The Difference Between Supima & Egyptian Cotton Bedding
Luxury bedding and high-quality sheets are often first experienced during a stay in an upscale hotel. Guests enjoy the good night's sleep afforded by smooth, soft, comfortable sheets and, once home, decide to buy high-quality sheets for their own bedrooms. The best hotel sheets are often made of Egyptian or Supima cottons, so these have become synonymous with high-quality bedding. Does this Spark an idea?
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Location - Egyptian Cotton
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Egyptian cotton, as you would expect, is grown primarily along the Nile river in Egypt. Any cotton grown in Egypt can be referred to as Egyptian cotton, however; there is no quality standard attached to the use of this label.
Location - Supima Cotton
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American Pima cotton is grown primarily in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and California. The American Pima cotton growers' association's promotional arm is referred to as "Supima," a marketing name derived from the shortened form of "superior Pima." This group issues trademark licences, which indicate whether a product is comprised of 100 percent American Pima cotton.
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Extra-Long Staple
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The cotton fiber used to make high-end sheets usually consists of cotton with an extra-long staple, or ELS. ELS cotton fibers are at least 1 3/8 inches long. Long fibers result in a strong, smooth, luxurious sheet.
Fibers - Egyptian Cotton
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Egypt does produce the largest amount of ELS cotton in the world. However, not all Egyptian cotton is ELS cotton. Quality Egyptian cotton fibers are usually 1/2 inch longer than standard cotton fibers. Egyptian fibers are also thinner than many other types of cotton fiber.
Fibers - Supima Cotton
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All Supima cotton is, by definition, ELS cotton. According to the Supima Association, a standard staple of Supima cotton is 35 percent longer and 45 percent stronger than standard cotton fibers. This makes sheets manufactured with Supima cotton durable and comfortable.
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