Cotton is a soft fiber that grows in seed pods around the cotton plant. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Evidence shows cotton was used as early as 7,000 BC in the Old World. It was widely cultivated during the Indus Valley civilization between 2000-1000 BC. Cotton grows best in long, warm seasons with adequate rainfall or irrigation. The leading cotton producers today are China, India, the United States, Pakistan, and Brazil. Cotton is processed and spun into yarn, then woven into fabrics. It is used to make many textile products like denim, corduroy, bedsheets, and t-shirts.