Difference Between Cotton and Jute Fibres

Fashion StudiesFashion Design

Jute is the second most popular natural cellulose fibre after cotton in terms of usage worldwide. Jute and cotton are produced at the same rates. Both fibres are biodegradable and water-absorbent. Both materials are breathable as well. Bangladesh is the top producer of jute, while India is the largest producer of cotton. Jute is made from the resilient fibres supporting the stalks of the jute plant, while cotton is the soft cushioning surrounding the cotton plant’s seeds. Since these fibres come from various plant parts, they serve very different purposes in nature. For example, cotton fibres serve as nature’s packing peanuts and are therefore very delicate, soft, and fluffy. Jute fibres are generally coarse and stiff because they must be tough enough to endure storms and wind. Burlap and heavy rope are made of jute, neither of which you want next to your skin! One may use hemp or linen to create a fabric made from sturdy plant stalk fibres that isn’t as coarse as jute. Despite being derived from different plants (hemp and flax, respectively), they are fairly pleasant since they have considerably finer fibres than jute.

What is Cotton?

Cotton is a type of material made from the cotton plant’s fibers. People make textiles out of the fluffy plant material that surrounds the seeds. It is harvested by manufacturers, who then sift out the seeds and other detritus before spinning it into yarn for knitting or weaving. A resilient, breathable, and soft fabric is cotton.

Compared to other natural fibres, its production costs are lower, and it may be used to make a variety of textiles. Because it absorbs water, it cleans up well in the washing machine. There are numerous varieties of cotton that are printed and dyed since it is simple to dye. However, it does deteriorate with time. Cotton fabric may be produced easily in a range of stiffnesses, thicknesses, and fabric types. Both cotton-woven fabrics and machine-knit fabrics have distinct qualities and functional advantages. Cotton is a fibre that is easy to maintain no matter how it is spun, woven, or knit. It can be machine washed and dried without causing structural damage. Cotton clothing may shrink in the first few washes, but it will mostly keep its size and form throughout its lifespan.

What is Jute?

It is one of the strongest natural fibers. Among all the fibres, it is also the least expensive. It is a bast fibre like hemp and flax. Bangladesh and India are tropical nations with good jute plant growth. Jute fibre is made from the jute plant’s bark. It is grown in a traditional manner under circumstances somewhat akin to organic farming. One can eat the young jute plant as a vegetable. It is used to create heavy ropes, curtains, paper, shoes, carpet backing, sacks, lounge chairs, and lunch bags, among other things. Additionally, it can be used with cotton to create high-end items like shirts, pants, coats, and other types of clothing. Jute is mostly grown in alluvial soil, which is present in the Ganges and Brahmaputra river delta regions. Jute is mostly grown in the Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. Jute is occasionally referred to as the “golden fibre.” It has a long, silky fibre that is soft, glossy, and smooth.

Differences Cotton and Jute Fibers

Jute is known as the “golden fiber,” while cotton is known as “the king of fibers.” In terms of wearable products, cotton is comfier than jute. Jute cannot drape as well as cotton. Cotton thrives well in warm climates with moderate amounts of precipitation. During the rainy season, jute grows. Cotton is more expensive than jute fiber. Jute has weak thermal conductivity and anti-static qualities compared to cotton’s strong thermal conductivity. Compared to cotton, jute is a better material to use to create technological textiles. White, creamy white, yellowish white, or grey are all possible colours for cotton fibre. Contrarily, jute fibre can be any of the following colours: white, off-white, yellow, brown, grey, or golden.

When cotton flowers first appear, they are a yellowish-white color. After a few days, they turn red, and eventually they turn into cotton balls. Contrarily, the jute plant grows to a length of about 3 metres, produces yellow blooms in a short period of time, and is then chopped down for further processing

The uses for cotton are numerous. To manufacture durable apparel, jeans, bags, home textiles, towels, and other items, it is first spun into light-weight yarns that are then woven or knitted into gorgeous, breathable fabrics. In contrast, jute is a glossy plant that is used to create stronger, coarser threads. The yarns are used to produce carpet backing, bags, mattresses, and other items.

The given table illustrates the major differences between Cotton and Jute

Cotton	Jute
Cotton requires more than 21°C of temperature.	Jute requires 30°C temperature.
Rainfall required near 50-100 cm	Rainfall required near about 150 cm.
Frost free days are must during picking days	Hot and humid climate is required.
Frost free days are must during picking days	Hot and humid climate is required.
Loamy and black soil is required	Well-drained fertile loamy soil is required.
Natural cellulosic staple fibre	Natural protein staple fibre
Light and soft	Thick and able to retain heat
Obtained from plant	Obtained from animal
Cotton is less expensive	Wool is more expensive
It has good resistance to heat, bleaching & detergent	It has less resistance to heat, bleaching & detergent
Mostly used during summer	Mostly used during winter
It has good dimensional stability	It has moderate dimensional stability
It doesn't have elastic properties	It has elastic properties

Conclusion

We can conclude that jute is superior to cotton in several ways, including high sustainability, low maintenance requirements, and quick degradation. Environmentally speaking, it is. Both of these fibres are natural, but jute takes less water than cotton to grow—it merely needs rain—while cotton requires a far greater amount. Jute is also farmed using organic, chemical-free, and pesticide-free practises. Conversely, cotton is not really cotton. In actuality, cotton is the fourth-largest consumer of agricultural chemicals. Jute is indeed more durable than cotton. The fluffy, delicate, and soft fibres of cotton Although they are easily stretched and torn, jute fibres maintain their shape when used for things like bags and offer resilience to tension, high loads, and friction