Why Real Egyptian Cotton Is So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2024
- Sheets made with Egyptian cotton can cost over $900 - but not all cotton is created equal. Many products use the term “Egyptian cotton,” but experts say there isn’t enough Egyptian cotton grown to actually make all of the products that claim to use it. A lot of the Egyptian cotton you see online may be fake. The highest-quality Egyptian cotton is called “extra-long staple.” The fibers are longer, resulting in softer, more durable fabrics.
00:00 - Intro
00:39 - Growing Cotton In The Nile River Delta
01:36 - Picking Cotton By Hand
02:06 - Extra-Long Staple Cotton Vs. Upland
03:18 - Fake Egyptian Cotton Pulled From Stores
04:19 - Processing Cotton
05:04 - Winding And Spinning Cotton Strands
06:12 - Weaving Cotton
06:55 - Creating Products From Egyptian Cotton
07:44 - The Price Of Egyptian Cotton
08:50 - The Future Of The Cotton Industry
09:53 - How To Buy Real Egyptian Cotton
10:23 - Credits
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Real Egyptian Cotton Sheets Can Cost $900 But The Internet Is Filled With Fakes | Business Insider
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There should be a website to verify what brands are carrying real Egyptian cotton that has been approved by the Cotton Egypt Association
You ain't wrong
He is in grammar.
Smart idea! Then you can have a QR code on the package which links to that site of authority to verify. BRILLIANT! Somone give this man a bonus!
then Egypt needs to build it,because no other countries will care
Have you searched for such a site?
I was gifted a real set of Egyptian cotton sheets. They are far superior. I’ve had them for over ten years and they’re still perfect. If they ever get a rip I’ll repair them because they’re amazing. Now I cannot find them at all. I’d invest in another set if I could find them but I’ve never found a true Egyptian cotton set. That microfiber issue you mentioned is rampant in retailers everywhere. Trust me when I say if you saw them in the store somewhere you’d know by looking at the fabric that it was real. There’s no way to fake that fabric. I have much respect for the farmer and the manufacturers for making it.
You probably want to get Egyptian thread to mend your Egyptian sheets.
@@donnawoodford8145 that’s true but I have no idea how to find that either.
I am Egyptian and my family used to grow and sell Egyptian cotton , we know it by touch and experience ,there had been a lack of textile authentic Egyptian cotton production here for many reasons ,but soon in 2024 we will inaugrate the largest acotton textile factoryin the world .
@@donnawoodford8145 That is true
The downside of modern economy is that it overproduces crap!
I bought 800ct Egyptian cotton bed sets 25 years ago from Egypt. I could never afford them now. I have had to make repairs - heel rubbing on the bottom sheet has been the main problem. However, they feel like silk, soft and smooth. They make for a fabulous nights sleep. I have never found their equal.
I am so sick of everything either being a luxury good or a cheap knockoff. Where the hell has the middle ground gone?
Normal cotton is the middle ground in this case. Normal cotton is good. Not as good as Egyptian cotton but still a good product.
@@WinterbIuethere is no "normal cotton". It's those "upland cotton" u meant. 😅
I sleep very well on $50 and $75 sheets.
It's gone where most of middle class ppl did 🙄
stop being such a cheapskate
I am a 'Housekeeper' with 30yrs under my belt, and I know by touch, the feel of real Egyptian cotton. It's beautiful.
Nice! I worked in a textile factory for many years. Know that feel as well
I am the manager and the one that make the real Egyptian cotton, and I gotta say it feel amaizing to touch trust me
All in your head.
Haha, no its not in the head. Egyptian cotton is smooth like synthetic fibres, but what synthetic fibres cant do it absorb moisture like cotton does. Thats why egyptian cotton feels both smooth and comfortable at the same time.
I'll never be able to afford that stuff. But it's cool that you have and cool you know the difference. You must be an awesome person.
the final customer is paying a lot of money but the people who work in the factories and in the fields earns very little
And ? Is someone holding a gun to they head and making them do it ?
Some people don't have the empathy to know what you're talking about.
i mean thats applied in many businesses tho, a software engineer can write something that get a company billions of dollar and they get paid only a small percentage of that and the owner of the company checks into the company once a week by video conference.
