ABOUT PIMA

What is Pima Cotton?

Pima Cotton is an extra-long staple cotton which means that the individual fibres that make up the cotton are 50% longer in length than standard cotton. This means that fibres can be spun with fewer ends exposed creating a silkier, luxurious fabric that is pill resistant and holds it shape due to its strength.

Pima is grown predominately in America, Australia and Peru – where ours is grown! Due to the rarity of growth, Pima is usually more expensive than normal cotton. 

History of Pima

Named after the Pima Indians, evidence of Pima Cotton has been found dating back to 4400BC from the Peruvian coastal region of Ancon. It is referred to as an ELS (Extended Long Staple) and is the longest staple cotton grown. Not only is Pima cotton known for its fine weave but for its durability, being the strongest of the fine cotton production in the world.

Process of Pima

Pima fabric is made from a specific type of cotton plant called Gossypium Barbadense. This type of cotton is only found in America, Australia and Peru. It grows as a small tree with bright yellow flowers that yields unusually long cotton fibers. This gives it that silky and luxurious feel that we know and love.  

After the Gossypium Barbadense seeds are picked, they are condensed into bales. These bales are then sent to the factory floor. Then starts the mixing stage where a cotton machine pulls raw cotton fibers out of the bales and moves them to a mixing machine. Follows is the carding process by which cotton fibers are pulled into a parallel alignment to form a web. Then they are sent off to a combing machine, which removes any impurities from the cotton.

The cotton is then loaded onto bobbins and wound onto spools.

Next the cotton ropes are spun into yarn, then woven into fabric.