Pima Cotton – The Gold of Peru
Pima cotton is known as the gold of Peru for its high quality. This cotton is named after the Pima tribe, a group of Native Americans who were the first to cultivate the plant in the United States. The origins of this cotton are in Peru. Unlike the more common cotton, which is of the species Gossypium hirsutum, Pima cotton is of the Gossypium Barbadense variety. Today, it is cultivated not only in Peru but also in the southwestern United States and Australia.
Qualities of Pima Cotton
Pima cotton is an extra-long staple cotton. It has a natural sheen, is highly resistant to wear and pilling, and has great absorbency. In many ways, it resembles Egyptian cotton but has a softer feel. Fabrics made from Pima are very soft and compact due to the quality of the fiber. Consequently, garments are very long-lasting, comfortable, and cool. Since it is still hand-harvested today, the quality is above average. In fact, during the harvesting process, skilled hands remove impurities for greater fiber purity. The Pima harvest is done in three stages, following the plant’s blooming. It starts from the lower branches (where the best bolls are) and proceeds to the upper branches.
Supima Brand
Jesse Curlee is the president of Supima, an acronym for Superior Pima. The consortium unites American producers of the world’s best cotton, superior Pima. Over time, Supima has become a true brand. It identifies a very soft cotton, brilliant white even in its raw state, but super-resistant. Pima is produced only in certain areas scattered across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Supima consortium has also created the Supima Award, a prize established to find new designers capable of best using this fiber. The goal is to bring prestige to the brand. The most famous brand associated with this type of cotton is Brooks Brothers. They have always used it for their famous shirts, worn by celebrities from the cinema and politics, including President Obama.
The Brooks Brothers brand is now owned by Claudio Del Vecchio, son of Leonardo, the head of Luxottica. Pima cotton and raw materials are the strategic key to being a global brand. Claudio Del Vecchio has also stated that Pima cotton is luxurious, but also practical, strong, and durable. It is that extra something that customers expect.
Pima Yarns
From such a precious and long fiber, double-twisted yarns are made, which are either mercerized or left natural, depending on the intended use. The yarn counts are very fine, such as Ne 100/2, up to Ne 120/2. In some cases, it can reach a count of Ne 180/2, which is used for high-end shirting fabrics.