October 7 is World Cotton Day , a date to raise awareness of the stakeholders involved in your value chain – from the field to the fabric and beyond. This day starts from different premises. We also introduce the different types of cotton, such as organic for sustainability.
This day is celebrated, according to the World Trade Organization, at the initiative of the Cotton Four ( Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali ), in order for the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the importance of cotton as a basic product Worldwide.
What are the objectives of this day?
- Give visibility and recognition to cotton.
- Mobilize donors and beneficiaries.
- Seek new collaborations with the private sector and investors in favor of the cotton industries.
- Promote technological advances.
Cotton characteristics
According to the United Nations, cotton is one of the most common fabrics in making T-shirts and garments in general. It is comfortable, hypoallergenic, breathable and durable.
This durable, versatile and naturally organic fabric is made from fluffy white fibers around the seeds of cotton plants. Cotton occupies only 2.1% of the world’s arable land, but meets 27% of global textile needs.
Various types of cotton
- Short staple (Indian cotton)
- Medium fiber (American cotton)
- Long staple (Egyptian cotton)
In addition, there are various distinctions such as fil a fil, a fabric that usually alternates thread colors. Or the thicker weave Oxford for which two cotton threads are used.
There is also poplin, which is softer and comes from the combination of two different thicknesses of threads. For its part, the cotton twill fabric, which has to do with a more or less marked diagonal structure.
Organic cotton
In recent times, organic cotton is increasingly used. It is characterized by being grown without using transgenic (modified) plants nor does it use synthetic chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides.
In addition, for it to be really like this, it is important that it has the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certificate that verifies that its composition is organic and also that it meets certain requirements in the fight to protect the environment.
It is yet another way to protect the environment and contribute, together, to a better world on this World Cotton Day.
