5000 Years of Humans and Cotton – Towards the "Golden Balance of Cotton"

Cotton: Born with Civilization

The oldest evidence of cotton cultivation is found in Mexico, dating back approximately 8,000 years. Meanwhile, cotton threads were unearthed from a 3,500 BCE layer at the Mohenjo-Daro ruins in India, revealing that cotton was independently utilized and woven into fabrics in both India and Peru.

Humans were transforming cotton fibers into clothing even before they began farming, developed language, or built cities. Such was cotton's closeness to the human skin.

Cotton, first cultivated and woven in India, eventually spread to Persia and Arabia. Around the 4th century BCE, Alexander the Great's conquests in the Middle East further expanded cotton cultivation areas. By the 18th and 19th centuries, it was cultivated worldwide.

In Japan, cotton is said to have been introduced during the Heian period (8th century) by an Indian who drifted ashore in Mikawa Province. In the 16th century, cotton seeds arrived again, and cultivation spread nationwide. During the Edo period, with encouragement from various feudal domains, production flourished across Japan.

For over 5,000 years, humans have entrusted their skin to cotton. Why is that?

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There's a reason why cotton feels so "comfortable."

Cotton fibers are made of a substance called cellulose. Cellulose is a polymer with a chain-like structure of glucose, and it is the most abundant carbohydrate on Earth, making up one-third of the plant matter in nature.

Cellulose fibers have hydroxyl groups (-OH) in their chemical structure, which are compatible with water, and this is the source of their high moisture absorption. The ability of cotton to absorb sweat and keep skin dry comes from this molecular-level structure.

Furthermore, cotton excels in moisture absorption and dyeability, offers a soft feel, natural breathability, and is gentle on the skin – all of these qualities originate from its cellulose molecular structure.

Humans have continued to use cotton for 5,000 years because there was scientific evidence behind the intuitive "comfort" it provided.

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Cotton's "only weakness"

However, cotton has a weakness: it is slow to dry.

Polyester fibers do not have water-compatible groups in their chemical structure and are hydrophobic, so they absorb very little moisture. In other words, cotton and polyester have opposite properties regarding water. Cotton absorbs well but dries slowly, while polyester doesn't absorb but dries quickly.

This "trade-off between moisture absorption and quick-drying" has been a long-standing challenge in fiber science. By combining different materials, including natural and synthetic fibers, new fibers are created that compensate for the disadvantages of each material.

The goal is to retain the comfort of cotton while adding quick-drying properties. The answer is "cotton blend."

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Lecien's idea of cotton's "golden balance"

Based on the history of cotton, Lecien developed the menca.® non-wire bra with the idea of "leveraging cotton's comfort while compensating for its standalone weaknesses." The concept is "truly comfortable, cotton's golden balance." By blending three materials—cotton, polyester, and polyurethane—we have solved each challenge one by one.

Furthermore, seams are flat to minimize skin contact. The elastic parts are covered with cotton-blend fabric, thoroughly eliminating irritation to areas that directly touch the skin. The cups incorporate a neat silhouette panel, creating natural beauty even without underwires.

The colors blend seamlessly with the skin, making them colors you'll want to wear every day.

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Non-wire Bra ¥1,980