American Pima cotton, used interchangeably with Supima most times, is often held as the standard-bearer of cotton fabrics. For the 2024/25 year, about 100,000 bales have already been sold. (source)
American Pima cotton is characterized by its extra-long length. This gives it exceptional softness and strength. In fact, it is considered twice as strong as regular cotton. Hence, this cotton pills, frays, and fades less over time and is ideal for luxury textiles & home textiles.
However, cotton traders should ensure that the cotton they are dealing with is the best quality American Pima cotton.
How to Test the Quality of American Pima Cotton?
The way to check the quality of American Pima cotton is to ensure it has the Supima certification.
What is Supima?
Supima is an US-based cotton trade organization. The organization acts as a body that certifies that the cotton in question is American-grown extra-long staple Pima cotton.
A Supima trademark means the cotton has been tested stringently and meets all quality standards required. The Supima trademark also means the cotton is grown on licensed farms and is traceable back to the farm where it was grown.
It is crucial to understand that while all Supima cotton is Pima cotton, not all Pima cotton is Supima. Hence, buyers should check whether the cotton being sold bears the Supima trademark or whether it is any other Pima or extra-long staple (like Egyptian) cotton.
Who Can Obtain the Supima License?
Anybody who trades in Supima cotton can hold a Supima license. This means textile manufacturers, cotton mills, and traders can all obtain a Supima license. Currently, there are 400 licensed manufacturers who produce products from premium-grade American Pima i.e. Supima cotton.
These suppliers stretch across the globe, from Supima’s home country of the U.S. to India to Australia and more. Some notable Supima-certified brands include Levi’s, Gap Inc., Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands, and more.
Why is American Pima Cotton Used in Luxury Fabrics?
American Pima cotton is a preferred choice of many luxury fabric-makers. It provides luxury clothes and home décor-makers with the qualities that make them appear premium.
This is because American Pima cotton is smoother, softer, and more durable as compared to your average cotton. This cotton also drapes well, ensuring your luxury fabrics have a wavy, shiny quality.
In What Luxury Fabrics is Pima Cotton Used?
American Pima cotton is used in a variety of luxury fabrics. Some of them include:
- • Premium shirts & t-shirts
- • Tops
- • Sheets
- • Pillows
- • Blankets
- • Athletic wear
- • Fashion accessories such as scarves and socks
It is not that American Pima cotton cannot be used for everyday applications and casualwear. However, it has earned an association with luxury and thus has become a cornerstone for luxury cotton fabric manufacturing.
Some of the luxury brands that use American Pima cotton include:
- • Banana Republic
- • Macy’s
- • Calvin Klien
- • Ralph Lauren
- • Hugo Boss
- • The Souled Store
- • Woolworths
An Uncommon Cotton
American Pima cotton represents less than 1% of all cotton produced in the world. It is thus a rare commodity in the textile world, which adds to its allure.
Being a rare commodity means American Pima cotton is priced at a premium. For clothing and home textile manufacturers, however, it is worth it to pay a premium to get premium-quality clothes.
Price Considerations in American Pima Cotton
For any brand committed to making clothes with Supima cotton, they have to be prepared to pay the price. The cotton often commands a price that is thrice as much as regular cotton. As such, luxury brands need to keep a close eye on American Pima cotton prices.
2025 has seen declining prices for Supima cotton. While 2024 prices averaged out at 4.038 US$/kg, 2025 has seen prices drop to 4.00 US$/kg. As can be seen, however, the fall has not been drastic and American Pima cotton prices have retained stability.
Want to know more about recent Supima price trends? Visit here. The above numbers are also sourced from this page.
Conclusion
While American Pima cotton represents a minority of cotton produced worldwide, it is a mark of quality. When a cotton buyer buys Supima cotton, they get an extra-long staple fibre that is exceptionally strong and soft. Hence, it is a favourite of luxury brands worldwide.
However, these brands must also contend with the prices of the product. For them, the leading tool to keep track of American Pima cotton prices is Fibre2Fashion’s TexPro.
TexPro provides updated pricing information for Supima cotton. It also incorporates historical and forecast prices, making analysis even simpler for sourcing heads.
That’s not all, as TexPro also displays export-import data, tariff rates, and much more regarding American Pima cotton.
For an all-around market intelligence solution for American Pima Cotton, visit TexPro now.
Want to Learn More About Supima Cotton?
If you’re interested in exploring Supima cotton in more detail — including its history, cultivation, and market dynamics — check out our in-depth Supima Cotton Fabric Guide. It offers a comprehensive overview that complements the insights shared in this article.
