What Is Pima Cotton?

Pima is a long-staple cotton. Long vs. short staple impacts how a fabric feels, wears and washes. Our sleepwear is made of Pima grown in Peru.

Pima is a type of cotton with long fibers, about 1⅜" to 2", referred to as extra-long staple. Most clothes are made from regular, shorter fiber cotton. The first thing people notice about clothes or linens made from Pima is the soft, smooth surface. Over time they discover a fabric that wears well and color that holds up in the wash.

Pima comes from a different cotton plant

The most common cotton is a species called Gossypium hirsutum, often known as upland cotton. It grows in many different climates and is used to make most T-shirts, towels and sheets.

Less common is Gossypium barbadense, or what we know as Pima. Native to South America, the plant has been grown in Peru for centuries.

In the early 1900s, the Pima people of Arizona helped grow some of the first experimental crops of this cotton in the United States, and the variety was named after them. Today Pima grows in a handful of regions, including the American Southwest and Peru.

Pima creates a different cotton yarn

Cotton yarn is a bundle of fibers twisted together. Every fiber has two ends, and some of those ends poke out of the yarn. Short fibers mean more ends. You can feel them as a slightly dry, rough surface, and they are where pilling starts after a few washes.

Longer fibers mean fewer joins along the same stretch of yarn. Spinners are able to make strong yarn that is finer and has fewer loose ends at the surface.

In a finished garment, the difference can be seen and felt.

• Touch. The fabric feels smoother overall. When it comes to pajamas, it is particularly notable at the neckline and cuffs, which rub against the skin all night.
• Wear. With gentle care, long staple cotton is known for holding its shape longer and pilling less than regular cotton.
• Color. Pima takes dye well, so colors stay vibrant and true through regular, gentle washing.

Peruvian Pima vs. Supima

"Pima" is the name of the cotton species and fiber. "Peruvian" simply identifies where it grew. Our sleepwear is made from Peruvian Pima cotton.

Supima is a licensed trademark for Pima cotton grown in the United States. Supima comes from the same species of plant as our Peruvian Pima.

Is Pima right for you?

It tends to suit people who:

• Wake up warm and prefer a natural fiber to synthetics.
• Notice seams, tags and rough fabric against their skin.
• Want sleepwear they will keep wearing for years.
• Live somewhere warm, or in a home where the heating keeps them warm at night.

Want to give Pima a try? Browse the whole collection by category, style, color and size with our Sensory Finder.