What is Supima or Pima cotton? Is it available in Indian wholesale?

Supima (a brand name for American Pima cotton) and Pima cotton are varieties of extra-long staple (ELS) cotton — the finest cotton category. The "extra-long staple" refers to the length of individual cotton fibres:

• Regular cotton: Staple length 22–28 mm
• Long staple (Egyptian / Giza): 28–35 mm
• Extra-long staple (Pima / Supima): 35–45 mm

Why longer staple matters: Longer fibres spin into finer, stronger, smoother yarn — the fabric feels softer, is more resistant to pilling, and retains colour better over many washes.

Availability in India:

• Genuine Supima (American-grown, Supima Association certified) is imported and used in premium export-quality garment manufacturing — not common in mainstream Surat wholesale
• India grows its own ELS cotton — Suvin cotton from Tamil Nadu is considered among the finest cottons in the world, comparable to Pima
• For premium boutiques: Suvin cotton garments from Tamil Nadu manufacturers are the Indian equivalent of Supima