Egyptian Cotton Weaves Explained

When buying Egyptian Cotton™ online or in store, you may notice that there is a choice of weaves. However, names like percale, sateen and jacquard weave can be a bit confusing to anyone who hasn’t done their research. To help you out, we’ve put together a few summaries of the most common types of Egyptian Cotton™ weave currently available. Remember, whichever weave you choose, you will still the incredible benefits of Egyptian Cotton™. That means unrivalled softness, impressive durability and a brilliant ability to hold an intense dye.

Percale Weave

Thought to be named after the Peruvian word for rag ‘pargalah’, this cotton weave certainly defies its name. Far from being a rag, this is a lightweight and breathable cotton frequently used in luxury hotels. It feels crisp and cool against the skin, making it the ideal bedsheet weave for anyone living in hotter climates or who struggles to sleep in summer months. It has a matte finish.

Percale weave cotton is one of the easiest styles to care for and like all Egyptian Cotton™, will actually feel softer the more you wash it. This is particularly noticeable with lighter coloured sheets.

The percale weave is created using a blanket or plain weave in which the individual cotton yarns are woven over and under each other. The tighter the weave is made, the smoother the overall finish will be. It also ensures a stronger and more long-lasting fabric. To qualify as percale, the cotton must be a minimum 180 thread count.

Sateen Weave

Unlike the matte percale weave, a sateen woven cotton has a distinctive lustrous sheen. Silky to the touch, it feels wonderfully soft against your skin. This effect is achieved by using a combed cotton yarn. By combing and cleaning the cotton, any damaged or particularly short fibres are removed. Only the longest and strongest fibres remain, and the weave style ensures that most are brought to the surface. To preserve the sheen and prevent pilling, we would recommend that you gently wash your sateen weave cotton.

Slightly heavier and less breathable than a percale weave cotton, sateen is ideal for use in milder climates or if you tend to get chilly at night.

Jacquard Weave

Arguably the most complex form of cotton weave to produce, a jacquard weave can be used to create wonderfully intricate designs that are physically woven into the fabric, not just printed on it. Often done in a repeating style, these patterns typically use multiple different colours of cotton. Floral and damask designs are particularly popular. The unusually thick texture of the jacquard weave means that the pattern appears almost three-dimensional.

Jacquard weave is most frequently used to create stunning soft furnishings, such as cushions, throws and rugs. Highly decorative towels also tend to use a jacquard weave to ensure that the design doesn’t fade from prolonged exposure to water.

Twill Weave

Twill style cotton is created using a highly distinctive diagonal weave with parallel ribbing. Particularly resistant to wrinkles, highly durable and reassuringly sturdy, it is ideal for use in clothing. The unique ribbing is an eye-catching design feature by itself. You may remember that David Beckham wore a gorgeous twill weave suit to the Royal Wedding 2018.

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