Now that you’re educated on the types of fabrics available for custom shirts, we wanted to take a deeper dive into the most common choice for dress shirts: cotton. Haven’t read our previous blog post yet? Read it first, here. 

Cotton is a natural fiber that grows from cotton plants. It can be knitted or woven, and is sometimes mixed with other types of fibers to create a fabric blend. There are many types of cotton available today. We’ve explained the different varieties below including where they come from, what their traits are, and how they’re ranked amongst each other.

EGYPTIAN & GIZA

People tend to ask for this type of cotton by name, but what really ranks Egyptian as supreme, and what’s the difference between its cotton counterparts? First off, this cotton comes from the country of Egypt where the climate allows for a unique production of long fibers. This can then be turned into thinner fibers for weaving which allows a lightweight touch, but it does not sacrifice its strength as it tends to have a higher thread count. Therefore, Egyptian cotton items tend to last much longer than regular cotton ones (typically 40-50 years). A lot of companies claim to have “Egyptian cotton” products, but be wary of counterfeits.

Giza cotton is a subcategory of Egyptian cotton, but this type is produced in a specific area along the Nile delta. It is known to be the most fertile part of the country and can only produce a limited amount each year. Oftentimes it is hand-harvested and hand-combed, which help keep the long fibers intact. It is considered the strongest cotton, while still retaining an extremely soft touch. If you’re wondering why its usually the most expensive type of cotton, now you know!

PIMA

Another common cotton type is Pima. It is grown in the southern United States. Although its very similar to Egyptian cotton as is too produces a long fiber staple, it comes up slightly short. Pima still creates fabrics that are soft to the touch and very strong. These crops take up to 9 months to grow, which accounts for its higher cost compared to other types.

SUPIMA

Only grown in the US, most commonly in the southern states such as California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Usually items with Supima label are domestically produced and must be sourced through a licensed supply chain. Supima cotton grows extra-long staples (about 1.5″).

UPLAND

Upland cotton accounts for 99% of the cotton grown in the United States (with the other 1% being Pima), and is the primary cotton for most products around the world. Typically produced in (but not limited to) Texas, Georgia, and Mississippi, it grows medium and short-staple fibers.

SEA ISLAND

Grown on the West Indian Sea Islands, there is no guessing where this cotton is from. The isles, like the Nile, also have a unique and perfected climate to flourish in. It has a very uniform texture, high-strength, luster, and the touch of cashmere/silk. You may not have heard of Sea Island since it only account for 0.008% of all cotton produced every year. There are companies that label their cotton “Sea Island quality”, but only those products bearing the West Indies Sea Island Cotton Association labels are authentic.

Which type of cotton is your preferred choice? Let us know in the comments below!