Brown Cotton

About Brown Cotton:

• Brown Cotton, is an indigenous variety of desi cotton that is recognised for it’s natural brown colour.
• The cultivation of several such species of naturally occurring short staple cotton has NOT been practiced for over a 150 years.
• It is now grown by very few farmers.

History:

• The arrival of industrial-scale spinning and weaving technology, vibrant chemical dyes, and a market that supported voluminous production and consumption of white BT cotton, killed the demand for coloured cotton.
• Through the years, naturally coloured cotton has appeared primarily as a last-ditch effort to meet a need.
• During World War II (1939–1945) for example, there was a shortage of dyes, so green and brown cotton were grown and used.
• Because the fibers had not been bred for length after the war, naturally coloured cotton fell out of favour again.

Significance:

• Naturally grown brown cottons are pest and drought-resistant.
• Born coloured, the fabric is non-allergic and has excellent UV sun protection properties.
• With naturally grown brown coloured cotton, the entire dyeing process is eliminated, dye treatments are limited, there is less usage of water, less wastewater, less consumption of chemicals, and hence less usage of energy, making it one of the most sustainably produced cotton fabrics.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding Brown Cotton:

1. Dye treatments are limited in these varieties

2. They are more pest and drought-resistant as compared to white cotton

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer