Farmers generating crops for ethanol production aren’t the only ones smiling over increased demand. With the organic cotton industry expected to climb to $226 million in sales by 2009 (up from $19 million in 2004), domestic cotton growers are also reaping the benefits.
The shift to introduce clothing that has minimal impact on the environment was one of the highlights for fashion in 2007. It’s only expected to increase as we move through the New Year. Companies like American Apparel and prAna will start selling shirts spun with cotton grown in California’s Central Valley and sewn just a few hours away, in Southern California, to avoid burning fossil fuels in transporting the materials. Giant Walmart is also getting caught in the mix. From the article,
“Coral Rose, who spearheaded Wal-Mart’s first purchase of organic yoga clothes in 2004 when she was a women’s apparel buyer at Sams Club, said once companies start switching to natural fibers, it’s only a matter of time before they start thinking about other sustainable design practices. Wal-Mart is now the biggest seller of organic cotton products worldwide. ‘It’s a total mindset shift at the design level,’ said Rose, now a consultant based in Fayetteville, Ark. ‘It holds the designer accountable for their designs and their impacts.’”
While I’m not thrilled about the corn lobby getting involved in ethanol production (I’m hoping a shift to perennial grasses is not too far away), I’m happy to see organic cotton farmers finding new markets for their products. Hopefully, this is a trend that will become a standard through the fashion industry — making it a win for mother nature, farmers, and the consumer.
via discovery news
