What is better pima cotton or Organic cotton?

Answer 1

Pima cotton is a type of cotton grown primarily in the United State's Southwest. It is considered to be one of the superior blends of cotton, and is extremely durable and absorbent. Pima cotton is named after the Pima Native Americans who first cultivated the plant in the US, but its origins date back to its cultivation in Peru. Pima cotton bears some similarity to many forms of Egyptian cotton, which is frequently used in towels and sheets. In other words, a piece of Egyptian cotton has a much more extensive weave than other types of cotton. Towels made from Egyptian cotton are particularly desirable because they are very soft and help absorb water from the body quickly. Since Egyptian cotton was so desirable, the US decided to try growing a type of it in the Southwest, which is a somewhat similar climate to Egypt. The resultant cotton was a mix of Egyptian and other types of cotton. Pima cotton is a little shorter than Egyptian cotton but still yields a thread that can be woven multiple times into a piece of fabric to create a dense, soft fabric. Pima cotton has long threads similar to Egyptian cotton, which made it an ideal type for development in the US. Cultivation of this form of cotton became especially popular in the early 20th century. Length of threads make it a desirable choice for many products since it can be woven into soft dense fabric. Pima cotton has applications in a wide variety of products. It is used in towels, sheets, and clothing. Pima cotton in clothing is most often used in shirts for both men and women. Companies like Eddie Bauer and Land's End boast numerous products. Woven sweaters made with pima cotton are, as well, quite popular. They are light to wear, yet provide superior warmth. Men's socks can be made with pima cotton, but will often include some elastic to keep the socks up. Men often prefer these socks above others because of their softness and density. Additionally they tend not to wear out quickly. One of the advantages of pima cotton is that the thickness of the cloth it weaves creates a very durable fabric. Those who market this cotton claim their products can last up to 50% longer than fabrics made from other forms of cotton. A disadvantage to pima cotton is that greater absorbency means stains are more readily formed. Some retailers who use pima in clothing now coat the cloth with an anti-stain guard.

Answer 2

Pima cotton is softer than Egyptian cotton.By definition, Pima cotton is an Extra Long Staple (ELS) variety of cotton. "Egyptian cotton" describes where the cotton was grown, but not necessarily the variety of cotton. Egyptian cotton may be a Long Staple (LS) or ELS variety, but the vast majority of cotton grown in Egypt is LS.

ELS strands of cotton fiber, when spun into thread, and then woven into cloth, have a softer and more luxurious feel. This is due to the fact that the ELS is physically longer; there are fewer end points of the strands sticking up from the cloth. This feels softer. Hence, the long studied, researched, documented superiority of Pima cotton stands.

Next time some blowhard bloviates about their Egyptian cotton sheets, you can confidently - and correctly - tell them to stuff it. If you are feeling kind, point them in the direction of your favorite Pima Cotton purveyor of fine soft goods.

Please see: http://www.Arizona.edu/stories/build/build-cotton.php

and http://www.supima.com for the specifications of Pima cotton, it's history and development.

Answer 3

Simply stating "egyptian cotton better than pima cotton..." is completely meaningless. "Egyptian cotton" simply refers to a country where cotton is grown and does not refer to any variety or quality considerations. This is the same as saying Australian cotton, Peruvian cotton or US cotton. "Pima cotton" on the other hand refers to a variety of cotton that was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the early 1900's. The Pima name is the name of the Pima indians in Arizona and was given to the cotton variety breed in the Sacaton, AZ area. This variety is a Gossypium Barbadense species and is an Extra-Long Staple cotton. Today the Pima name is used to refer to generic Extra-Long Staple cotton varieties or products made from these special cottons.

Answer 4

It depends what you're looking for in a sheet. Egyptian cotton grows along the Nile river and tend to be longer than their cotton counterparts which means they tend to be softer and stronger. Most manufacturers tend to have them in higher thread counts (800+/-) but a higher thread count doesn't necessarily mean better. Micro cotton is extra long staple cotton that has a unique weave which allows sheets to breathe for your ultimate comfort; long-lasting softness even after multiple repeated washing. This is why I think micro cotton is better and I prefer it. I have a micro cotton standard sham by hotel collection. I bought at Macy's and it looks and feels amazingly like silk but it's 100% cotton; it's 700 thread count and retains warmth well, perfect for a cold night.

Answer 5

Both and neither. Pima cotton is a species of cotton whose fibers are longer and smoother than other cotton plants. Mercerized cotton, on the other hand, is a process of treating cotton once it has been picked and spun. The mercerizing process works best on cotton with longer fibers, which makes Pima favorable for this treatment.

Answer 6

Better is a judgement and you are the judge.

Answer 7

Better is a judgement call, and you are the judge.