Organic Pima Cotton
Peruvian Pima cotton (gossypium barbadense) is considered one of the softest and finest types of cotton in the world. It comes from the rain-rich coastal areas of Peru – here, ideal growing conditions exist in terms of soil quality, rainfall, and temperatures.
Noticeably soft
Refreshing
Sustainable
durable
fine & hard-wearing
Beautiful
The Special Feature of Pima Cotton
It differs from conventional cotton by having a fiber length that is up to twice as long – these particularly long fibers and the small lumen give it an elegant shine and heavenly softness.
Pima cotton is significantly more breathable than most other cotton varieties due to its hollow fiber structure.
Pima cotton is a variety of cotton that is native to the coastal valleys in northern Peru. For thousands of years, Pima cotton has been hand-harvested, making it one of the most environmentally friendly cotton varieties available. This natural harvesting method by hand is eco-friendly and ensures the best yarn quality.
It is this harvesting technique that distinguishes it from all other cotton varieties, which are harvested mechanically and industrially. Manual harvesting avoids all the impurities and imperfections of machine harvesting, making Pima cotton one of the highest quality cotton varieties available.
APU KUNTUR has sourced this fiber directly from its natural habitat to limit the ecological footprint and benefit from local expertise. By directly sourcing Pima cotton from Peru, APU KUNTUR can offer its customers high-quality, durable, and eco-friendly products.
Pima cotton (material in general) is neither sustainable nor unsustainable by itself. The handling of Pima cotton and the measures for its cultivation and harvesting are crucial for sustainability.
The type of cultivation, the economical yet sufficient irrigation, the avoidance of pesticides, and whether the harvest is done by hand or machine are decisive factors in whether a product can be called "sustainable."
At APU KUNTUR, we primarily use Pima cotton from controlled organic cultivation, which is particularly soil- and resource-friendly and free from pesticides. Controlled organic cultivation (kbA) has specific requirements, demands, and conditions to be certified as such. Our Pima cotton comes from certified cultivation.
The thousand-year tradition of Peru in the cultivation and perfection of cotton can be traced back to the pre-Inca cultures. Hand-picking and sorting is particularly environmentally friendly, gentle on the fiber, and ensures that the fiber remains pure and undamaged – this cannot be guaranteed with machine harvesting.
The result is something you can feel immediately: it is incredibly soft, exceptionally durable, and has a unique shine, which is why it is called Silk of South America.
- Has been cultivated in Peru for over 5,000 years
- Is still grown today as it was then: Without chemicals, without pesticides
- Pima cotton is exceptionally durable – Sacred blankets woven during Inca times still exist today!
- Originates from the rain-rich coastal regions of Peru
- Pima cotton is a rare variety that makes up only 3% of global cotton production
- Individual fibers are about 35% longer (≥35mm) than those of regular cotton and about 45% stronger
- Due to its special fiber structure, garments made from Pima cotton have a very good fit.
- Thanks to chemical-free cultivation and processing, Pima cotton is completely natural and perfectly suitable for sensitive skin.
- Hypoallergenic, as no pesticides or chemical treatments are used
- Hand-harvested, gentle & environmentally friendly
- Pesticide-free
- Almost does not need to be washed - airing overnight is sufficient in most cases for a long period
- Pima cotton fibers can absorb up to 8.5% of their own weight in water.
- Pima cotton keeps the warmed air in contact with the body and warms it. At the same time, it absorbs excess moisture. As a result, you sweat less.
Special fiber structure
Fineness & Shine
The fiber length determines the quality of the fabric and influences the perceived shine. The fineness depends on how thin the thread can be twisted. The fibers should overlap by 2/3 to achieve the best possible stability.
The longer the fiber, the fewer fibers need to be used to cover a certain distance. The fewer fibers that need to be used, the softer and shinier the finished fabric is, because the fewer fibers there are, the fewer fiber ends can stick out and scratch. The feeling of softness and the apparent shine depend on how many fiber ends are protruding.
The longer the type of fiber used, the fewer fibers one needs to use, and the fewer fiber ends stick out from the thread. This allows the fabric to be used significantly thinner, feels much softer, and also shines much more.
Comparison of Cotton Varieties
- Fiber length approx. 1.5-2 cm
- cheapest type of cotton, lowest quality
- Fiber length approx. 2.5 cm
- common, cheap T-shirts, medium quality
- Fiber length approx. 3.5 cm
- high-quality cotton, high quality, higher price category