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SusanJ asked this question about Empire of Cotton: A Global History:
Can someone help me understand why cotton was such a big deal? I understand about supply/demand with respect to price - new technology and globalization and whatnot brought the price down, and allowed for a lot of production, but what makes the "demand" for cotton so great? Is it the fashion aspect? Certainly most folks I know have way more clothes than they'll ever wear, and keep buying more... But still...
Adam My answer, based on reading the book and also my own experience, is that cotton was (and still is) superior to alternative fibers for most uses. It's …moreMy answer, based on reading the book and also my own experience, is that cotton was (and still is) superior to alternative fibers for most uses. It's more comfortable, lighter, easier to wash and holds dye better than the alternatives. Maybe today we could make do with clothing made of synthetic fiber, but imagine if all your clothing had to be either wool or linen -- I guess you would be willing to pay quite a premium for cotton underwear, at least. The book describes how cotton was often used as a store of value (like gold in some ways) because it was prized by every culture around the world. It's easy to take cotton for granted today because it's so cheap and available, but it is more widely used today than ever, and I suppose if it became scarce (as it once was) it would become a valuable luxury item once again.(less)
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Empire of Cotton
by Sven Beckert
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