Let's get straight to it — here's what actually matters on this one.

• Cotton absorbs sweat and breathes reliably, making it the safer default for daily hot-weather wear.
• Rayon (viscose) has a silky drape and feels cool initially, but absorbs moisture without wicking it away, becoming heavier and clingier as the day goes on.
• Rayon wrinkles less than cotton and drapes more elegantly, which is why it's popular in ethnic and semi-formal wear despite the comfort trade-off.
• For long, sweaty days, cotton performs more consistently; rayon suits shorter, lower-activity occasions where drape matters more than breathability.

The fit-and-fabric-health takeaway: Rayon's moisture absorption without evaporation is exactly the kind of fabric-skin mismatch that causes discomfort in humid climates.

Next up: check out our guide on how denim weights actually differ.