Egyptian Cotton vs Supima Cotton: Difference and Comparison

There are numerous types of fabrics available in the market. Cotton fiber is a primary choice for many people. Egyptian cotton and Supima cotton have been in the market for centuries.

They are soft, luxurious cotton fabrics popularly utilized in creating cotton bed sheets as they are perfect for sleeping needs. 

Key Takeaways

  1. Egyptian cotton originates from the Nile River Valley, while Supima cotton comes from the United States.
  2. Supima cotton fibers are longer and more durable than Egyptian cotton fibers.
  3. Egyptian and Supima cotton are known for their softness, breathability, and high-quality feel.

Egyptian Cotton vs Supima Cotton

Egyptian cotton is a type of cotton that is grown and harvested in Egypt. It is known for its long fibers, which make it very soft, durable, and strong. Supima cotton is known for its vibrant color retention, which allows it to maintain its bright colors even after multiple washings.

Egyptian Cotton vs Supima Cotton

Egyptian cotton is a luxurious, high-quality fabric, ideally used in cotton bedsheets. Egyptian cotton is a specially designed fiber grown in Egypt.

It requires a particular climate offered near the Nile river with fertile, dense, and nutrient-rich soils. The hand-picked fibers generate less stress on the cotton fibers and add to their value. 

Supima Cotton is a long and strong cotton fabric. One of the biggest originators of Supima is the United States. It is recognized as the Superior cotton.

It requires vigorous levels of production and manufacturing to get the finest results. It has long yarns of thread and is among the popular cotton categories. 

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonEgyptian CottonSupima Cotton
ClimateModerate climate with regular humidity.Require temperatures of hot and high humidity. 
Wash CyclesCan sustain a fair amount of wash cycles. Supima is a higher-quality fabric and can handle many more wash cycles.
Longevity It can last for decades ranging between 30 to 50 years.It lasts the longest. It can sustain three times any regular cotton.
Quality It is blended with inferior quality fabrics. Supima follows a strict quality to ensure the highest quality cotton.
DurabilityIt is durable depending on the quality of the fabric.It is highly durable.

What is Egyptian Cotton?

Egyptian cotton is a specialization of Egypt. The size of the strand is 1.5 inches to 2 inches.

The strands are long, strong, and likely to provide a similar structure to a silk garment. It is popularly used to develop towels, clothes, bedsheets, and more. 

The striking feature of Egyptian cotton is the number of thread counts. It is better than regular cotton because the yarn of Egyptian cotton is longer and extracted without compromising on the length.

This lack of resistance and friction in the hand-picking process makes the fabric luxurious and unique. 

Egyptian cotton originates from the species of Gossypium Barbadense. Pima, another high-quality cotton comes from Gossypium.

The slight difference comes from the particular climate of Egypt that makes Egyptian cotton longer and denser. 

Egyptian cotton is prominent because of its appealing characteristics. These characteristics include a consistent finish throughout the fabric and retaining colors.

Egyptian cotton has a porous structure. It allows the fabric to pass air through it conveniently.

Egyptian Cotton requires few washes to reach its optimum softness.

It requires care and can be damaged with rigorous washes in hot water or softeners. It may develop more wrinkles, compared to other cotton fabrics. 

egyptian cotton

What is Supima Cotton?

Supima is a type of cotton regarded as one of the prevalent types of cotton in the world. Supima is a higher variant of Pima cotton.

Supima originates from Gossypium Barbadense. Gossypium Barbadense is known to produce ELS (Extra-Long Staple) cotton. It is easier and more efficient to twist into yarn. 

Supima is cherished for its ability to handle piling effectively.

It does not produce pilling and can handle the cotton balls of tangled cotton fibers that form on the surface. It is crucial to sustaining the smooth and clear yarn surface. 

The value of Supima is superior to any other cotton fibers because of its strength. It is hand-crafted. The manufacturing process is time-consuming with hand-picked cotton seeds. 

Supima is grown in a non-toxic, clean, and sustainable environment. Supima is a highly tensile fabric and holds significant importance in the customer-end market.

It is primarily in textiles like cotton bedsheets, in garments such as shirts and dresses. 

Supima fibers are capable of absorbing colors conveniently. It provides vibrant and bright color shades.

It allows The Supima yarns to be lighter and have an average length of 1.5 inches. It is 35% longer than regular cotton fibers. It is a valuable fiber because of its distinct qualities. 

supima cotton

Main Differences Between Egyptian Cotton and Supima Cotton

  1. Egyptian cotton is a high-quality fabric. It may not pose as a great choice for sensitive people due to the mixing with other inferior fibers. Supima cotton is perfect for people with skin sensitivities. It avoids dust mites and mold developed by moisture. 
  2. Egyptian has an astonishing caliber. However, Supima offers higher quality than Eqyptian cotton. 
  3. Egyptian cotton is likely to have less durability than Supima cotton. 
  4. Egyptian cotton does not constitute a regulated material. Whereas Supima cotton is a regulated material, assuring its quality.
  5. Egyptian cotton can be found in Egypt, South America, and Peru. Supima cotton is grown in Texas, New Mexico, California, and Arizona. 
Difference Between Egyptian Cotton and Supima Cotton
References
  1. http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/857801468744274005/pdf/multi0page.pdf
  2. https://platform.almanhal.com/Files/2/94622

Last Updated : 19 July, 2023

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