@@CyrusTheVirus187 Whooo! Boy, are you naive! My mother picked cotton and grapes in the San Joaquin Valley in early 50s to save enough money to get her 3 kids into the US. You need to buy a ticket for a while in Africa, Latin America, and no doubt North America to see this. Hold a gun to their head? Absolutely! It's called hunger, keep body together and a roof over their heads. And that's just the basics. Or, take a trip to the Nile Delta. Beautiful place .. but lots of poor people scarping away.
not literally but many times yes, they do work in these industries under duress. @@CyrusTheVirus187
Me at 2am with work that needs to be done: “hmmm, yes, it’s crucial I learn more about how crap my shirts are and where good cotton comes from”
Deceptive marketing should be heavily penalized for fraud.
Given that cotton is one of the most ecologically demanding crops in terms of fertility and water, its no joke that it isnt cheap.
Bamboo or hemp is better, and less ecological impact.
Like with Angus beef. Real Angus cattle production is a small percentage of the beef industry, but majority of the beef in stores are labeled as "Angus" and priced higher.
I bought an Egyptian cotton T-shirt in Egypt. The yarn is very fine and the fabric is soft as silk. Nothing like my other cotton T-shirts.
Not sure who the commentator is but her voice is so soft and soothing. My favorite to listen to on Business Insider!
Her Name is Qayyah Moynihan.
Thank you kindly ❤
@@q_ayyahNever expected you to read this comment or reply to it.
May Allah always be with you and you have a successful career ahead..
@@q_ayyah You are more than welcome. I'm beyond tickled that you responded to my comment. I've been a fan of yours for a while, just didn't know your name. Hope you have a blessed day.
Her voice is made of Egyptian cotton, the real deal not the 25$ vocals 😂
here in Egypt i sleep on a whole mattress filed with cotton its way better than the compressed stuff
I have been living outside of Egypt for 10 years now, I haven't had better sleep than when I was in Egypt, the mattresses were filled with cotton and the pillows too (especially those long pillows, I can't find them anywhere). they were not even that expensive, I'm actually considering shipping these thing to where I would be living when I get married, these products were on another level. الحمد لله على كل حال
Cotton is also being hybridized to use less water, less pesticides, etc - while still retaining, if not improving, it's good qualities.
It is called SubPima Cotton. Original Pima Cotton Originates from Peru and is a high end quality cotton like egyptian.
As an Egyptian, I’ve always been proud of this history and craftsmanship. Sadly, I wish we market this product better also offer it in our airports so people can buy them easily there.
If you've slept on egyptian cotton sheets they are so soft. Like sleeping on the clouds
Yes, indeed! I have some new bedding being shipped as I write this, including REAL Egyptian cotton sheets and I cannot wait! 😊
@@kellyshomemadekitchen Where did you purchase the real ones?
they just said 90% of it is fake, i dont like your chances lol
@@FR4NKY666 now 90% is fake. It wasn't fake when I was on them in the 90's
😅😅😅😅😊
My understanding is that Egyptian Cotton refers to the density of the cotton fibres. Its interesting to learn that it acutally a variety. Most retailers call it Egyptian Cotton due to high firbre density. Egypt has to do a global educational campaign to warn manufacturers and retailers just like the Champagne and Balsamic Vinegar countries/ regions do
Surely Egyptian cotton means cotton from Egypt??? A variety from Egypt grown in Egypt? You wouldn't buy English cotton and expect it to have come from France!
@@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts There are many countries where all toothpastes are called Colgate
I had ordered "hotel quality" cotton sheets from some company online. I do not remember the country but I felt it was India but it may not have been. I think they were also Egyptian cotton. They didn't seem that high in thread count of what ad said, but they are very very soft. They remind me of old hospital sheets. Not the sheets they have used in last 35-40 years. The issue is I got two flat sheets. But some cultures and businesses and hospitals did not use fitted sheets. I was able to get corners sewn in one sheet. Still, they are very soft. I don't use them often so they do not wear out as they are special to me.
maybe some Indian premium cotton
I guess I'll never sleep on the best sheets ever and I'm okay with that 🤷🏽♂️
I've run across it in some hotels. It's nice. But I don't think I'd be willing to pay $600-$800 to get it for my home. I've got sheets I paid about $80 for which feel nearly as nice. (Bear in mind that bedding wears out with use, so this isn't a one-time expense. You're going to need to pay it again every few years.)
