Cotton and wool are both naturally occurring fibres, they are also both widely used within the clothing industry for all types of garments.
When shopping for baby clothing it can be difficult to determine the material for clothing when it comes to your child, there are so many different materials, advantages and disadvantages.

What is the difference between the two materials? Cotton is grown as a plant initially, once it has been fully grown it is then picked and undergoes a manufacturing process that results in the finished product we all know.

Wool is a by-product of shearing sheep, which is beneficial for us and the sheep, because a sheep’s wool does not stop growing during it’s lifetime. Wool is known for its insulating properties and its heavy feel when worn.

Cotton is known for its soft feel and ability to keep the wearer cool and warm depending on the garment.

Which is better for the environment?

This is a no-brainer. Cotton is easily the better of the two fabrics when we are discussing the environmental impact caused through production.

Producing wool commercially involves taking care of up to thousands of sheep at a time. This produces vast amounts of greenhouses gasses, directly contributing to global warming.

Cotton can be grown naturally on commercial farms, which can then be picked by hand or harvested using farming equipment, resulting in a reduced production of greenhouse gas.

Which is better for your child?

Both fabrics are great for producing clothing intended for children, babies and adults, but we believe that Cotton is best, more specifically, Organic cotton.

Both fibres require treatment before they are used to produce clothing, wool is washed in alkaline baths to remove any impurities and Lanolin.

Cotton is also treated in many different ways, it can be treated with various pesticides and chemicals to produce fibres of a desired colour and quality ready for use in creating garments.

However, Cotton can also be grown using an organic method, resulting in a softer, more durable fibre that is hypoallergenic and perfect for protecting your babies delicate skin.

Organic cotton is the best naturally occurring fibre that we could find, which is why we only use organic cotton when hand crafting our cute baby booties.

For more information on the benefits of organic cotton, read our previous blog here.

You can also see our full range of high quality signature baby booties here.