What if your cotton could pull more weight than just wear? With the right performance finishes, cotton fabrics, garments, and yarns can deliver even more value. These enhancements help consumers get more use out of their cotton products.
Each of these four innovative finishes can be applied to cotton, a fiber known for its comfort and sustainability. Together, they bring performance-level functionality to cotton, allowing it to compete in spaces traditionally dominated by synthetics while still preserving its natural benefits.
TransDRY® technology helps cotton dry quicker and wick moisture
Did you know that 57% of consumers prefer cotton-rich activewear, and that 60% seek out moisture management for their activewear?1 TransDRY® fabrics let customers enjoy the softness of cotton while staying drier longer.
This innovation blends absorbent cotton yarn with TransDRY® technology, creating a channeled fabric that:
- Picks up less moisture from the outset
- Spreads moisture across its surface with greater ease than regular cotton
- Wicks away moisture from the inside out
Make cotton more breathable with a STORM COTTON™ finish
STORM COTTON™ technology brings water repellency to cotton without sacrificing breathability or comfort, enabling brands to offer performance apparel with the familiar feel of cotton.
This innovative finish, which can be added to cotton garments and fabrics, is designed to repel moisture and keep wearers comfortable, cool, and dry.
The STORM COTTON™ finish can give improved performance over other durable water repellent treatments and be applied in fabric or garment form to knits and wovens, including denim.
Comfort in the rain and snow, along with the sustainable nature of cotton fiber? That’s a win for consumers and the planet.
A TOUGH COTTON™ application gives cotton strength, durability, and abrasion resistance
Available with and without resin, for garments, fabric, and yarn, a TOUGH COTTON™ application means a stronger garment that comes with fewer worries about fabric tears, whether for leggings worn on the playground, socks paired with favorite sneakers, or as a sweater providing warmth to a backcountry hike.
The addition of a TOUGH COTTON™ finish to cotton apparel means kids’ clothes last longer, something 77% of parents say is a priority to them2. And once applied, it provides lasting durability.
TOUGH COTTON™ technology is available either with resin or without.
Fabric with the TOUGH COTTON™ formula without resin gives knit and woven yarn, fabric, and garments a greater tolerance for abrasion, meaning they’ll remain stronger for longer. With this option, well- and hard-worn areas of garments most prone to signs of wear, like elbows, knees, and heels, stay intact and ready for action.
The resin finish provides enhanced durability while minimizing wrinkling, offering manufacturers and brands a low-maintenance cotton solution that meets consumer expectations for both performance and ease of care.
RESTech COTTON™ technology creates softer and drier sheets
Cotton remains a staple in the home textiles market, with two out of three consumers reporting they are likely to opt for home textiles that are labeled 100% cotton3. Its comfort, breathability, and familiarity make it a reliable choice for bedding manufacturers looking to align with consumer expectations and deliver lasting quality.
With a RESTech COTTON™ finish, those same sheets can provide more than just comfort. This technological advancement helps 100% cotton sheeting dry faster than other sheets on the market and results in softer sheets4 than untreated cotton options. The RESTech COTTON™ technology restricts the cotton fabric from absorbing moisture when perspiring during sleep, drying at least 50% faster than rayon upon skin contact5.
RESTech COTTON™ technology also improves on cotton’s natural thermoregulating properties to bring on a cooler night’s sleep. It also resists abrasions longer, giving consumers the peace of mind that your products are made to last.
Imagine the possibilities
These innovations from Cotton Incorporated enable cotton to deliver enhanced performance, combining durability, comfort, and functionality in a single natural fiber.
To explore the possibilities of cotton, visit CottonWorks.com. The site offers curated digital fabric collections that showcase cotton technologies and innovations developed by Cotton Incorporated experts. With a free CottonWorks™ membership, users gain access to a wide range of industry resources, including trend forecasts, technical webinars, and sustainability insights. These resources are designed to support product development from concept to execution.
To unlock cotton’s full potential, register for a free account on CottonWorks.com.
Page References
Cotton Incorporated’s 2025 Global Activewear Survey – U.S., n=1,019
Cotton Incorporated’s 2022 Childrenswear Survey – U.S., n=1051
Cotton Incorporated’s 2024 Global Home Textiles Survey – U.S., n=1,442
Internal Cotton Incorporated method using the Emtec TSA Softness Analyzer. 20HLTD on Sateen and Percale Sheeting
Water Retention (WR) Dry Time testing: Modified AATCC Test Method 199. 20HLTD on Sateen and Percale Sheeting