We usually hear about cotton and flannel fabric in the textile industry, but what is there any difference between them? Let’s find out about the two essential materials present these days in the market—cotton flannel suppliers USA supply flannel and cotton in huge quantities. Cotton is a fiber that is in use from the cotton plant. However, flannel is a fabric that is composed of cotton, wool, or synthetic fiber. Thus, cotton and flannel’s main dissimilarity is that cotton is a fiber while flannel is a fabric.
What is Cotton?
Cotton is a soft white fibrous composed of textile fiber and present in the cotton plant seeds and thread for sewing. The cotton fiber helps make a soft, breathable textile by spinning them into yarn or thread. They are helpful in the textile industry for making bed sheets, towels, pillowcases, robes, underwear, t-shirts, shirts, dresses, socks, diapers, etc. Fabrics like denim, corduroy, terry cloth, seersucker, etc., are also composed using cotton.
Moreover, cotton is sometimes blended with other fabrics like they are usually blended with linen and mixed with flannel to get the maximum benefits out of both materials, including wrinkle resistance and lightweight.
What is Flannel?
Flannel is a soft woven fabric naturally composed of wool or cotton. It is also composed of synthetic fiber and is often used to make blankets, bedsheets, sleepwear, and tartan clothing.
Many flannel fabrics have plaids, though many people accept that flannel comes in plaids patterns. Flannel may come in different colors, not only in plaid patterns and colors shirts. Clothes made from flannel fabric helps to retain the wearer warm in cold environments. So, people wear them during winter, often as pajamas.
Types of Flannel
- Ceylon flannel is composed using a mixture of cotton and wool.
- Vegetable flannel is composed using fibers from Scots pine rather than wool.
- Cotton flannel is a cotton fabric drowsed on one side or two sides.
- Baby flannel is a light fabric beneficial for children’s wear.
Difference Between Cotton and Flannel
1. Definition:
Cotton is the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the family of Malvaceae and is a soft staple fiber. However, flannel is typically made of wool or cotton and is a soft woven fabric.
2. Uses:
Cotton is helpful to make shirts, dresses, t-shirts, bed sheets, pants, diapers, socks, underwear, etc. On the other hand, flannel is beneficial for making sleepwear, blankets, bedsheets, tartan clothing, etc.
3. History:
The use of cotton is there since 5000BC. But flannel is used dates back to the 17th century.
4. Connection:
Cotton helps make many fabrics comprising denim, corduroy, terry cloth, and flannel. However, flannel is ready using cotton, wool, or synthetic fiber.
5. Heat vs. Cold:
Clothes made of cotton fabrics are primarily worn in warm areas because they are lightweight. But, cotton flannel suppliers USA suggest that flannel is more appropriate for cold climates.
6. Patterns:
Cotton is highly versatile comes in numerous designs, patterns, and prints, and on the other hand, the flannel comes in plaid patterns. Still, nowadays, people are using more patterns on flannel fabrics.
