Cotton is the world’s most popular natural fiber, grown by over 24 million cotton growers and involving 100 million families worldwide.
While cotton farmers and workers are indispensable to the global fashion industry, they are largely excluded from conversations and stories around sustainability. To understand and transform the fashion and textile industry, we need their perspectives and stories, and we need to grapple with the social and ecological issues around cotton.
Cotton At The Source is a project led by Cotton Diaries and A Growing Culture, in collaboration with journalists, storytellers and cotton farmer communities. We seek to reframe narratives, place farmers at the centre, and recognise the solutions they are driving forward.
FASHION BEGINS IN THE HANDS OF FARMERS.
Far from the buzz of fashion week and fashion’s flashy exterior — communities around the world are already growing cotton in ways that provide dignified livelihoods, climate resilience and food sovereignty. In this Stories From the Ground booklet, we feature three case studies from Brazil, Benin and India, highlighting examples of promising community-powered solutions.
Who’s this booklet for?
- Professionals in fashion and textile industries
- Editors and storytellers looking for on-the-ground stories ideas
- Climate and social justice activists looking to learn from holistic and community-centered solutions
ACCESS THE BOOKLET HERE:
INVITATION TO MEDIA
Narratives about cotton have become narrow and simplistic. Whether it’s a viral story about a fast fashion brand praised for its most sustainable denim collection ever, or cotton being a “thirsty” crop, we can agree there’s more to the story of cotton and sustainability than what’s portrayed. With a growing demand and interest in sustainable clothes, journalists and storytellers have the responsibility to look beyond the surface and have the power to influence holistic solutions.
INVITATION TO MEDIA
Narratives about cotton have become narrow and simplistic. Whether it’s a viral story about a fast fashion brand praised for its most sustainable denim collection ever, or cotton being a “thirsty” crop, we can agree there’s more to the story of cotton and sustainability than what’s portrayed. With a growing demand and interest in sustainable clothes, journalists and storytellers have the responsibility to look beyond the surface and have the power to influence holistic solutions.
MEDIA WORKSHOP
On March 5th, 2024: we held a workshop to debunk myths about cotton, unpacking how journalists can incorporate farmers’ perspectives in stories, and better cover the intersections of cotton, fashion, sustainability, ecological and gender issues. Watch the playback here!
PRESS FORUM
On March 19th, we held a series of conversations with cotton growers from around the world, who are overcoming legacies of industrial agriculture, soil decline, hunger, debt and climate crises — issues that often surround cotton production today. These farmers from Benin, India and Brazil are participating in alternative (organic or agroecological) cotton projects. Through their work, they are demonstrating what hopeful, potential pathways forward can look like.
Hear their stories here!
PRESS FORUM
On March 19th, we held a series of conversations with cotton growers from around the world, who are overcoming legacies of industrial agriculture, soil decline, hunger, debt and climate crises — issues that often surround cotton production today. These farmers from Benin, India and Brazil are participating in alternative (organic or agroecological) cotton projects. Through their work, they are demonstrating what hopeful, potential pathways forward can look like.
Hear their stories here!
MEDIA TOOLKIT
This toolkit aims to equip journalists and storytellers with the knowledge and tools to tell better stories about cotton.