Supima cotton variants
Also known as: Supima Pima, Extra-long staple cotton, ELS cotton
Brand and cultivar variants of long-staple Pima cotton grown under the protected Supima label in the USA.
Description
Supima (Superior Pima) is a protected trademark of the US-based Supima Association covering only Gossypium barbadense extra-long-staple cotton grown in the United States. Alongside the classic Phytogen 800 cultivar there are variants such as Phytogen 830, Hazera 3006 and multi-field ELS blends that keep fibre length uniform between 34 and 42 mm.
Supima cotton is grown in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas and accounts for less than 1 % of world cotton production. Licensees commit to full traceability from farm to finished goods, which is why the fibre often appears in premium basics, bed linen and polo shirts.
- Fibre length approx. 34-42 mm (compared to 25-30 mm for Upland cotton)
- Higher tensile strength and lower tendency to pill or fade
- Only licensed spinners and weavers may use the Supima logo
- Downside: high water demand in arid US growing regions
Properties
| Fibre type | Extra-long-staple Pima cotton (branded) |
|---|---|
| Fibre length | 34-42 mm |
| Origin | California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico (USA) |
| Application | Premium shirts, polo shirts, bed linen |
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: Gossypium barbadense Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pima_cotton
