West Indian Sea Island cotton, known as “gossypium barbadense” or “black seed”, is one of the most ancient and precious cotton types in the world, discovered in the early eighteenth century in the British West Indies. Its production is now concentrated mainly in Barbados and Jamaica, areas that constitute a real paradise climate. About 110 million bales of cotton are produced each year, globally, of which 2 million are extra-long staple cotton. The annual production of Sea Island Cotton is just 150 bales, making it one of the rarest and most valuable cotton in the world.
SEA ISLAND
A variety of the most ancient and precious cotton in the world.
The Albini Group has secured an important partnership with ECCI Cotton (an association formed by small local farmers and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the island) for the exclusivity of 100% of Sea Island cotton grown in Barbados, and 90% in Jamaica, with the aim of obtaining soon the exclusivity also on this island.
Sea Island Cotton is distinguished from all other species of cotton thanks to its unique characteristics: the considerable staple length of the fibre, arriving at +37 mm, the high strength, and the good percentage of uniformity (86%). Besides the length, the fibre is exceptionally fine, proved by the micronaire, between 2.8 – 2.9, together with a significant brightness (a degree of reflectance of 73).
The cultivation of Sea Island follows a particular process. The seeds are carefully selected to ensure the highest quality and sowing is done mechanically in an extremely regular way. Irrigation takes place mainly naturally, through the heavy rains.
The organization responsible WISICA (West Indian Sea Island Cotton Association) inspects every kilo of cotton produced locally and issues the Certificate of Authenticity for yarns marked SEA ISLAND guaranteeing the purity of this precious raw material.
From Sea Island cotton are obtained the ALISEO® fabrics: silky to touch, able to revive and improve with each wash and cool like the Alisei’s breeze, the regular and of constant intensity breezes thet caress the warm Caribbean islands.
150 BALES
ANNUAL PRODUCTION
+37 MM
STAPLE LENGTH
