Pima Cotton Sheets

Most of us are well aware of the Egyptian cotton variety. The Egyptian cotton is well-known for its soft and comforting nature, as well as the extra long threads and fabrics that can be produced from it. The Egyptian cotton is a product of Imperial and Colonial era cultivation across the globe, and were fueled by European investment. This variety of cotton was principally grown around the Nile basin in colonies and nations such as Egypt, which gives the cotton its name. The British textile mills in late 19th and early 20th centuries were fed by this kind of cotton and were instrumental in mechanizing and finalizing the process of developing high-grade cotton cloth from yarns.

In the newly formed United States of America, many attempts were made to start cultivation of cotton and manufacturing its cloth. One attempt was exceptionally successful and the efforts were put in by the ingenious native Americans, immigrant Europeans and United States farmers. This cotton was eventually used to make sheets.

What is Pima Cotton?

Some reviews describe it to be an Extra Long Staple (abbreviated as an ELS) and is a parallel cotton brand to the conventional Egyptian cotton. The southwestern coastal states of the United States have a climate that is very much like that Egypt and Central and Deccan India. Both these regions have been hubs of cotton cultivation for quite a long period of time. Due to the climate similarities and large availability of land, a widespread cultivation of cotton crop began in these coastal farming communities. The cultivation and production of the cotton crop was largely facilitated by the local community of Pima Indians, which gives the cotton brand its name. Botanists have termed this cotton variety as a member of Gossypium barbadense species. It must be noted that Pima cotton is also produced in regions such as Peru and Australia.

Pima Cotton Sheets

The great thing about Pima cotton is that it has an extra long-staple which makes it convenient for production of yarn and cloth. This type of cotton gives an extremely effective long-staple (thread), which makes dense fiber. Such fibers are mostly used to produce towel sheets and clothing. Post World war II period, proved to be a convenient time for sheets production. The North American fashion for common people was driven by 2 aspects sports and corporate outfits. Pima cotton is used in both the fashion categories. Pima sheets are used for the manufacture of cotton socks, sweatshirts, and all categories of T-shirts. The American world of sports has been a pioneer propagator of use of Pima cotton clothes. Apart from sportswear, the cotton cloth has been found in several corporate fashions brands. Pima cotton sateen sheets are an elementary material that are used in corporate fashion.

A huge cultivation area, large manpower that is situated in urban areas and enormous cotton-producing cultivation land has worked out well for the agricultural and textile sector of the United States that effectively produces billions of Pima sheets every year, a substantial portion of which is exported. The American economy with its well established textile sector and agricultural cotton production caters to the needs of cotton sheets of millions of customers throughout the world every year. The fashion industry is not left behind in promoting the use of Pima cotton.

The nature of the fiber is another very good feature that has to be exploited. Pima sheets are plain white, flexible and host any dye and color which makes it an ideal textile, especially for mass-produced clothing.

Egyptian cotton sheets may be smoother and softer than the Pima sheets not to mention the longer length. But the widespread use of Pima sheets in the clothing industry is somewhat a legend. Thus, next time you pick up an ordinary set of Pima sheets, or a new jersey, a sweatshirt or even a pair of socks, bear in mind that the cotton has traveled a long way from Southwestern fields, to some mill, then to some factory of sports goods and finally to the showroom.