Supima cotton stands for “superior cotton,” which is a step above Egyptian cotton in quality and feel. The fibers have superior durability and can stand up to washings easily.
But while Egyptian and pima cotton share similar premium characteristics — and even have the same scientific name (gossypium barbadense) — their differences lie in where they come from. Pima cotton is primarily grown in the United States, and Egyptian cotton thrives in the hot, dry climate of the Nile River Valley.
Fabrics made of Egyptian Cotton are softer, finer and last longer than any other cotton so are worth putting the slight extra bit of money into. Since finer yarns mean a higher thread count, the weave of the fabric is significantly stronger and lasts a lot longer than regular cotton.
Egyptian cotton can handle wash temperature of up to 40 degree Celsius while Pima cotton can be washed to 60 degree Celsius. The Egyptian cotton touch is tremendously soft and smooth while Pima is just as soft boasting a high absorbency rate.
The best feature of pima cotton and Egyptian cotton sheets is the feeling that you have as you touch it. They are both extremely soft and smooth. You may find little difference between the two materials, and find that pima cotton is a more affordable choice that provides the same quality feel as Egyptian cotton sheets.
Supima (which stands for Superior pima) is the crème de la crème of all cottons. Supima cotton is very rare- In fact, less than 1% of the cotton grown in the world is Supima cotton.
Long-staple cotton is of the finest quality. Short and medium-length cotton are also available in the market.
Egyptian Cotton and Other Types of Cotton. Compared to “regular” cotton, including pima, Turkish cotton fabric feels softer and more plush due to its longer fibers. Egyptian cotton has the longest fibers, which creates a more plush fabric than Turkish cotton.
What Is Supima cotton? Supima cotton is a superior type of cotton grown in the USA. It represents less than 1% of cotton grown in the world. What makes Supima unique to other cottons is the extra-long staple fiber that gives the cotton its premium properties: Strength, Softness and Color retention.
Pima cotton is among the softest and most delicate kinds of cotton in the world because of its extra-large staple fiber that exceeds the size of average cotton fiber. Almost all luxury brands prefer to use this cotton to facilitate their spinning process and produce a fabric that is even and easy to dye.
Cotton, including Egyptian cotton, can withstand higher heat during washing, while Tencel requires gentler care. In contrast, Tencel sheets are generally more resistant to wrinkling due to their silky smooth texture. Tencel sheets also tend to sleep cooler than cotton sheets, making them a good choice for hot sleepers.
In our tests, top-rated bed sheets often have thread counts between 300 and 500. Anything above 500 isn't necessarily better (so don't be deceived when you see thread counts over 1,500), and on the flip side, you can still find quality sheets with thread counts under 300.
Bamboo sheets cost about the same as a higher thread count sheet set. They are softer, often compared to the softness of cashmere or silk. This is a lot softer than even high quality Egyptian cotton. Bamboo is also a lot more durable, even though it is softer than the cotton sheets.
Giza cotton is grown in Egypt, but what makes it different from Egyptian Cotton is its very specific area of cultivation. Like Sea Island Cotton, Giza needs to be grown near to water, which for Giza tends to be the Nile river. The Nile Delta, to be exact.
The differences between percale and Egyptian cotton sheets lie in the material itself. Similar to percale sheets, Egyptian cotton bed sheets feature a very high thread count. However, Egyptian cotton is only made with the cotton that grows only in the Nile region of Egypt.
At a minimum, look for sheets with an advertised thread count of 200. Anything lower than likely won't feel as soft, and may result in a less comfortable sleeping experience.
Supima cotton stands for “superior cotton,” which is a step above Egyptian cotton in quality and feel. The fibers have superior durability and can stand up to washings easily. You will find that because supima cotton is so soft, your night's sleep will be comfortable and easy.
Overview. - 100% SUPIMA® cotton material made with a special spinning method that gives it a high-quality texture with minimal scuffing. - This season's update features a looser fit at the body and sleeves to create a silhouette that drapes beautifully towards the hem.
Woven sheets are the longest lasting. The standard weave is one thread over, one thread under and is the strongest within the woven group. Some manufacturers, such as those selling sateen bed sheets, may weave four threads over, one thread under.
In fact, Supima cotton is even finer and softer than Egyptian cotton. It also has a longer wearing cycle than Egyptian cotton. In fact, the name Supima cotton actually stands for “superior cotton.”
Cotton is the most popular towel material. But not all cotton towels are created equal. High-quality Turkish and Egyptian cotton produce the best, softest, and most absorbent towels. Whether you need them for yourself or your guest bathroom, cotton bath towels are multitaskers and ideal for everyday use.
Egyptian Cotton comes in many grades. The finer grades of Cotton fiber are called ELS or extra long staple cotton.
Cotton grown without the use of synthetic chemicals is considered 'organic cotton'. Organic cotton can be more susceptible to pest damage. It has been proven to be uneconomical to grow organic cotton in Australia.
Egyptian cotton is acknowledged as the best quality, long staple cotton in the world. Although it historically all came from Egypt, today “Egyptian” cotton is grown worldwide.