EGYPTIAN EXTRA LONG STAPLES COTTON

What makes our socks so exceptional?

It all starts with the yarn. In this article, we take you behind the scenes of a rare and remarkable cotton—one that brings softness, strength, and natural shine to every knit.

A Yarn Like No Other

The Scotland Lisle thread used in our socks is certified Filoscozia®—the finest cotton yarn currently available on the market. And for good reason: only two spinning mills, both Italian, produce this exceptional thread.

The cotton itself hails from Egypt and belongs to a rare variety known for its extraordinary properties: GIZA 87. This cotton is grown on small, highly fertile plots of land along the banks of the Nile Delta.

As is always the case when discussing natural fibres, the terroir is key. The soil near the delta is rich and nourished, benefitting from the coolness of the sea air, abundant summer sunlight, and ideal humidity levels. These combined conditions allow the cultivation of cotton varieties like GIZA 87, known for their extra-long staple fibres.

What Makes Extra-Long Staple Cotton So Special?

The longer the fibre, the finer its diameter—and the higher the quality of the cotton. Extra-long staple (ELS) cotton represents just 3% of global cotton production, and only four countries, including Egypt, grow cotton of this calibre.

The ELS cotton used in our socks has an exceptionally fine diameter and fibre lengths exceeding 34–36 mm. Even more importantly, it is extremely uniform, with very few surface irregularities—something cotton spinners truly appreciate.

The result? A yarn that is incredibly soft, durable, and naturally lustrous.

A Natural Yarn, Handled with Care

To preserve the integrity and length of the fibres, the cotton flowers are harvested entirely by hand with the utmost care. They are then entrusted to skilled Italian spinners and knitters who bring out their full potential.

Soft, durable, luminous—this is cotton at its most refined.

At Mestiers, we believe in transparency, craftsmanship, and the enduring beauty of natural fibres. Each material is chosen with care—not only for how it feels, but for the story it carries.