Thank you for great research and reporting. I have noticed a lot of fabrics being misrepresented. Linen, cotton, flax, wool, and more, are promoted in item descriptions. Sometimes, the word “blend” is added in an attempt at “integrity”. The actual label will indicate a minimal amount of the natural fiber. A lot don’t list the percentages in the “blend”. Buying on line requires the consumer to be diligent, and be willing to say “no”, but financial constraints are causing an increase in petroleum based fabrics being purchased. Throw MLM’s into the mix, and conditions are ripe for exploitation of buyers
It feels great to listen to my own language being broadcasted to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe
Fills me with pride
English?
@@mushin111 Egyptian dialect arabic
good quality cotton, even from common everyday cotton, is very nice, but the one time i felt a shirt made from actual egyptian cotton made me wish i was able to afford it, and that was almost 2 decades ago
Very informative and interesting (as usual!) Thank you.
The final fabric is so thin it's like looking at paper, The threads are almost like silk. Make sure it's label Giza or look for sea island which is the same species.
thanks for the tip!
Crap. I bought some Egyptian cotton towels and I’m pleased with them, but I can imagine they’re nothing compared to the real thing.
You can totally tell the difference if you feel them. Real egyptian cotton is harder wearing but also fine enough to be soft. Most soften the cotton using viscose or chemicals that weaken the fabric.
Very informative piece
It was a great video. Thanks for sharing
@@DM-OfficialBusinessInsider Ok, I am listening.
What I learned today - "Cotton is technically a fruit ! Wow ! "
Have you tried Cotton Pima? The fiber is longer and more strong. But supply is more scarce.
Hopefully the water problem will be solved as places like the Sahara are transformed back into forests an technology allows more moisture to be pulled from the air (giant greenhouses could be an option) and also i have had a real Egyptian cotton sheets and clothing few times in my life an it totally feels different to touch an also how it breathes if that makes sense.
I still don't understand why there isn't more forced standards/checks considering so many other things go through checks before they are sold
"Transformed back into forests" Egypt hasn't had large forest's for some time, when it was wetter it was more of a reed marsh/swamp along the Nile not a forest or woodland 😂
Pakistan is facing a similar issue, where Himalayan Pink Salt from Pakistan is sold by Indian companies as an Indian product, yet the salt is only available in Pakistan. More needs to be done to protect the identity of the source of raw materials. In the UK atleast, the salt is now being advertised as a product of Pakistan, but Indian companies continuing to sell this salt as theirs in the US and the far east.
Cotton any form is one of the best garment for body, sure some other fibers softer the better makes it even more comfort provider to body especially for convalescence or sensitive skins
Nothing beats Egyptian Cotton its supreme
Here's a clue: If it's a corporate chain store, they're overpriced fakes that are FULLY INTENTIONALLY sold at inflated prices, until there's enough profit to suddenly pretend to be concerned with legitimacy. It's a business model, an advertising game, just pin the blame on someone else, knowing they won't come forward either.
I lived in Egypt for a year in mid-90s. A friend home-side wanted an 'Egyptian cotton' tablecloth. I bought one in a nice store in Cairo. (NOT local, tourist shops) Always wondered if I was 'took'. Probably. Also, wary of 'Portuguese linen'. Probably also many scams. Bought 'Portuguese linen' at Costco, knowing pretty well that it was not.
Best way to judge cotton is in summer heat wearing, cotton remains cool that is why winter wear can have synthetics mix, but summer wear in sun can tell you whether what you are wearing is near pure cotton or not
There is no solution. Greed prevents giant retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target from wanting to restrict counterfeits. The supply is so low that it would be easy to sift out counterfeits algorithmically from products advertising "Egyptian cotton." The fact is, they don't want to and work hard to keep that burden on consumers.
I remember getting "100% Egyptian cotton" beach towels from costco or Sams club when I was a kid & while I now am sus, it is a very soft and well made towel years later... I will need to investigate further :)
I think the channel should add the Arabic subtitles to the video.
In indiaalso multiple sites selling fake giza cotton
Dear friend, its a worldwide problem.
@@yerrakrishnarao8041 read it well it say also
You can never trust a label or a retailer on where is been made or produced, that’s the same with honey, most honey contains sugar or mixed with other honey from more then one country. So never trust a label or how it’s been made….
Buy it from the farmer if possible..
@@novampires223Unfortunately, I have had diluted honey sold to me by the beekeeper as well so even this may not be a good solution these days.
Same with a slew of other products. Olive oil is a notorious product that has been adulterated for centuries. Cashmere has similar issues.
