Purchased in Egypt 100% Egyptian Cotton Turtleneck Black Egyptian cotton refers to long-fiber cotton (extra-long staple cotton) harvested in the fertile soil near the Nile River in Egypt. Of the approximately 76 million tons of cotton produced worldwide annually, only about 300,000 tons, or 0.4%, is this very rare cotton variety. It has a very soft and smooth texture. It appears red due to the lighting, but it is jet black.