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cotton

Supima cotton

A licensed trademark for 100% American-grown Pima cotton. The Supima association licenses the name and runs origin-verification programmes.

How it’s made

  1. 1Grown by US farmers (mostly California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico) under the Supima licence.
  2. 2Combed and ring-spun like other ELS cottons.
  3. 3Licensed mills and brands can use the Supima name; some products are DNA-tested for fibre origin.

What to look for

  • The ® Supima mark on the label
  • Garment weight (GSM) and yarn type matter as much as fibre

Pros

  • Verified origin
  • Soft, durable, low pilling

Cons

  • Higher price
  • US-grown, so longer transport for European brands

Typical use

Streetwear:
T-shirts, underwear, shirting.

Sustainability

Mostly conventionally farmed and irrigated. Traceability is the strong point.