Gilkey Enterprises & Supima
So what is Supima & why?
Its "The champagne of cottons" of course.....
Supima is a rare, premium natural fiber. It is grown on approximately 500 family owned farms, Gilkey Enterprises (my family's farm) included. Many of these farms are passed down from generation to generation. Their land is their legacy and great care is taken to preserve the health of the soil and conserve the water that nourishes it....truly.
In 1954 a group of family farmers establish the Supima Organization and rename American-grown Pima cotton as Supima®. The name comes from a combination of the words “Superior” and “Pima."
So you know, not all cottons are equal. Supima and regular cotton are in fact two different and distinct species of cotton. The most common type of cotton grown around the world typically has a fiber length of only about 1 inch, whereas Supima cotton’s fiber averages 1.5 inches. While shorter fibers produce yarns that are rougher and subject to pilling on the surface of the product, longer fibers contribute to the strength and softness of apparel and home products, ensuring that they are more comfortable, retain color longer and resist pilling over time. How cool is that?
93% SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. 3% ARIZONA. 2% NEW MEXICO. 2% TEXAS
Peep the timeline of Supima.....
Supima is doing a kick ass job in painting the authentic #farmtocloset picture. Take a minute to watch the video below. This past month, Supima hosted its first Supima Harvest Celebration. Kicking off in the town of Valencia, California, selected for its access to the San Joaquin Valley, the first annual Supima Harvest Celebration brought together representatives of 20 leading brands from two continents.
From “Ted-style” talks and Q&A sessions with a select panel of speakers to a field trip day that included stops at a ginning facility, the classing office of the USDA, and a working farm, attendees were treated to a crash course on Supima cotton.
I'm so proud of Supima, beyond proud of these hard working farmers and ecstatic to have luxury brands out in our neck of the woods to witness just where the champagne of cotton comes from.
Its a pretty spectacular rarity to be a designer, born into a family that sits at the forefront of fashion. I think its about time we pay tribute to those who work the land and are responsible for turning that dirt into a shirt. xo- Taylor
Taylor Gilkey Laird
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