Multifunctional　intelligent　fire-safe　cotton　fabric　promises　next-generation　fire-fighting　uniform　and　sensor　applications.　However,　cotton　fabrics＇　hygroscopicity　and　intrinsic　flammability　significantly　impede　their　potential　applications　in　industries.　Herein,　we　report　a　superhydrophobic　fireproof　cotton　fabric　(PEI-APP-PEI-MXene)　generated　via　sequential　layer-by-layer　deposition　of　polyethyleneimine　(PEI),　ammonium　polyphosphate　(APP),　and　titanium　carbide　(MXene),　followed　by　hydrophobic　treatment　with　silicone　elastomer.　Compared　to　untreated　cotton,　the　treated　cotton　fabric　with　10　polymolecular　layers　exhibits　-43%　and　-42%　reductions　in　the　peak　heat　release　rate　and　total　heat　release,　respectively,　a　desired　UL-94　V-0　rating,　and　a　high　limiting　oxygen　index　(LOI)　value　of　39.5　vol.%.　In　addition　to　that,　the　treated　fabrics　displayed　improved　electromagnetic　interference　(EMI)　shielding　and　motion-sensing　abilities.　The　presented　work　provides　a　facile　and　effective　surface　modification　approach　to　generate　multifunctional　cotton　fabrics　with　promising　practical　applications.　(c)　2022　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd　on　behalf　of　The　editorial　office　of　Journal　of　Materials　Science　&　Technology.