Gossypium barbadense -a perennial cotton crop- was domesticated in the neo-tropics (Peru).
My Mummy likes Egyptian Cotton.
Any cotton specalists in here who can tell me what the difference between sea island cotton and egyptian cotton?
Real Egyptian cotton on wallmart? Ha ha
Is Egyptian cotton better or equal to the long staple Pima cotton grown in the USA?
Pima cotton is a variety of cotton developed with the aid of the US government specifically to replicate the properties of Egyptian cotton. I imagine they're similar, since that's what they were going for.
@@Noah-ws8hoThanks. My takeaway is to buy Pima cotton so I'll get similar quality to Egyptian but at a lower price.
Thank you
for anyone wanting to buy bed sheets made of the prestigious Giza 45 or 92 cotton, expect to pay a couple thousand dollars or more.
Walmart only cose they got caught, why do people shop there
On holiday in Egypt. I desperately tried to buy a pair of sheets in good cotton. The ones were offered with a cheapest possible polyester ones which I would not fit ever have bought and the vendor swearing blind. They were cotton I had shown thousands of sheets in my lifetime, and I knew a polyester one when I saw itthey are cheats
To buy authentic cotton here you need to go outside the 'touristic' places , El-Mahlla المحله like products are still the best but need a lot of local experience to hunt it even for Egyptians themselves and they are not cheap but available .
We go to certain palces in Egypt to buy it in bundles .
I like Walmart's policy on fakes😊
I now wanna go to Egypt and spend my savings on something made out of authentic Egyptian cotton
Good dear friend, atleast you can get genuine one, rather than depending on brands.
Trust me you won't have to pay 600$ for a sheet, it's cheaper than that here in Egypt for sure
they use their hands for toilet paper
You're soo easily manipulated and brainwashed
Wrong country.
My great grand father was in cotton business till the 50's , had hundreds hectares of cotton fields, there is something which people outside Egypt don't know ..the Word EGYPTIAN COTTON refers to a certain type which was Giza 45 & 70 ELS no cotton on earth can match this in quality, softness and durability..Egypt no longer plant these type the current replacement is Giza 92,95 and 96 which are long staples but inferior quality comapre to Giza 45 & 70 .. there are cultivated varities like medium staple, short staple and Pima ( mix type between Amercian and Egyptian cotton) .. if a company in Italy uses PIMA cotton they can write Egyptian cotton and put 500$ price tag on a shirt legally ...but if you are looking for the true Egyptian Cotton , good luck you are looking for a diansour.
I dream of Egyptian Cotton.
I dream IN egyptian cotton.
Aaaaah, Milo is driving up the prices. I have heard he has a whole storage of those things. Could not sell them in the mess halls by covering it up with chocolate
best cotton in the world
Given its unfortunate past, it is surprising cotton has not been cancelled in the current year and replaced with sustainable synthetics made chemically from petroleum products.
So fluffy they come home looking like sheep covered in cotton fluff
they tried to grow the seeds from Egypt in so many different ways and places it's never grow the same way in Egypt
does anyone know why 😊
maybe it the fact that egypt is the sunniest and driest country in the world.
Nah it's because they are handpicked, Not for the climate.
My city was one of the cities that produced Egyptian cotton, but unfortunately because of the government’s lack of interest in this crop, people stopped growing it. The beautiful white color disappeared from the fields😔
Why is there a need for the Egyptian government to show interest in the crop in order for you to grow it?
It looks like a VERY profitable business regardless of what your government priorities are.
Can't you sell it without the government expression of interest?
Egyptian cotton is one thing and then have to note that thread count as well
greatly informative. My only comment is what is happening to all those workers breathing in the cotton dust day after day, to their lungs..
My family are several generation farmers of many things, including cotton. They tell people constantly that the organic cotton they believe they're getting is not and is sprayed with pesticides. Dishonest advertising is everywhere.
Egyptian towels 100% cotton same 👍🏻💯
In India, Arvind mills, Aditya Birla, Reliance these are in Top positions. I am from Hyderabad.
It’s so crazy to me that the United States allows false advertising in every sector. Food is so bad! A cow is considered grass fed beef if it’s eaten grass one time in its life even if it was grass pellets. Then they charge more for it and it’s allowed by the FDA. Same with this. Egyptian cotton products are sold for so much more money! I don’t care that you’re lying about your product unless you try and charge a premium price for an inferior product
doesn't affect me. I buy the cheapest everything so if its nice, I'm pleasantly surprised. :)
We bought 20 or some years ago ! Mean Egyptian cotton bedsheets. They were the best . I bought from Amazon this year they were fake …
What does it matter if it grows now in 6mo instead of 8? Isn't that a good thing?
