The Koolskools Supply Chain
Cotton is grown in warm places such as India, West Africa, China, Brazil, Zimbabwe, parts of the European Union (Greece, Spain), Turkey, Syria, Turkmenistan, Peru, Argentina, the southern states of the USA and Uzbekistan, and many more.
Fairtrade certified cotton is grown in India, Pakistan, Mali, Cameroon, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Peru, Argentina, Kyrgyzstan and Egypt.
The first phase of the Koolskoools ethical clothing project is using cotton supplied from Cameroon in West Africa. Cotton is at the heart of agricultural and economic development in many African countries. It makes a vital contribution to foreign exchange earnings and accounts for a significant proportion of the West African cotton producing countries' wealth (or Gross Domestic Product- GDP) and tax income.
But it is not easy for the cotton producers in these West African (and other developing) countries to sustain their cotton production. The subsidies paid by governments in developed countries means the real benefits of the cotton trade are not felt by farmers in developing countries.
Direct losses to West Africa as a result of the USA and the European Union subsidising their cotton farmers are estimated at $250 million per year, according to Oxfam.
The system pits a typical Cameroon cotton farmer, farming two hectares of cotton, who is lucky to earn $400 per year against American farmers who receive a subsidy of $250 per hectare!
Oxfam calculates that removing US cotton subsidies would boost average household income in West Africa by up to 9% - enough to feed a million people.
For more information on the challenges faced by conventional cotton farmers please visit: www.fairtrade.org.uk/products/cotton/the-great-cotton-stitch-up.aspx
The current UK government's Business Secretary, The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, said recently:
"The current system of subsidies cannot be right and certainly is not fair. The problem is being addressed through Fairtrade, which is a robust economic and business model.
The principles of Fairtrade need to be integrated and reflected in the global trading system, to ensure that poor producers receive a fair price and are enabled to take control of their own development."
Koolskools are looking to the future
One of Koolskools main aims through sourcing Fairtrade cotton is to make a long term contribution to the ability of Fairtrade cotton producers in developing countries to shape and enhance their own lives, against the background of the sort of secure and sustainable production championed by Dr Cable.
Koolskools can achieve that, but your help in buying our Fairtrade cotton garments is crucial.
Fairtrade Cotton ProductsSome Facts About Cotton
Did you know that:
- The oil from the cotton seed is used in some margarines, crisps and as salad dressings.
- The cake made out of crushed cotton seed is used as feed for the cattle that pull the ploughs in the cotton fields.
- The oil from the cotton seed is also used in some beauty products like lip balms, shampoos and moisturizers and also for making plastics.
- Even a £5 note contains a by-product of cotton.
The cotton production and manufacturing process
Stage One
First the fields need to be ploughed.
Stage Two
Next the cotton seeds are planted. Farmers have to buy seed every year if they want good quality cotton.
Stage Three
Cotton flowers about 30 days after planting, and within 80 days the cotton plant fruits - called "fruits bolls".
Stage Four
40 - 50 days after that the bolls burst open and fluffy fibres appear.
Stage Five
After 6 months growing the Fairtrade cotton is then sorted, it is then taken for a process called ginning.
Stage Six
Ginning separates the fluffy lint from the seed. The ginning machines are often very large.
Stage Seven
When the cotton arrives in Mauritius, the cotton is then spun, which means the individual fibres are twisted together into yarn.
Stage Eight
After this the thread is woven into cloth.
Stage Nine
The cotton is then ready for dyeing, cutting, embroidering and making into Koolskools Fairtrade cotton garments.
Watch the Video tour now!
Would you like to take a closer look? Watch a complete video tour of the Koolskools production and manufacturing process.
Where do koolskools source our cotton?
In the first phase of production for the Koolskools project, the Fairtrade cotton used in the Koolskools-labelled garments is being grown by cotton farming communities in the developing country of Cameroon in West Africa.
Learn more about Fairtrade cotton in Cameroon