Sourcing & Manufacturing
Independent Testing Laboratories
To support your product development process, Cotton Incorporated has compiled a list of potential independent testing laboratories.
Technical Guide
This technical guide on cotton for nonwovens covers agricultural production, cotton properties and preparation, and cotton morphology and chemistry.
Natural vs. Synthetic Fibers
Whether you work in agriculture, fashion or manufacturing, knowing cotton fiber is the right choice isn’t always enough. Get the science.
E-book: Classification & Tariff Engineering
Download the full e-book, Customs and International Trade Strategy: Classification & Tariff Engineering.
E-book: Free Trade Agreement Programs
Download the full e-book, Free Trade Agreement Programs.
Sourcing Cotton
Understand vital information about cotton, trade in cotton and production, and manufacturing practices that can affect cotton sourcing & traceability.
Cotton Fiber Development & Maturation
Cotton plant development occurs in specific stages of reproductive growth and cotton plant development must be optimized for ideal fiber production.
Cotton Fiber Harvesting & Ginning
The first step in cotton processing is harvesting, and, for the farmers, it’s an important and personal process.
Cotton Fiber Qualities & Evaluation
Learn about the combination of instrument evaluations and skilled cotton classer assessments used to determine cotton fiber properties.
Cotton Classification
The United States classes 100% of its cotton bales. Learn more about USDA cotton classification.
Engineered Fiber Selection® Software
Cotton buyers and sellers improve cotton logistics, evaluation, optimization, and profitability with the EFS® System Suite of software.
Denim Manufacturing History
Learn about the history of denim manufacturing.
Made in the USA: Knit Fabric Mills
Looking for your link in knit fabric? Here are a few options of knit cotton fabric mills in the USA.
Dyeing Basics
Learn about color, basic principles, fiber reactive dyes, direct dyes, vat dyes, sulfur dyes, and pigments.
Made in the USA: Woven Fabric Mills
Looking for your link in woven fabric? Here are a few options of woven cotton fabric mills in the USA.
Made in the USA: Yarn Spinners
Looking for your link in yarn spinning or dyeing? Here are a few options of cotton yarn spinners and dyers in the USA.
Made in the USA: Printers
Looking for your link in printing? Here are a few options for digital and conventional printers in the USA.
Dyeing Preparation
Learn about dyeing preparation, including scouring, bleaching, mercerizing, and rinsing/neutralizing.
Marketing Resources
Discover why cotton is the right choice for various nonwoven markets and products.
Sourcing Directories
Connect with suppliers of various types of cotton fiber, nonwoven materials, or converted nonwoven products.
Webinars
Watch the recordings of recent webinars on the hypoallergenic properties of cotton and the baby care market.
The Art of Printing: Overview
Get an overview of the art of printing.
Made in the USA: Dyers & Finishers
Looking for your link in dyeing and finishing? Here are a few options of commission dyers and finishers for cotton in the USA.
Advances in Sustainable Dyeing
Discover new ways to reduce water, energy, and chemicals during the dyeing process.
The Art of Sweater Manufacturing: Basics
Learn about the basics of sweater manufacturing, including its history, knitting fundamentals, and machinery.
How Fiber Quality Impacts Your End Product
In this webinar, we will walk you through key aspects of choosing the right cotton fiber for your end product.
The Basics of Yarn Manufacturing: The Beginnings of Yarn
Learn about the basics of yarn manufacturing including its history and fiber selection.
Denim Manufacturing: Yarn Processes
Learn about yarn numbering, yarn spinning systems, warping, dyeing, and slashing.
Denim Manufacturing: Weaving Processes
Learn about drawing-in and warp tying, yarn flow, and basic weaving motions.
The Basics of Yarn Manufacturing: Opening through Carding
Learn about opening, cleaning, batt formation, and carding.
The Basics of Yarn Manufacturing: Preparation
Learn about drawing, combing, and roving.
The Basics of Yarn Manufacturing: Spinning Process
Learn about ring spinning, rotor spinning, air-jet spinning, yarn numbering, yarn twist, and yarn plying.
Basic Woven Designs: Introduction to Woven Fabrics
Learn the basics of successful engineering of cotton woven fabrics: basic weaving terminology, basic constructions, and loom types.
Woven Basics
Discover why wovens are unique. Learn about warping, slashing, drawing-in, and tying-in.
Designing Wovens
Learn about designing wovens, including defining the product, technical design, and design implications.
Basic Weaves
Learn about “Plain Weaves”, “Twill Weaves”, and “Satin Weaves.”
The Art of Sweater Manufacturing: Design Developments
Learn about sweater design, including construction, color consideration, product target, and computer-aided design.
The Art of Sweater Manufacturing: Manufacturing
Learn about cut and sew, panel knitting, full fashion, and knit-to-wear garments.
The Art of Sweater Manufacturing: Dyeing & Finishing Processes
Learn about dyeing, finishing, and steaming/shaping garments.
The Art of Garment Manufacturing: History of Garment Manufacturing
Learn about the history of garment manufacturing.
The Art of Garment Manufacturing: Markers, Spreading, & Cutting
Learn about pattern engineering, marker making, and cutting methods.
The Art of Garment Manufacturing: Quality Control
Learn about fabric quality and systems and inspection.
The Art of Shrinkage Control: Shrinkage Testing
Learn about shrinkage testing.
The Art of Shrinkage Control: Knit Fabric Shrinkage
Learn about the fundamentals of knit fabric shrinkage including knitting parameters, dyeing and finishing parameters, and chemical finishing.
The Art of Shrinkage Control: Shrinkage Basics
Learn about the basics of shrinkage.
Stretch & Growth
The attribute of fabric stretch has associated properties that are as important as the stretch characteristic itself.
The Art of Garment Manufacturing: Garment Components
Learn about thread, closures, zippers, buttons, findings, trim, and shaping materials.
The Art of Garment Manufacturing: Garment Construction
Learn about seams and stitches, t-shirt construction, jean construction, and dress-shirt construction.
The Art of Sock Manufacturing: History of Sock Manufacturing
Learn about the history of sock manufacturing.
The Art of Printing: Fundamentals
Learn about Printing Fundamentals, from basics to afterwashing.
The Art of Printing: Printing
Learn about everything from flat-bed screen printing to digital inkjet printing.
The Art of Quality Testing: Care & Appearance
Learn about quality testing: appearance, colorfastness, lightfastness, rating procedures, and dimensional stability.
The Art of Sock Manufacturing: Sock Knitting Basics
Learn about sock knitting basics, including machine components, the knitting cylinder, the knitting needle cycle, and machine types.
The Art of Printing: Special Techniques
Learn about special printing techniques, including resist printing, discharge printing, and transfer printing.
Printing Technique Comparison
Explore the comparisons between rotary printing, cool transfer printing, and digital printing.
The Art of Quality Testing: Durability
Learn about quality testing: strength, abrasion resistance, and pilling.
Knit Basics
Learn about the basics of knit.
The Art of Quality Testing: Product Sampling & Conditioning
Learn about quality testing: product sampling and conditioning.
The Art of Quality Testing: Construction
Learn about quality testing: fiber, yarn, and fabric.
Denim Manufacturing Basics
Learn about the process flow for denim manufacturing, typical denim construction, weaves, and weights, and non-conventional denim fabrics.
Designing Knits
Learn about designing knits, including defining the product, technical design, and fabric construction.
The Art of Sock Manufacturing: Sock Components
Learn about sock components, including welt formation, heel pocket formation, cushioning, reinforcement, patterning, and yarn for socks.
Double Knits
Learn about double knits, including two sets of needles, rib gaiting, and interlock gaiting.
The Art of Sock Manufacturing: Stitch Formations
Learn about stitch counts and types of stitches.
Denim Garment Finishing: Garment Construction
Learn about spreading, cutting, and sewing denim garments.
The Art of Sock Manufacturing: Inspection & Packaging
Learn about inspection and packaging.
Single Knits
Learn about the knitting machine, needle action, and knit, tuck, and float stitches.
The Art of Sock Manufacturing: Testing
Learn about fit, stretch, abrasion resistance, pilling, strength, crocking, lightfastness, and colorfastness.
The Art of Finishing: Preparation
Learn about scouring, bleaching, mercerizing, and final steps in finishing.
The Art of Finishing: Mechanical Finishing
Learn about mechanical finishing, including drying, compaction, calendering, and sanding, napping, and shearing.
The Art of Sock Manufacturing: Dyeing & Finishing
Learn about rotary drum machines, paddle machines, extraction, continuous scour and bleach, dyeing, finishing, and boarding.
Made in the USA: Cut & Sew Manufacturers
Looking for your link in cut and sew manufacturing? Here are a few options of cut and sew manufacturers for cotton in the USA.
Denim Garment Finishing: Process Overview
Learn about the basic process and premium finish process of denim garment finishing.
Denim Garment Finishing: Finishing Machinery
Learn about denim garment finishing machinery, including rotary machines, extraction, tumble drying, and pressing.
Denim Garment Finishing History
Learn about the history of denim garment finishing.
The Art of Finishing: Chemical Finishing
Learn about softeners and builders, functional chemistry, and application systems.
Denim Garment Finishing: Wet Finishing
Learn about denim wet finishing, including desizing/washing, abrasive color loss, color discharge, and chemical finishing.
Denim Garment Finishing: Dry Finishing
Learn about denim dry finishing, including sanding, brushing, laser, whiskering, and special effects.
Sustainable Denim Processing
Brands and consumers are looking for more sustainable options without sacrificing the look and feel that consumers love about their favorite jeans.
Understanding & Overcoming Skewing
Learn to improve the performance of your quality goods as textile expert Don Bailey delves into key textile techniques.
Understanding & Overcoming Shrinkage
Controlling shrinkage of textile and apparel products impacts the design and production planning in manufacturing or sourcing products.
Understanding & Overcoming Pilling
One of the most common complaints concerning product aesthetics and performance is that of pilling.
Cationic Cotton
Cationic cotton can transform your dyeing routine into an environmentally responsible and efficient process.
Consumers Speak: Apparel Changes that Impact Satisfaction
Consumer reviews impact purchases. Learn how apparel performance issues and fabrication changes can impact shopper loyalty to brands and retailers.
Advanced Quality Assurance: Performance & Stains
Oil and stain resistance are desirable attributes of fabrics—in the garments we wear to protect us, well, against ourselves!
Advanced Quality Assurance: Performance & Water
Learn about the absorption of liquid and its movement in relation to fabric.
Advanced Quality Assurance: Performance, Stretch, & Growth
The attribute of fabric stretch has associated properties that are as important as the stretch characteristic itself.
Basic Functions of the Weaving Loom
Learn about basic functions of the weaving loom, including shedding, filling insertion, beat-up, warp control.
Advanced Quality Assurance: Flammability
Learn about the three flammability standards pertinent to apparel and children’s sleepwear.
Advanced Quality Assurance: Comfort
Learn the fundamental aspects of fabric comfort, from air permeability to drying.