Facts are only amazing when you have something to relate them to.  For instance, if I say something weighs two tons, you get some kind of idea what I'm talking about.  But when I say it weighs the same as the average SUV... suddenly you can really see it.

To look at another example, just about everyone has either seen a bale of cotton in a picture, or driven through cotton-growing areas at harvest time and seen acres of them lined up and ready to go for further processing.  But check out our factoid (see box at right) and you'll never look at those bales the same way again.

Cotton is a beautiful fiber.  Even its blossom is lovely (photo at right is an Upland Cotton blossom.) Because it's a natural fiber, cotton breathes right along with you, wicking away moisture and keeping you cool in summer.  It's the fabric of choice when the weather begins to warm up -- but how much do you know about it? 

And what's hot in summer fashions this year for men and women? What styles can you expect to see around the club, at the beach, or on vacation?  Read on and find out.

Cotton looks best when it has been professionally pressed, so round up your favorites and let us give you that finished edge.  We hope to see you soon!

Jim Nixon,
The Cleaners

Cotton goes a long, long way!

Factoid:  A bale of cotton is 55 inches tall, 21 inches thick and 28 inches wide.  It weighs 500 pounds.  Each bale of cotton can make:

• 800 Men's dress and business shirts. OR
• 325 pairs of Men's or Boy's jeans.  OR
• 850 Ladies' blouses and shirts.  OR
• 350 Ladies' knit and woven dresses.  OR
• 3000 diapers.  OR
• 1200 pillowcases.

Cotton On to Savings!

In the early days, cotton wrinkled like mad and had to be ironed incessantly.  Over the years, however, different fibers have been blended with cotton to keep it from wrinkling, and even in 100% cotton there is usually a fiber-coating product added during processing to keep wrinkles under control.  We can make your cottons look practically brand new with professional cleaning or laundry. Have two cotton items cleaned or laundered at regular price, and we'll do an additional one of equal or lesser value at no charge.  (Include the first page of this e-mail with your order.  Offer expires June 7, 2003.  Cannot be combined with other offers.)

Seven Thousand Years of Cotton

Not only is cotton versatile and comfortable, it's a hardy textile that archaeologists have found in caves and other dig sites dating back 7,000 years -- the oldest discovery was in Mexico.  American Indians were growing and harvesting cotton when Coronado's expedition arrived in 1540-42, and the Spanish themselves tried their hand at cotton growing in Florida as early as 1556.

Despite such interest in and use of cotton, it wasn't until the last 250 years that its production, harvesting and processing began to become more efficient, rather than intensive hand labor.  When America was just a collection of British colonies, it was illegal to import or manufacture clothing or cloth from cotton, because the English wool industry would suffer from the competition.  As with many things, the law didn't stop the American colonists from experimenting and growing cotton, and making technological advances -- especially after the Revolutionary War (1776).

Though cotton used to be picked by hand, at a rate of about 450 pounds a day by an experienced worker, even the first one-row mechanical picker raised the bar to 8000 pounds of seed and cotton in a day.  Modern harvesters can pick 6-8 rows simultaneously, and reap up to 190,000 pounds a day. 

Raw cotton is sent through an extensive processing procedure, again mechanized for efficiency.  In fact, a modern mill can produce enough cotton thread in just a month's time to go to the moon and back 235 times -- or wrap the earth 2300 times!   Cotton seeds are also pressed to extract their oil, which is used in such varied products as snack foods, mayonnaise, soap, explosives, insecticides, and margarine, among others.  With her Cotton Belt of states from Virginia all the way to California (and all points south of that line) the US has an abundance of this fabulous resource.

What's Hot for Cool Clothing this Summer?

Cotton is popular because it's comfortable.  It absorbs many times the weight of its own fibers in moisture, and wicks them away from your body to keep you cool and dry.  It also handles dyes well, so it's a natural platform for bright, summer colors.  Summer wouldn't be complete without a wardrobe of cotton shirts, pants, shorts, dresses and other items.

What's Hot for Men?

Though men's fashions don't change as dramatically as women's do, there is some variety in summer clothing.  As manufacturers try to give you more choices, they get more creative in how the clothes are put together, too.

A prime example of this is the versatile "zip off" pants.  Right now, pants with cargo pockets are IN -- long shorts, regular length slacks, and even "capri" lengths for men (though for men they're more macho when called "mid-calf".)  How do you choose which to buy on a limited budget?  With "zip offs" you get all three in one garment.  Cleverly hidden zippers at each level of the pant legs enable you to remove the part of the leg you don't want to wear that day -- remove at the lower level for mid-calf casual; unzip at the higher level for Bermuda-length shorts!

Cotton twill shorts and chinos are also IN, as are poplin slacks that look great for a workday or a weekend backyard gathering.  Denim shirts, especially with sleeves rolled to mid forearm, are more than acceptable, even with a tie.  Short sleeved cotton print shirts (plaids, subdued patterns) also go the distance for men this summer.

What's Hot for Women this Summer?

Comfy is in, with a touch of romance to set it off.  Capri pants -- in floral prints, stripes or seersucker -- are everywhere.  And, since you're showing a bit of ankle, flashy sandals or thongs (puffy, colorful or glitzy) are IN.

The beauty is in the details this summer. While capri pants and an oversized comfortable gauze shirt are IN, even more IN is cinching it lightly with a macrame belt -- especially one accented with beads or shell trim.  While chambray shirts are always part of summer, this year they have embroidery or lacy insets.  And lace-ups are everywhere!  Shirt fronts, front flies on slacks and shorts, or even up the back of a cotton shirt.

Romance is evident with cotton eyelet blouses in hot demand, as well as peasant blouses, and asymmetrical hems on flouncy dresses.  Lots of embroidery or cut-outs (see skirt in first grouping above) also give a touch of elegance to what could otherwise be a rather plain garment.

Get the Most from the 'Net!

• ITEMS PICTURED HERE are from various sites.  Move your mouse over the photo grouping and you can click it to go to the site where the garment was featured.
• Learn more about Cotton and its growth and processing.
• What's the difference between Muslin and Organdy?  Between Dimity and Lawn?  Click to find out.
• Click here for a concise list of many kinds of cotton and how they are used in garments.

Please support  Relay For Life in your community.
Greeley ~ June 6-7 at Island Grove Regional Park
Loveland ~ June 6-7 at Thompson Valley High School 
Fort Collins ~ June 13-14 at Fort Collins High School