Calico became famous in Rus' back in the 16th century, when merchants from Asia began to import it to markets. The exotic material was sold under the name bazz. A couple of centuries later, its production was established in the small district town of Kineshma in the Ivanovo-Voskresensk province.
Currently, the material continues to be a popular fabric, and products made from it are valued and actively sold.
Features and advantages of calico
Modern calico is a fabric that, according to the GOST in force in the Russian Federation, consists of 100% cotton. In some other countries (for example, in Pakistan, Turkey or China), the inclusion of polyester thread in its composition in an amount of no more than 15% is allowed.
This is interesting! In the old days, calico was a very cheap material and was mainly used to make linings for caftans and underwear for soldiers.
Calico is not so much the material itself as the method of weaving relatively thick threads, which is visible to the naked eye on the canvas. All-cotton calico is valued much higher. It is used to make bed linen sets, home textiles, and sew clothes for adults and children.
There are four main types of calico:
- harsh;
- bleached;
- plain dyed;
- stuffed.
The most dense is the raw fabric - it is not only undyed, but also unbleached. Bleached fabric is much more delicate, so it is used in sewing bed linen. As for the plain-dyed material, its structure is in many ways similar to bleached, but it is dyed in one tone or another. It is usually used for sewing table towels and tablecloths. The most beautiful and expensive of all the listed types of fabric is printed calico. Beautiful bright patterns are applied to it, and beautiful bed linen and clothes for children are obtained.
The fabric has a number of undeniable advantages:
- withstands a huge number of washes without changing the original color, size and appearance;
- just ironed out;
- allows air to pass through and allows the body to breathe;
- is hygroscopic (absorbs any liquids perfectly, including human sweat);
- is environmentally friendly;
- has a relatively low cost.
Despite the fact that Turkey has been the world leader in the production of cotton fabrics for many years, in Russia the production of calico fabrics is also very active. The products of the cotton mill "Shuiskie Sitsy" and the Ivanovo textile factory are in particularly high demand.
Shuya calico
Shuisky calico is a 100% cotton fabric with a linen fastening. This fabric was called chintz in Soviet times of Russian history and was widely used. Its density varied from 100 to 142 g/sq. m.
Important! After the standards in force during the Soviet Union were abolished, chintz began to be considered a fabric with a density of 65 g/m2, and calico – more than 100 g/m2.
Today, Shuya calico has a density of 142 g / cubic meter. The fabric, as before, is highly valued for its excellent quality, variety of colors and wear resistance. The Shuya manufacturer offers consumers products that fully meet modern quality standards. Safe and very durable dyes are used in the production process, as a result of which any sheet or set made in Shuya does not fade and perfectly retains the pattern.
High quality characteristics had a certain impact on the cost of the plant's products. But bed linen made of Shuya calico is not only very dense, but also soft and comfortable.
Important! Due to the high density of the fabric, it is harder to iron. In this regard, it is strongly recommended to choose a gentle spin mode.
Ivanovo calico
Ivanovo manufacturer of calico creates healthy competition for Shuya. Ivanovo weaving factories offer the consumer a full range of fabrics: bleached, raw, plain-dyed and with printed patterns.
Today, Ivanovo products are among the most affordable and at the same time high-quality. Most often, bed linen made of Ivanovo calico has two types of density:
- 125 g/sq.m;
- 90-100 g/m2 (lightweight calico).
Which calico is better: Shuya or Ivanovskaya
Despite the fact that in terms of quality characteristics, and above all in terms of density, Shuya products are superior to Ivanovo products, the woven bed linen set of both manufacturers is desirable for potential buyers. In addition, products from Ivanovo have one significant advantage for many - their cost is somewhat lower compared to the goods of competitors from Shuya.
How to distinguish a fake from an original
When buying a bed linen set, any person is interested in purchasing a quality product that will serve for a long time without creating problems. Therefore, it is incredibly important to understand how to distinguish a fake Shuya calico from the original.
The main sign of a cheap fake that passes itself off as a product of the Shuyskie Sitsy factory is the absence of a logo on the packaging and information about the characteristics of the fabric inside it. Often, poor quality paints are used in the production of such products, which will be indicated by an unpleasant smell emanating from the fabric. And the fabric itself is uneven to the touch in fakes, since they use cotton threads that differ in density.
Important! You can encounter a fake even in specialized bedding stores. Before buying, it is recommended to request a quality certificate from the seller and carefully inspect the product.
The label of the original Shuya calico will necessarily contain an inscription stating that the product is made in accordance with GOST 29298-92, and will contain the company logo with the embossed inscription "Shuya calico". The fabric, as a rule, is without unevenness, pellets or compactions.
The original material produced in Shuya is slightly silky to the touch, and due to the high degree of weaving of the threads, it is practically opaque (only lets through electric light and sunlight).
If you take proper care of cotton products, a set of bed linen of original Shuya production can last for about 10 years and survive at least 1000 washes. At the same time, it will not fade or discolor if the temperature conditions recommended by the manufacturer are observed.
Some people prefer more expensive materials for bed linen sets than calico. But they are not always better and more durable.
