A comparative study on dyeing capability of conventional and organic cotton fabrics

Abstract

Cotton fiber, which is the most widely used natural fiber in the textile and paper industries, has a crucial environmental impact. Cultivation of conventional cotton consumes a lot of water and requires the usage of a higher amount of pesticides. Organic cotton is a more environmentally friendly alternative to its growing conditions. The characteristics of cotton change with the differences in growing conditions. In this study, the properties of yarns obtained from both conventionally and organically grown cotton were tested and analyzed. The properties of these yarns in the fabric structure were compared in terms of fabric performance. The produced fabrics were dyed in the cold-pad batch method with 5 different colors of reactive dyes, which are the most demanding colors in the ready-made garment industry. The physical properties and the fastness test results of the dyed organic and conventional cotton fabrics were investigated in detail to highlight the plant growing effects on the fabric behavior. Comparative color analysis and evaluation of the fabrics were made to discuss the performance of the fabrics. It is found that organically grown cotton is not only superior in quality but also has no negative eff ECT on fabric properties.