The term "Egyptian cotton" on a sheet set package conjures up the image of the very finest and most luxurious cotton sheets in the mind of many consumers.

1. What is Egyptian Cotton?
© 2012 - 2014 Manchesterhouse.com.au. All Rights Reserved. 405A Princes Hwy, Noble Park Melbourne Victoria 3174

2. The term "Egyptian cotton" on a sheet set package
conjures up the image of the very finest and most
luxurious cotton sheets in the mind of many
consumers. However, it is not the whole truth. As
the term implies, "Egyptian cotton" is used to
describe all varieties of cotton grown in the fertile
Nile River valley of Egypt. Technically speaking,
there are three main varieties of Egyptian cotton,
which are categorized by the length of the cotton
fibre (known as “staple”): (1) Extra-Long Staple (ELS,
with a staple of at least 1 3/8 inches (= 3.49cm) or
longer), (2) Long-Staple (LS), and (3) regular cotton.
What is Egyptian Cotton?
© 2012 - 2014 Manchesterhouse.com.au. All Rights Reserved. 405A Princes Hwy, Noble Park Melbourne Victoria 3174

3. Since the staple length, which is the length of the cotton
fibre, determines the ultimate feel and quality of the final
product, therefore it is important to recognize that not all
Egyptian cotton sheets are created equal, and only sheets
made of Extra-Long Staple cotton are universally
considered to be the best.
Also, it is worth noting that varieties of Extra-Long Staple
(ELS) cotton include American Pima, Egyptian Giza, Indian
Suvin, Chinese Xinjiang, Sudanese Barakat, and Russian
Tonkovoloknistyi.
What is Egyptian Cotton?
© 2012 - 2014 Manchesterhouse.com.au. All Rights Reserved. 405A Princes Hwy, Noble Park Melbourne Victoria 3174

4. What makes Extra-Long Staple (ELS) Egyptian cotton sheets so high-
quality?
In terms of the strength, fineness and uniformity of the cotton fibre,
the Extra-Long Staple cotton is undoubtedly superior to other varieties
of cotton that have much shorter fibres. The ELS fibres allow the
cotton to be spun into much finer, softer, and stronger yarns. And
fabric woven with ELS cotton is more breathable, more luxurious and
becomes softer over time with use, thus providing greater comfort. It
also produces less lint and will not pill. This high-quality ELS fibre is
long and narrower than other cotton fibres, allowing thread counts of
up to 1,000 per square inch. This provides a lighter weight and
extremely strong, long-lasting durability. Owing to all these reasons,
ELS Egyptian cotton is used by luxury and upmarket brands worldwide.
What is Egyptian Cotton?
© 2012 - 2014 Manchesterhouse.com.au. All Rights Reserved. 405A Princes Hwy, Noble Park Melbourne Victoria 3174

5. How do we choose real Egyptian cotton sheets made of
Extra-Long Staple Cotton?
Choosing genuine ELS Egyptian cotton sheets is no easy task at
all in any sense. This is because textile manufacturers do not
usually itemise cotton source content or specify the types of
cotton staple used. More often than not, many bed linen
products labelled "Egyptian cotton" are not made with 100%
ELS cotton yarns, but they may contain a mix of some regular
Egyptian cotton and a small percentage of ELS. Therefore, it is
important to be somewhat wary when “Egyptian cotton” is
listed as the fibre content.
What is Egyptian Cotton?
© 2012 - 2014 Manchesterhouse.com.au. All Rights Reserved. 405A Princes Hwy, Noble Park Melbourne Victoria 3174

6. When choosing a set of quality Egyptian cotton
sheets, it is best to ask an honest retailer to
recommend some reputable premier brands
that have been around in the market for many
years as they have a proven track record of
integrity and quality consistency. As a reminder,
you may want to have second thoughts about
buying a set of high tread count cotton sheets if
the price is too good to be true. Remember, you
get what you pay for.
What is Egyptian Cotton?
© 2012 - 2014 Manchesterhouse.com.au. All Rights Reserved. 405A Princes Hwy, Noble Park Melbourne Victoria 3174