Key Difference – Cotton vs Wool
Cotton and wool are two of the most widely used natural products used for our clothing. The key difference between cotton and wool is that cotton is light and soft whereas wool is thicker and able to retain heat. While both provide comfort to us, wool is used in winters whereas cotton is used more during summers though there are many who use it all round the year. There are many differences between these two natural fabrics that will be highlighted in this article.
What is Cotton?
Cotton fiber is derived from the fluffy part around the seeds of the cotton plant which help to carry the seeds to longer distances through the wind. Mankind has been using this natural fiber for clothing since ancient civilizations. In all countries of the world, cotton is harvested to obtain natural fibers that are used to make fabrics of all kinds. Cotton combing is done to remove the seeds from the fiber and combed cotton is ready for spinning. We get threads of cotton after spinning that can be used both for knitting as well as weaving fabrics.
What is Wool?
Wool comes from the hair or coat of sheep. The fleece of sheep has wonderful properties and can easily be converted into woolen threads that are used for the production of woolen apparels such as sweaters, jackets, and even trousers, socks and hats to provide warmth to human beings during the winter. Wool can be both knitted as well as woven. Wool not only provides warmth, it has excellent moisture pulling property which is why people prefer it over other fabrics. It quickly pulls away any sweat that is produced and keeps a man dry. Wool can be dyed in attractive colors to make wonderful designs and patterns.
A shearer takes away the entire fleece from a sheep (which however re-grows quickly). It is then washed to remove impurities. Many types of wools are combined to get a perfect blend that is required for the dyeing process. Wool has an elasticity that allows it to be drawn into long fibers that are spun to make them fit for knitting. It is then chemically shrunk so that the fabric does not shrink when washed. One fact that many do not know is that even goat hair is used to manufacture woolen clothing and goat hair is called mohair while sheep hair is called wool.
What is the difference between Cotton and Wool?
Cotton vs Wool |
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| Cotton is obtained from cotton plant | Wool is obtained from sheep. |
| Season | |
| Clothes made of cotton fabric are worn in the summer. | Clothes made from wool are used in the winter as they provide warmth. |
| Cleaning | |
| Cotton garments can be easily washed. | Woolen garments are dry-cleaned. |
Image Courtesy:
“Paxta11” By S Aziz123 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
“Royal Winter Fair Wool 2” By Rob – Sheeps Wool (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia