As Egyptian cotton becomes more and more prolific across the globe, more and more people are becoming familiar with its luxurious and superior qualities. But still, people are not aware of the history of this durable cotton. Some people believe that this particular brand of cotton actually existed in ancient Egypt, but there doesn’t actually seem to be any proof to support this theory. Rather, it is more readily accepted that it was first planted in the 19th century.

To that end, it was brought to the Egyptian banks by Mohammad Ali Pasha. And while the American Civil War was raging, this Egyptian cotton was an alternative source for English textiles. So, while it’s a romantic idea that Cleopatra wrapped herself in queen Egyptian cotton sheets every night, it simply doesn’t seem likely. Rather, Egyptians were thought to have made their clothes and bedding from linen, which is derived from the flax plant.