The Value of Cotton beyond your Clothing
Exploring the Cotton textile apparel and Cotton by-products value chain
Clothing tags sometimes are the final piece of information that help us determine whether or not to make that purchase. As you go through the clothing labels on the garment rack, one common fiber that makes up most of our clothing is cotton.
Cotton - part of the cotton plant that grows in the boll, the encasing for the fluffy cotton fibers.
When it comes to the cotton value chain, the African continent has more to offer beyond cotton farming. Cotton is spun into yarn that is then woven to create a soft, durable fabric. The full value chain of cotton is often categorized into multiple stages of production, each with a function that adds value to what the natural fiber offers.
The African continent has found competitive advantage in the initial stage of the process: farming. Temperatures around the equator are fertile for production of the cotton crop and farmers have enjoyed great success from producing the plant. Nevertheless, the bulk of value adding activities take place off the continent that has the workforce and ability to nurture the full ecosystem of cotton production.
There is room for factories that cater to textile production, fabric assembly, coloring and patterning. There is opportunity for seasoned professionals to train local staff and begin a pipeline of talent that will make the continent the place to go for the finest and most valuable cotton.
Imagine the cotton textile apparel value chain that includes apparel design, creativity and production that will come from the plethora of tailors and artisans who adorn the continent. Retailers will be able to sustainably partner with local producers if the cost is reasonable and the production line is kept in the same region.
Moreover, there is the cotton byproducts value chain that includes oil, cake, husks and linters. Cotton linters, the tiny fuzz left on cottonseed hulls are commonly used to make products like paper and the hulls are used to make products including soap and fertilizers. Cotton is absorbent, hypoallergenic and soft and used to produce, bandages, face masks, sanitizing wipes, cotton balls and swabs.
Given the wealth of natural and human resources on the continent, Africa as part of the cotton textile and by-product value chain in addition to creating jobs is also is well positioned to meet the demand on both a local and global scale.
Cotton…
1. Soft and fluffy.
2. Durable - it is a tough wear-and-tear resistant fabric.
3. Absorbent
4. Retains color. The absorbent nature of cotton holds dye very easily and can be made into a wide variety of colors.
5. Breathable - in contrast to synthetic fibers, it admits air to the skin, allowing sweat to evaporate.
6. No static cling.
