Cotton textiles – context and facts

Only 2% of cotton production is organic so far, mostly made in India and Turkey. It is grown with natural plant protecting agents and mainly rainwater, preserving soils, waters, biodiversity and climate. Farmers usually have better revenues. Our organic cotton is GOTS certified and GMO-free.

We work with a small manufacture in Bosnia. Their clients are fashion designers from Switzerland, Netherlands and Scandinavia. We have visited it and discussed a lot with the director. We are absolutely convinced of the good working conditions for the ladies who assemble the gis and the high quality they deliver.

Cultivated on 2,5% of the world’s arable land, mostly China, USA and India, with about 16% of the world’s pesticides: cotton is a most polluting crop. It is very thirsty. Soils are heavily damaged. Most conventional cotton is genetically modified.

Three quarters of cotton comes from irrigated land, drying out entire regions (i.e. Aral lake tragedy). During the production process of a conventional cotton uniform, a staggering 30.000-50.000 liters of water are used. Organic cotton farming needs 90% less water than conventional cotton.

The garment sector is most labour-intense. Millions of women work at lowest wages that don’t cover their living costs. Countless over-hours, physical and verbal abuse, unsanitary and unsafe working conditions and child labour are their sad conditions.