Pima cotton
Pima cotton is an ultra-soft and luxurious fabric that includes long cotton fibers. Most types of cotton use relatively short fibers, but Pima is one of the few types of cotton that is considered extra-long staple cotton, meaning that they are composed of fibers longer than 34 millimeters. This fabric is made from a specific type of cotton called Gossipium barbadense. This type of cotton is found only in the tropics and is highly susceptible to frost damage. It grows as a small tree with bright yellow flowers that produce unusually long cotton fibers. Consumers are fond of this cotton for its incredible softness and richness of texture. This type of cotton is commonly used in high-end clothing and is also a favorite material for bed sheets. Unlike other sensitive fabrics, Pima fabric is machine washable with hot water and tumble dried, and is available in thread counts up to 300. This cotton is significantly more expensive than other types of cotton. Although the price of textiles varies depending on the country of manufacture and the processes used, the price of this type of cotton is usually twice that of short-staple cotton.
Much of the production of Pima cotton is now done overseas, however, it is difficult to ensure the quality and environmental sustainability of this type of fabric. When it comes to unethical, wasteful, and dangerous manufacturing processes, China and India are two of the worst offenders. Both countries use near-slave labor to keep production costs low, and their governments are notoriously lax on worker protections and environmental regulations.
Although you have to go out of your way to make Pima cotton production environmentally friendly or sustainable, without significant international oversight, it's impossible to say whether factories in India and China are producing this luxury fabric as American consumers expect. If you want to use or wear this cotton that is guaranteed to be non-toxic and environmentally friendly, it is necessary to source this cotton from the United States.
This cotton is a type of extra-long staple cotton; Another well-known extra-long staple cotton is Egyptian cotton. Extra-long staple cotton means that each individual fiber that makes up the fluffy cotton bud is at least one and three-eighths inches long. Longer cotton fibers will result in a finished woven product that is softer, stronger, and longer lasting than short-staple cotton. Pima cotton has 50% more cotton fiber than standard cotton.
History of Pima Cotton
Pima cotton originated in Peru but derives its name from the Pima tribe of American Indians who pioneered the cultivation of this superior cotton in the southwestern United States. At present, Pima grows in Peru, Australia, and the United States. This cotton will only grow in mild, warm, and dry climates, so US cultivation is isolated to California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Only 3% of the cotton produced in the United States is this cotton, making it rarer and much more expensive than ordinary cotton. Pima is the strongest of all cotton types, making for durable and long-lasting fabrics.
Characteristics of Pima Cotton
i. Pima cotton is a superior kind of cotton that is also known as extra-long-staple cotton.
ii. It is durable and highly absorbent.
iii. It is incredibly soft and smooth compared to regular cotton.
iv. This cotton’s fiber is approximately 50% longer than regular cotton fiber.
v. This cotton is an extra strong durable fabric compared to regular cotton.
vi. Pima cotton's moisture-wicking abilities are high.
vii. Its heat retention abilities are low.
viii. Stretch Ability of this cotton fabric is medium.
ix. Prone to pilling/bubbling is very low.
x. Recommended washing temperatures of this cotton fabric are warm or cool.
Pima Cotton Production
Pima cotton production/harvesting is a process that requires hand-picking for the best results. Most commercial cotton growers use machines to collect the fluffy cotton balls and then extract the cotton seeds from the fibers. With the exception of handpicking, most of the manufacturing process looks fairly similar to how any type of cotton is made.
First of all, the cotton balls are stuffed into bales, which go into a special area of the manufacturing plant called the opening room. At this point, the machines take over. Factory machines undo the bales to spread the cotton bolls around. A mixing machine then prepares the bales for carding, a process that loosens the fibers and arranges them into roughly parallel clumps called tows. A combing machine turns the tows into neat, silky cotton ropes free of any lingering burrs, bugs, or other gross bits.
These loose ropes are then wrapped around large bobbins for transport to further factory machines. This final batch of machines will twist the rope into yarn, what we think of as thread. Then these fine, delicate threads will then go to a loom to be woven into cloth.
Conclusion
Pima cotton is a high-end, ultra-soft material with longer fibers than standard varieties. Most consumers prefer Pima for its reputation for producing smooth fabric that is rich in texture, highly durable, wrinkle-resistant, pill-resistant, and soft to the touch. According to the manufacturers, this type of material is suitable for sensitive skin and has a longer lifespan than other products. The long fiber thread presents an advantage when twisting, giving the fabric many of the desirable properties for which it is popular. Its unusual softness makes it popular as a material for luxury clothing and bed linen. Because of its absorbency and pilling resistance, the material is commonly used in towels.
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