Reaching out for nature: My cotton story

I started falling heads over heels with cotton trending when Jakel first opened its outlet in JB many years back. I started buying a few pieces of viscose, one at a time. By then, I cleared my wardrobe, chucking away all other Baju Kurungs made of materials other than cotton and silk. I kept only cotton and silk. Of course, cotton is difficult to handle. I mean, I don't look good wearing cotton. It crumples easily and you have to put in extra effort ironing. Being me, I didn't put in much effort though. I don't care if it crumples on my body but I do care that I feel comfortable in what I wear.

Lately, people are going crazy selling cotton over the internet or blogs. I am not quite sure of the origin but it could be from Vietnam, China, Bandung? Who knows? I bought a few from the internet, but in my personal opinion it is best if you can actually feel the material before buying. Most retailers don't actually know the differences between Swiss Cotton, or such and such. When asked, they would either describe how the material felt on the skin.

There are many different kinds of cotton sold in the market. But I don't have a clear picture of what each kind means. After wearing so much of cotton-wear, my preference go for cotton voile or kasa rubiah. When I was a child, my late mum used to buy kasa rubiah from Arab Street Singapore. Wearing a kasa rubiah kurung with kain batik jawa was a prestige for many Singaporean women. Mum would take so much care of her kasa rubiah, soaking it with diluted starch flour & water, and then she would spend ages ironing her kurung. Her kasa rubiah kurungs and batik jawa are still untouched in her room though she left us 6 years ago.

I only have a piece of voile which I bought from Arab Street Singapore and this is one good piece of material.

I love cladding myself with viscose, a very soft and comfy material. My wardrobe is filled with viscose of all colours and sorts.

Cotton Voile aka Kasa Rubia

The SB line is another range of cotton that I like.

Cotton SB Line

Cotton Viscose

This Italian Viscose feels soft. I have made this into a Baju Kurung but I havent got a chance to wear this yet. Well, there are plenty other cotton Kurungs which are awaiting to be worn.

Italian Viscose

Another version of Viscose

This is my first piece of lawn cotton. I don't know what lawn cotton is, but after googling I learned that it came from India. However, i doubt that this piece of cotton came from India. I like the material though. Soft to the skin. But, it's a little light in weight.

Lawn Cotton

I bought this piece of embroidered cotton from Bandung, but this is a slight costly version compared to the pink one I have here. Overall, I don't like wearing embroidered cotton. Quite warm for me.

Embroidered cotton

This red piece came all the way from Bandung. I was informed that it's a rare viscose, unlike the ones I bought from Jakel. The material is quite heavy, but not too bad. Not too warm for me.

Cotton Viscose

Another embroidered cotton that I bought from the internet. This is a cheap version compared to the lilac one. Why cheap? The thread gave away easily. That's why i think it's a cheaper version.

Embroidered cotton

Another piece of SB line. This is more expensive than the brown one but, my husband didn't like it. He claimed that it's too warm for him. When I bought this material, it cost me RM25 a metre, and I had to buy 15 metres in total for my hubby & my boys. Like me, hubby only wears the traditional outfits made of cotton fabric.

SB Line Cotton

This piece of cotton was bought from Arab Street in Singapore. When I bought this, I was told that it's Japanese cotton. But I don't like the feel of wearing Japanese Cotton.

Japanese Cotton

This one Swiss Cotton is silky like. Great feel on my body and I love this material.

Swiss Cotton

Cotton Viscose

Singapore Arab Street is a heaven for cotton fabric. There are loads of designs and types of cotton. Of course, the more expensive, the more comfort you get. In many years to come, I'll never get tired of wearing cotton...If you take a sneak peek in my wardrobe, you will be amazed that I only stock up cotton fabrics for my own pleasure.