Mohawk Blog

The Evolution of Cotton Paper

close-up photo of denim cotton rag

For centuries, cotton textile waste was recycled to make paper. Strong, yet soft, these cotton fibers make beautiful paper.

The basic technique for making paper hasn’t changed much since Chinese inventor Ts'ai Lun (Cai Lun) invented the process nearly 2000 years ago. In an effort to replace more precious silk as a writing surface, Ts'ai formed sheets from macerated plant fibers as well as old cotton rags. This new-found process is widely recognized as the foundation of all modern papermaking (give or take a few improvements). 

Over many years, other plant fibers were used to make paper pulp, but cotton rag has withstood the test of time. In fact, a case could be made that cotton rags are the unifying thread that runs through the long history of papermaking across cultures and centuries.

hands holding processed cotton fiber
Recycled Cotton Slurry
Once cotton pulp is broken down into slurry, it's ready to be turned into paper.
Dried cotton fiber stacked in thick sheets
Recycled Cotton Pulp
Made from t-shirt and denim scrap, these pulps remain unbleached and require no dye in the paper­making process.

When cotton fibers are beaten to a pulp, they tend to fray and create hundreds of tiny fibrils. When matted together with water, they interlock creating a uniform surface with great strength and flexibility. Cotton papers are known for their purity, durability, and permanence, making them very desirable for artists and designers alike who want to create enduring work.

Cotton fibers are the most durable fibers and are made up of either linters or rags. Linters are fine fibers left on the seed of a cotton plant after the ginning process. Rags are cotton clippings from textile mills. The value of cotton lies in the structure of the fibers which are long, hollow, and tube-like. They are one of the strongest, yet softest fibers available.

“A case could be made that cotton rags are the unifying thread that runs through the long history of papermaking across cultures and centuries.”

Though modern papermaking relies heavily on pulps made from wood fiber, cotton is still used for the finest of fine papers. At Mohawk we continue to make some of the most recognizable cotton paper products in the market. Products synonymous with fine cotton stationery and artist papers like Strathmore and Crane are part of the canon of American papermaking, while Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton is reviving the use of cotton rag as a sustainable alternative to wood fiber and a benefit to textile waste's impact on the environment. 

Crane (1770-Today)

For over 200 years, Crane papers have set the standard for American papermaking. Crane’s Lettra and Crane's Crest capture this legacy in soft, durable, 100% cotton papers that communicate craftsmanship and elegance in equal measure.

Close-up of the Crane wordmark
New Crane Wordmark
In developing the updated Crane Cotton Paper portfolio, our product and marketing teams collaborated to create products that celebrate heritage while serving the needs of today's print and design community.
Crane papers
New Crane's Lettra Impress
Optimized to complement the newest digital presses, Impress finish will also perform effortlessly on offset or any of the impact processes traditionally associated with cotton papers.

The entire Crane paper portfolio is ideal for tactile printing processes such as letterpress, engraving, embossing, foil stamping, thermography as well as offset and digital. Crane's Lettra papers are crafted from 100% cotton for premium softness and texture, making them the perfect canvas for a variety of printing techniques—or your own handwriting.

Close-up of Crane swatchbook
Close-up of Crane holiday cards
Mohawk's Newest Swatchbook of Crane Papers
This swatchbook represents a reinvigorated portfolio that demonstrates Mohawk’s commitment to the legacy of expertly crafted American paper. This is the most comprehensive and versatile collection of pure cotton papers on the market today.
Crane's 2019-20 Digital Photo Holiday Cards
This collection's contemporary details are a symphony of ample white space, delicate geometric accents, and bold typography — a nod to the past and a look towards the future of Crane.

If you’re looking to make a memorable impression, there’s no better medium than Crane’s 100% cotton papers. The quality and finish of cotton paper elevate any design to a treasured artifact that will be kept for years to come.

 

Strathmore  (1892-Today)

Since its beginnings, the Strathmore name has been associated with innovative cotton fiber papermaking. Setting the standard for design and innovation since 1892, the Strathmore name has been synonymous with the finest American made cotton papers. Cotton papers add an image of quality to all print communications.

Strathmore Grandee vintage sample
Paper is Part of the Picture
1966 Sample Book of Strathmore Grandee

The history of graphic design includes an immense amount of printed ephemera that fills our lives. Even in our digital era, much design remains physical and tactile. Today, Strathmore Writing remains the most widely used cotton fiber paper for corporate identity. From lawyers' documents to a business stationery, Strathmore represents permanence and a legacy built on design. diverse assortment of cotton papers, colors and finishes that honor tradition while striking new ground with contemporary colors and surface technologies.

Vintage Strathmore promotion
1899 | Strathmmore Deckle Edge Paper
Designed and printed by Will Bradley’s University Press, this woodcut is a perfect expression of Bradley’s fascination with colonial printing and stands as one of the earliest examples of a paper swatchbook.
Vintage Strathmore Handbook decorated with green and yellow thistle motif
1938 | Strathmore Handbook
The cover to this paper handbook features Charles R. Capon’s interpretation of the iconic Strathmore Thistle. Capon was a skilled and successful artist with a career spanning the first half of the 20th century.

Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton  (April 2020-Today)

Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton uses two sources for its cotton fiber: white t-shirt trim and blue denim thread. Recycled Cotton pulp from Cheney Pulp and Paper Company in Franklin. Ohio is used to make Mohawk Renewal T-Shirt White and Denim papers, giving cotton textile waste a second life. Made from t-shirt and denim scrap diverted from the millions of textile waste sent to landfills every year, these pulps remain unbleached and require no dye in the paper­making process.

Stacks of t-shirt and denim cotton paper stored in rolls
Reused Cotton
Rolls of Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton staged for sheeting at Mohawk.

Creating paper from cotton starts with scraps, specifi­cally textile waste from large clothing manufacturers. Fashion trends often dictate what kind of scraps may be common, Cheney says, but finding bits of denim and T-Shirt isn't difficult. The material arrives in 1,000 pound bales of two-by-three inch clippings, which staffers sort by hand to weed out synthetics making sure everything used is 100 percent cotton. Then, using a combination of heat, water, and time, those scraps are transformed into pulp which becomes paper.

The edges of a sheet of Renewal Denim
Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton
Denim
Corners of Renewal cotton curled up to show texture
Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton
Denim and T-Shirt White

Mohawk Renewal Recycled Cotton breathes new life into a process that was once a centerpiece of the nation's pulp and papermaking industry. Though it's niche now, cotton textile-based paper was widely prevalent; national governments around the world still use it for banknotes and currency, including U.S. dollars. The Mohawk and Cheney collaboration has found a different way to turn cotton textile waste into some­thing of great value. 

Damaged t-shirts ready to be made into cotton fiber for paper
T-Shirt Scraps
The cotton scraps and denim thread we use come from clothing manufacturers' waste stream.

With the rise in fast fashion, there's more cotton waste being generated than ever before. Between 1999 and 2009, the global volume of textile trash rose by 40 percent, discards which take 200 years or more — that's as long as both Strathmore and Crane have been around — to decompose and release methane as they sit in landfills. But turning scraps into fine paper with a purpose, and benefit for the planet, is a business model that won't go out of style.

From paper made the same way it was in the 1800s to a paper being made from fast fashion scraps today, cotton paper is as archaic as it is innovative.

Want to know more about cotton papers?

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