Suvin cotton, an exceptionally fine and highly exclusive Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton fabric that was derived not just as a blend but as a harmony between two fine cotton fabrics from far apart continents. Developed in the late 1960s by notable agricultural scientist V. Santhanam under the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR) is a deliberate crossbreed between the Indian Sujata cotton and Sea Island Cotton from St. Vincent. The name SUVIN originates from SUjata + VINcent and is not a hybrid nor a genetically modified crop but a straight variety that takes about 210 - 220 days to harvest from the sowing date. This makes it not just time consuming but highly expensive to produce. 

The ambition for Suvin has always been to create a cotton more exclusive and superior in quality to the legendary Sea Island Cotton. Available for commercial use in 1973 Suvin Cotton has been recognised with titles such as ‘Jewel of Cottons’, ‘The Finest Cotton in the World’, ‘Cashmere of Cottons’, ‘White Gold of Cottons’ as well as ‘Phantom Cotton’. These titles particularly refer to the properties of the fabric which are its extraordinarily long fibre length of 38 - 40 mm, as compared to regular high end cotton length of 30 - 32 mm, a natural velvety softness often compared to cashmere and a lustre that resembles silk. The fabric has a high tensile strength despite the extra long and delicate fibres, when spun the fabric transforms into this high tensile strong knit that is capable of handling multiple washes and still restore its shape without shrinking, Suvin cotton also offers superior colour absorption and retention properties as well as its moisture wicking properties, this means that a Suvin Cotton piece would not only preserve the colour for a long time but would also prevent the build up of moisture or sweat, keeping you feel light and airy throughout the day. 

The harvest of Suvin Cotton is hereby the most complex process in the development of a Suvin Cotton piece. The harvest takes place approximately 210 - 220 days after it is sown and requires extremely precise and ideal climatic as well as soil conditions. Suvin Cotton can only be cultivated by certified family owned farms using traditional, low impact farming methods that have been passed down through generations. Farmers rely on organic pest control and rainwater harvesting, reducing water usage by 30% compared to conventional cotton. Every fibre of Suvin is hand picked as it is highly delicate when harvested and can easily break from the use of machinery or harsh equipment. 

At The Other Side, we have gone above and beyond to source the highest quality of Suvin cotton and have made sure we develop our product through a highly restraint process. Our Suvin T shirts are mercerised to provide an even higher quality of durability and colour absorption to ensure long lasting wear. All our pieces have gone through pre shrinkage as well as antimicrobial washes to ensure skin friendly wear and no or minimal shrinkage throughout years. Moreover all our pieces are not just your average Suvin cotton t-shirt, but something which brings an element of design and purpose to it. From embroidery to leather work all our pieces are designed to bring Suvin to those who value luxury but are looking for more than just staples in their wardrobe. Our pieces are a testament to the craftsmanship and agricultural expertise that has gone behind the process, it is not just another addition to your wardrobe but an investment that is engineered to last you for years to come.