What the heck is Upcycled Raw Cotton?

This information originally appeared on the Far Beyond facebook page, but I would like to re-post and elaborate now that I have this blog up and running. The post is backdated to the original date of publishing.

"UPCYCLING is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value." (Wikipedia)

Raw Cotton filled pillows in the making.

What exactly is that "upcycled, unprocessed raw cotton filling?" I'm using to stuff my new pillows? It's an all natural, 100% cotton product, rescued from an untimely death. Used as a sample of a cotton crop for buyers, it quickly outlives its intended purpose and needs to find new meaning in life. Soft, clean, and remarkably beautiful - how could I use polyfill when I can get my hands on this stuff?

For years I've been receiving packages in the mail from a good friend, all of them packed with raw cotton. It's an environmentalist's dream: toss those toxic styrofoam packing peanuts and replace it with the fruit of mother earth! My friend is a cotton broker in North Carolina (meaning essentially that he's the go-between for the farmer and Fruit of the Loom) and his company receives samples of a given crop of cotton for marketing purposes. Lots and lots of samples. Just saving what he's sent me since last Christmas, I had enough cotton to fill 10 pillows.

Close-up of decidedly non-gross cotton filling. Ain't it purdy?

When my dad saw the close up of the raw cotton, he said it looked like something "internal" and was quite grossed out. I honestly don't see why. I love that you can see the texture of the cotton plant, and even find the un-ginned seeds and natural abnormalities of this stuff with your naked eye. I also love that it's found a home and hasn't just been discarded. There's so much waste in this world, and this is the perfect re-purpose. It's not smelly, not harsh to the touch, and when packed in the muslin casing for my pillows, you can still barely make out the beautiful "marbling" through the fabric.


If, for whatever reason (allergies, etc.), you'd prefer me to use the standard PolyFill (polyester filling) for your product, I will be more than happy to oblige! If you're just being stubborn or a germaphobe, I might give you some grief. Buy a raw cotton pillow, make Mother Earth happy!