Cotton · Pima and Supima
Pima and Supima
Egyptian cotton's American relative: the same species, a different field, a different trademark.
Pima is an extra-long-staple cotton of the species Gossypium barbadense – the same species that Egyptian cotton comes from. The difference between them is not botanical but geographical and commercial: Pima made its name in the south-western United States, and its best-known guarantee is the Supima trademark.
Where the name came from
In 1907 the US Department of Agriculture, working with the Indian Service, set up an experimental farm at Sacaton, Arizona. The aim was to breed a cotton with very long, strong fibre that could cope with the desert climate; the starting point was so-called American-Egyptian cotton. It was named "Pima" in honour of the Indigenous people who supported the project and who had long experience of growing cotton on irrigated fields.
Pima versus Supima
Pima is a type and trade name for cotton. It is grown in the USA, but also in Peru, Australia and other countries.
Supima is a registered trademark of a non-profit association founded in 1954 that represents growers of American Pima in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. It licenses the mark to spinning mills, manufacturers and brands. Since 2018 it has worked with Oritain, which verifies origin by forensic analysis of the fibre itself – without adding any tracer substances during manufacturing – and randomly tests samples at various points in the supply chain.
According to Cotton Incorporated, American Pima fibres measure 1¼ to 1 9/16 inches, or roughly 32 to 40 mm. Regular Upland cotton measures about 22 to 24 mm.
Is Supima better than Egyptian cotton?
There is no honest general answer to that question. Both come from the same species, both can have extra-long staple, and in both cases what matters is the particular variety, yarn, weave and finish. The difference lies rather in how origin can be verified: for Supima through the association's licence and forensic testing, for Egyptian cotton through the Egyptian Cotton Association's licence and DNA testing.
That is why Egyptian cotton and Pima/Supima have identical scores in our fabric passports – their typical properties are the same.
What to look for
- The SUPIMA® logo and the name of a licensed manufacturer – not just the word "pima" in the product name.
- Where you see "pima" without the trademark: where the cotton comes from, and whether it is 100% Pima or a blend.
- For knits (T-shirts), the yarn count and the density of the knit matter too.
Fabric passport
Pima and Supima
Gossypium barbadense
- Origin
- USA – Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas (Supima); Pima is grown elsewhere too
- Fibre
- Extra-long-staple cotton (American Pima)
- Type
- natural plant fibre
- Feel
- Smooth, soft, strong
- Breathability
- High
- Durability
- High
- Best for
- T-shirts and jersey, shirts, bed linen
- Care
- Usually machine washable; follow the label
Relative tendencies how we rate
The same botanical species as Egyptian cotton. Supima is a trademark for American Pima cotton grown in the USA.
Egyptian cotton
Gossypium barbadense
- Origin
- Egypt, mainly the Nile Delta
- Fibre
- Long-staple and extra-long-staple cotton (Giza varieties)
- Type
- natural plant fibre
- Feel
- Smooth and fine, with a subtle lustre when spun into a fine yarn
- Breathability
- High – the cellulose fibre absorbs moisture and breathes well
- Durability
- High – long fibres make a yarn that is both fine and strong
- Best for
- Bed linen, shirts, towels
- Care
- Usually machine washable; depends on the weave, finish and dye – follow the label
Relative tendencies how we rate
An Egyptian origin does not by itself guarantee extra-long staple: Egypt also grows long-staple varieties. What matters is the variety, the yarn and the weave.
Compared
| Property | Pima / Supima | Egyptian cotton | Regular cotton | Organic cotton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softness | 5/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Breathability | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Warmth | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Drying speed | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Durability | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy care | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency to crease | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Origin
The south-western USA
Pima needs a long, hot, dry summer and irrigation.
Care
- Wash Pima/Supima knits inside out so that the surface suffers less abrasion.
- Do not tumble dry on a high setting; knits shrink more in the dryer than woven fabrics.
The label on the individual product always takes precedence.
Sources
- Cotton Incorporated – The Classification of Cotton
- Supima (Wikipedia) – founded 1954, trademark licensing
- Textile World: 5 Surprising Facts About Supima Cotton (2017)
- Oritain: Oritain signs top U.S. cotton industry association (13 February 2018)
- Arizona Farm Bureau – Fill Your Plate: Arizona's original super boll (origin of the name Pima, Sacaton 1907)
Last checked . First published 12 October 2026. Editorial policy · Report an error