The market pages have been buzzing over rising cotton prices lately and among luxury bedding experts, discussions have been developing around the growing prominence of the rather idiosyncratic labeling of Egyptian cotton articles worldwide.  With prices going up and consumers desiring a good deal, deceiving labels sing a siren song to customers.  If enticed to buy, however, a customer will soon learn the key difference between cotton vs Egyptian cotton: quality.  Elegant Linens, luxury bedding retailer, reiterates that true luxury bedding will stand the test of time and suggests that clients in the luxury bedding market take extra care to ensure that the products they are purchasing are genuine articles of real Egyptian cotton.

Most cotton comes from overseas, with China and India producing the largest shares.  Recent flooding in India, combined with increased demand from China, India, the US and Brazil have all led to inflated cotton prices.  While the cotton produced outside of Egypt is certainly useful, the majority of it would not provide the basis for luxury bedding material.  When considering cotton vs Egyptian cotton, note that Egypt holds the rare treasure of the Nile River Valley, which has a particularly ideal landscape and climate for growing rich, extra long staple cotton fibers.  This genuine Egyptian cotton is what luxury bedding designers and consumers love best.  As Sharon Johnson, cotton analyst, remarks, “...Egyptian cotton is the cotton you want to melt in after a hard day.” (See the full article below.) 

A particular variety of this Egyptian cotton is the highly sought after Giza cotton.  When it comes to numbers and Giza, the lower the number, the higher the quality.  Once, Giza cotton was reserved for royalty.  Now, the lower numbers, like the Giza 45, are available to the general populous for consumption.  Find real Giza and one will find real luxury bedding comfort!

Currently, the cotton vs Egyptian cotton issue has also been complicated by non-regulation of labeling practices among cotton product producers.  A savvy online shopper may be able to find “400 count ESL Egyptian cotton sheets” for as little as $70.  However, will these sheets have the ultra soft, cool and smooth hand of a true 400 thread count, Egyptian cotton percale sheet set from a genuine luxury bedding designer?  No.  Will they get softer wash after wash?  No.  Is one sure to find pilling, loose or broken threads in these sheets?  Yes.  And why?  Because they do not contain extra long staple fibers, they are not made entirely (if at all) of Egyptian cotton, and they have not been finished by a luxury bedding house that can produce the finest hemstitching, embroidery, and other finishing details the world can offer.    

To remedy this issue, one must be vigilant in inquiring where one's cotton originated, where it was milled, and how and where the product was finished.  When touching cotton vs Egyptian cotton item, a “regular” cotton item will not feel as soft to the touch, rather coarse and possibly grainy, while an Egyptian cotton item will be softer and more smooth.  If it is a luxury bedding item such as a sheet, the genuine Egyptian cotton high thread count sheet will be less light transparent than its non-Egyptian, cotton cousin.  Also, if the product is milled and finished in Italy, for instance, odds are better that one is receiving a quality luxury bedding product. 

Quality is truly the determining factor when it comes to cotton vs Egyptian cotton.  Considering the amount of time people spend in bed, roughly one third of their lives, luxury bedding will always be a wise investment.  Now, more than ever, a savvy shopper will want to do the homework when buying luxury bedding.  While cotton costs may or may not continue to increase, genuine luxury bedding quality can only be imitated, never duplicated.  Invest smartly and resist the temptation to settle for anything less than true luxury bedding material: Egyptian cotton. 

To read more about the current cotton market, click here:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/108668/20110203/cotton-egypt-commodities-sharon-johnson-first-capital-group.htm