Word has spread in recent years about the supreme softness of Egyptian cotton. Domestic cotton is still produced in the American South, but it’s just not the same. Anyone who doubts that fact should think of the cotton industry from the perspective of a vintner. In France, the finest wines are named for their region of production. Along those same lines, the world’s softest cotton is cultivated in the fertile soil of the Nile River Delta.

Egyptian cotton has a relatively rough texture upon first feel. After a trip or two through the laundry, however, a set of king Egyptian cotton sheets attains a heretofore unseen softness. The difference is visible at the fabric level. Cotton harvested in Egypt contains a long fiber, which is less scratchy and irritating than shorter-fiber domestic fabrics. In many cases it’s better to buy local, but other times a good night’s sleep takes top priority.