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our cotton
The state-of-the-art mill in Madhya Pradesh has the best spinning equipment available and is ISO (International Standards Organisation) 9002 certified (this relates to the quality of production as well as labour and environmental practices). At the mill the lint is turned into a fuzzy cloud. This is called carding; it spaces each fibre equal distance from the other. Next the lint becomes roving. This is combed to align the fibres, separating out the longest and strongest from the weaker and shorter. These fall out from between the teeth of the comb and become noil - a material that makes ideal mattress stuffing. The combed roving is now spun into yarn. Cloth is created by weaving crossways or ‘weft’ yarn and lengthways or ‘warp’ yarn on a loom. The warp is usually ‘sized’ (coated in a starch-based mixture) to strengthen it, making it easier to weave. The cloth is then finished – this removes the starch-based sizing and cleans, softens and pre-shrinks the cloth. Pre-shrinking is a non-chemical process that involves compacting the fabric using rubber pads and steam. Pre-shrinking fabric allows the finished product to keep its original measurements after repeated washing and drying. At this stage no chemical has come into contact with the cotton fibre, yarn and fabric. Some of the fabric is now put through a hydrogen peroxide bleaching process to whiten it. A number of chemicals are used in the various steps of finishing, but we have tried to only use chemicals that are approved by certifying organisations. |