The Fascinating Journey of Pima Cotton: From the Coastal Origins to the Runways
Hello, fashion lovers and history buffs! Let's dive into the origins and spread of one of the most treasured fibers in the textile world: extra-long staple cotton, scientifically known as Gossypium barbadense L.
Are you ready for a trip back in time?
A Journey to the Origins
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Our journey begins in northern Peru and southern Ecuador. Thanks to various studies in botany, taxonomy, biochemistry, and genetics, it has been confirmed that this region is the birthplace of Gossypium barbadense L.
This cotton, which includes the extra-long staple Pima varieties, spread in pre-Hispanic times to the central and southern coast of Peru and eventually to the Amazon.
The Great Transcontinental Spread
The story of cotton took a significant turn during the colonization of the Americas. Native short and extra-long staple cotton varieties traveled from South America and Georgia in the United States to the Caribbean.
There, these varieties adapted and were then taken to Europe, particularly Spain and France.
But the adventure doesn't end there. From Europe, these cotton varieties crossed the Mediterranean to Egypt.
Here, the magic of genetics came into play. With the help of English geneticists, the first varieties of long and extra-long staple Egyptian cotton were developed. This Egyptian cotton, renowned for its softness and durability, was the precursor to American Pima cotton.
The Return Home
In 1923, American Pima cotton made an exciting return to its place of origin, Piura in northern Peru, under the scientific name Gossypium barbadense L. This return marked the beginning of a new era for cotton in Peru, solidifying its reputation as one of the world's best cottons.
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Genetic Improvement: A Promising Future
Since 1993, significant genetic improvements have been made to the original Pima variety in the United States. The result? Modern varieties with higher productivity and unmatched fiber quality.
The Peruvian Cotton Institute (IPA), founded in 1997, has played a crucial role in this story. Thanks to collaboration with Dr. Richard Percy from the University of Arizona and the use of Tangüis cotton, which is resistant to adverse coastal conditions, the Pima-IPA-59 variety was developed. Since 2008, this variety has been commercially cultivated in various valleys along the Peruvian coast, marking a milestone in the production of high-quality cotton.
The journey of Gossypium barbadense L. is a fascinating story of adaptation, improvement, and return to its roots.
This cotton has traveled a long way to become the king of textile fibers!
The KIPA team
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Source: https://bioseguridad.minam.gob.pe/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/libroalgodonfinal.pdf