What does Supima mean?

The name "Supima^®" is a licensed registered trademark owned by Supima and its members. It is used to promote textile and apparel products made of 100% American Pima cotton, and is strictly controlled by the grower organization. The name "Supima" is an abbreviation for Superior Pima.

What is Pima cotton?

Pima cotton is a generic name for extra-long staple (ELS) cotton grown in the USA, Australia, Israel, Peru and in very limited production in a few other locations around the world. Pima is from the gossypium barbadense species, compared to gossypium hirsutum to which upland cotton belongs. The primary differences between Pima (ELS growths) cotton and upland cotton are staple length (fiber length) and strength of the fiber. In the world cotton trade, cotton is considered to be ELS or Pima if the staple length is 1 inch and 3/8 or longer. Its strength and uniformity measurements are considerably higher than those of upland cotton.

What is the difference between Pima and Supima?

The Pima name was given to the ELS cotton being grown in the Southwest USA in about 1910. It had previously been called American-Egyptian cotton but was renamed to honor the Pima Indians who were growing the cotton for the United States Department of Agriculture in Sacaton, Arizona, where the government's Pima Improvement Program was being conducted. "Supima" is the trademark name used to promote and market textile and apparel products made with 100% American Pima cotton. Supima licenses the textile supply chain from mills to manufacturers and brand/retailers for the expressed purpose of promoting specific apparel and textile products in high-end retail outlets. Industry people often refer to American Pima cotton as "Supima cotton."

Does the use of the name Pima guarantee a product's cotton content?

No. In the past, some textile products that were labeled or marketed as "Pima cotton" goods were not always made of all-Pima cotton.  The Supima^® trademark is the consumer's only guarantee that a product is made of 100% American Pima cotton. The Federal Trade Commission ruled in June of 1997 that manufacturers and retailers would have to itemize cotton source content on any apparel or textile product when the name of a premium fiber was being used. For example, a product made of 60% American Pima cotton and 40% upland cotton could be labeled and marketed as 100% cotton. But if the retailer or manufacturer wants to mention the Pima name in the labeling or marketing, they would have to list the content of both the Pima and the upland cotton. The content should be listed based on weight percentage.

What's the difference between Supima and Egyptian cotton?

All cotton grown in Egypt is "Egyptian" but it is not all ELS cotton. Only a small percentage of Egyptian cotton is ELS cotton, and Egypt consumes much of what it produces. The majority of what it exports is long staple cotton, not ELS cotton. However, the description "Egyptian cotton" conjures in the mind of many consumers the image of the very finest and longest cottons in the world. Egypt does produce and sell some very good quality ELS cotton, but over the last five years it has only amounted to less than 10% of annual global ELS cotton exports, and only about 7% of global ELS production. Supima cotton has become the cotton of choice among the world's fine count yarn spinners.  It is the largest and most dependable ELS crop in the world with about 22% of the world's production and over 40% of the world's ELS exports over the same period.

Why is Supima a premium cotton?

American Pima accounts for the top 3% of annual cotton production in the United States. Its fineness, longer fiber length and greather strength make American Pima the premium cotton fiber of choice. It is used to spin finer count yarns, which can be knitted or woven into softer, finer and more luxurious fabrics. It is grown in select areas of the far West and Southwest USA where the cotton can benefit from an ideal growing season. American Pima cotton is grown almost exclusively on furrowed rows where growers can closely regulate irrigation and other inputs. Its production costs can vary in different states and regions, and is generally a little more than upland cotton costs in the same area. Ginning is more expensive because American Pima cotton is roller-ginned, not saw-ginned like upland cotton. The roller gin is easier on the cotton fibers and protects the long fibers of American Pima cotton.

How do Supima^® products benefit the consumer?

Products made from 100% American Pima cotton will have superior strength to a product made of upland cotton or upland/Pima blended cottons, which will improve the durability and increase the lifespan of the textile and apparel products. Because of the fineness of Supima cotton, more fibers can be spun into a yarn of a given count, which will enhance the feel and softness, drapeability and brilliance of color of a fabric.