I have found over the years of selling Luxury Linens that many people don't know the differences in cotton.  It makes all the difference in world when buying linens to know that Egyptian Cotton is better than others and what is percale versus sateen.  I have outlined below the definition of terms you should be familiar with when buying linens.



Cotton- Soft white vegetable fiber from ½ to 2 inches long, which comes from a fluffy boll of the cotton plant, grown in Egypt, India, China, and southern US American cottons include acala, upland, peeler, pima, and Sea Island.

 

Egyptian Cotton- A general classification for the strong, lustrous, long staple cotton produced largely in the Nile River Valley. The fibers vary from a light crème to dark tan color. Egypt is the world’s largest producer of better quality cottons
 

Jacquard- Elaborate woven or knitted pattern made on Jacquard loom. Each wrap yarn is controlled separately by use of a pattern on a punched card. Fabrics may have a background of plain, rib, satin, or sateen weave with a design usually in satin weave.

 

Percale- A plain weave, lightweight, piece dyed or printed cotton fabric made of carded yarns, with a firm balanced construction. Combed cotton percale sheetings, the finer of the two types, are smooth, luxurious, plain weave fabrics. The finer sheetings of combed yarn are often called true percale.

 

Sateen Smooth glossy cotton fabric made in the sateen weave with floating fillings on the right side, given a lustrous finish and used mainly for linings.