Less yields, makes it more and more expensive since it cannot grow the full 8 months. A similar thing happens with coffee beans.
@@GorgyCL thanks they didnt make the yield part clear I thought it was the same amount. Perhaps the farmer will wake up and stop planting late. He never said why exactly he needed to do that and I just dont buy it.
@@AK88. If the ground moisture is wrong the air temperature is too cold/too hot, then you can't plant or the seeds won't grow. You have to wait for the conditions, and if they're happening late more often that hurts. US corn and soybean farmers have the same problem when winter runs late into the spring or it's an excessively wet spring. Not having the full growing season kills your yields.
@@LishB i understand but climate change is normal hes just unfortunate to be on the wrong side of the shift but over time it will shift back.
Buy “Supima” American grown long staple cotton.
Sad that we live in a world with so many fake products
Counterfeiting products is a huge force in the world. It seems to be any product that carries a premium.
100% Egyptian Cotton*
*A song strand of 100% Egyptian Cotton was used in this product.
????
🧐?🤨?🧐?🤨?😕
Product verification system is very necessary and some certifications of authenticity of origin… today papers are easily created to get past for sometime.
I KNEW IT! 400 FOR CHEFS JACKET ION 2004… 2015, 150 .. PROBABLY FAKE… DIDN’T ‘FEEL’ RIGHT EITHER DURING USE.. DIDNT BREATH RIGHT .
Sheets here are around 4 to 6usd minimum.
Everyone knows that it’s only real Egyptian cotton if it comes from the Egypt region of France.
I can swear that Xinjiang cotton is world's best.
i love that tons of people buy fake stuff and think it's real. liek they don't even know what they're buying LOL
saying that hand picking preserve the fiber ... then machine the hell out of it during processing :]
3:02 thats like saying you cant grow the plant for egyptian cotton just because youre not in egypt😂
the real question is: Is it X times more worth they money than the cost?
If you know how to look after it and have the money,then yes. If you're going to shove it in the machine with bleaching products and then tumble dry it then no. Air dry every time! The action of the sun is bleach and disinfectant enough. The wind blows out the worst of the creases and fluffy the fibres and they'll smell heavenly. Harsh washing products weaken the fibres you paid so much for. I inherited sheets from my great aunts when I first got married that definitely were NOT Egyptian, but still cotton. They lasted us another ten years.
I wanted to know what is real cost of these threads and sheets?
Since they are looking the same as any other cotton balls keeping them rare and inflating the price is a poor choice.
Give the seeds to other countries to increase the yield and lower the price.
Use recycled cotton, I do and it is better quality then freshly harvested cotton, I also use bamboo fibre witch is outstandingly better then cotton
Lol, no
Egyptian cotton is not from Egypt it is just a variety
It is: but it’s also found in Peru and South America. The main difference between this species of Cotten is that those grown in Egypt have a different length of fibre.
Members powers🌳🐻
Walmart products are crap.
It might be better, but not enough to justify the price. Its called marketing.
oooooooh, I want some of that cotton sliver! Hand spinner's wet dream!
Where can we find legitimate Egyptian Cotton? I doubt I've ever owned the real stuff.
Wasn't half of Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan destroyed by rerouting water to grow cotton??
It breathes like Egyptian cotton.
- Edna Mode
Guess what. we also sleep on mattress filled with Cotton. Mine is probably 40 years old. of course, every a few years the case of the mattress would be changed and redone. but the cotton is the same. it just get a good wash and shake then it will be filled in the mattress again.
القطن السوداني❤
God bless egypt!
Egypt is a poor country and many of it's people are not educated at all. But they have such a great soul and they are hard working people!
Although it is a third world country the people always smile in the streets and they are super nice!
It is poor because of mismanagement of the military and their control of the economy before they controlled Egypt
government in Egypt, which used to lend Great Britain. ITS paper currency equal more than gold.
Do they not have a PDO? (Haven't finished the video so my question could be answered)
Per the video, not a PDO, a certification, but manufacturers still lie.
I shop at JC Penny and thats fine.
We have plenty of these plants in the Philippines. We just burned them because it's not edible