communities are now growing cotton through natural methods replacing the growth of harmful produces such as cocaine.