Our Fabrics
Every pair of The Cat's Pajamas is cut from one of seven fabrics. Almost all of them are Peruvian Pima cotton — an extra-long-staple cotton whose longer fibers spin into a smoother, stronger, softer yarn that pills less and gets softer with every wash. Here is how they differ, lightest to heaviest.
| Fabric | Weight | Fiber | Stretch | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voile | 1 — lightest | 100% cotton, woven in India | None | Warm sleepers, hot summer nights, travel |
| Luxe Pima | 2 — light | 100% Peruvian Pima, woven poplin | None | Warm sleepers; year-round weight |
| Pima Organic | 2 — light | 100% GOTS-certified organic Peruvian Pima, jersey knit | A little, from the knit | Sensitive skin; everyday wear; gifting |
| Silk | 2 — light | 19-momme washable Mulberry silk | None | Occasions, honeymoons, the top of the gift list |
| Pima Knit | 3 — medium | 48% Pima cotton, 48% modal, 4% spandex | Yes | Year-round, lounging, the ones you don't want to take off |
| Poplin | 3 — medium | 100% cotton broadcloth | None | Year-round; anyone who likes a crisp pajama |
| Flannel | 5 — heaviest | 100% Peruvian Pima, brushed both sides | None | The coldest nights; cabins; December gifting |
Which fabric is best for hot sleepers or summer?
Voile is our lightest and most breathable fabric, an airy, loosely woven 100% cotton made for hot nights and travel. Luxe Pima is the next lightest: crisp cotton poplin that stays cool and is comfortable year-round in most climates. Both are woven, so they hold air off the skin rather than clinging.
Which fabric is warmest for winter?
Flannel. Ours is 100% Peruvian Pima cotton brushed on both sides to a thick, sumptuous finish, and it is the heaviest fabric we make. Pima Knit is the middle ground: warmer than Luxe Pima or Voile because it is a knit, but not as heavy as flannel.
What is Pima cotton, and how is it different from Supima or Egyptian cotton?
Pima, Supima and Egyptian cotton are all extra-long-staple (ELS) varieties of the same cotton species, Gossypium barbadense. Supima is a trademark for Pima grown in the United States; Egyptian cotton is grown in the Nile valley. Ours is Peruvian Pima, hand-picked in the Piura region, which produces some of the longest, silkiest fibers in the world. Hand-picking rather than machine harvesting keeps the fibers intact, which is why Peruvian Pima has a noticeable luster and softness.
Which fabrics have stretch?
Pima Knit has real stretch, from 4% spandex. Pima Organic is a jersey knit, so it gives a little without any spandex. Luxe Pima, Poplin, Voile, Flannel and Silk are wovens with no stretch, so we cut them with extra room.
Which fabric is best for sensitive skin?
Many customers with sensitive skin choose our Pima Organic and Luxe Pima styles. Both are 100% cotton with no synthetic fibers, and the long Pima staple spins into a smoother yarn with fewer loose fiber ends against the skin. Pima Organic is GOTS-certified, which restricts the chemicals used in growing and processing the cotton. Our adult pajamas are not treated with flame-retardant chemicals.
Will my pajamas shrink?
A little. Cotton shrinks about 5% in the first wash — roughly a quarter inch in length — and we have already built that into the sizing, so you do not need to size up. Our knits are pre-shrunk and our wovens are not, but both settle by about the same amount. Washing cold and tumbling on low, or hanging to dry, keeps it to a minimum.
How do I wash them?
Machine wash cold, inside out, with like colors, then tumble dry low or hang to dry. That is it for Luxe Pima, Pima Knit, Pima Organic, Poplin, Voile and Flannel. Skip bleach and fabric softener; softener coats cotton fibers and makes them feel less soft over time. Silk: hand wash or machine wash cold on delicate in a mesh bag with a gentle detergent, and lay flat to dry.
Do they pill?
Pima cotton's long fibers make it far less prone to pilling than ordinary cotton. Pima Knit, because it is a jersey blend, benefits from a gentle cycle and a break between washes. If a pill does appear, a fabric shaver removes it without harming the fabric.
Pima Knit
Soft jersey knit with drape and a little stretch. Our Peruvian Pima cotton is hand-harvested to preserve each silky fiber's natural luster and softness. Blended with modal for a graceful drape and a touch of spandex for stretch, it moves beautifully with you — the ultimate in relaxed refinement. 48% Pima cotton, 48% modal, 4% spandex. Medium weight. Machine wash cold, tumble low.
Luxe Pima
Cool, crisp lightweight Pima cotton. Crisp cotton poplin woven from 100% Peruvian Pima — smooth, softly structured, fresh-pressed. Light weight, no stretch. Machine wash cold, tumble low; it softens with every wash.
Pima Organic
100% organic Pima cotton in a jersey knit. Our 100% organic Peruvian Pima cotton offers effortless ease in a breathable, silky-soft knit. Certified by GOTS, the leading global standard for organic textiles, and produced in a WRAP-certified facility that ensures fair and responsible manufacturing. Light weight. Machine wash cold, tumble low.
Flannel
Brushed 100% Pima cotton; sumptuous and cozy. Crafted from 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, our flannel is brushed to an irresistibly soft finish, creating a fabric that feels sumptuous against the skin and perfectly cozy to wear. Our heaviest fabric. Machine wash cold, tumble low.
Voile
Airy, loosely woven lightweight Indian cotton. Our voile is an exceptionally soft 100% cotton fabric, woven in India for a smooth, airy feel against the skin. With its fine, breathable weave, it drapes beautifully and is ideal for comfort during the warmer months. Our lightest fabric. Machine wash cold, line or tumble low.
Silk
Luxurious washable silk. Made from the finest 19-momme Mulberry silk; cool, crisp and sumptuous. Light weight, no stretch. Hand wash or machine wash cold.
Poplin
Classic cotton poplin broadcloth. Smooth, durable cotton broadcloth, crisper and a little heavier than Luxe Pima, and not Pima cotton. Today it is used only for our perennial Sushi print. Medium weight. Machine wash cold, tumble low.
Where are your fabrics made?
Peru, with one exception. Our Pima cotton is grown, spun, woven or knitted, and sewn within a few hours of Lima, in a factory that holds a Platinum WRAP certification. Keeping the whole process in one country cuts shipping between steps and lets us visit the people who make our pajamas regularly. Our voile is woven in India.