The Italian cotton mill we work with is one of the best in the world. We love their beautiful yarn and their commitment to fostering natural resilience through organic cotton farming.

The mill is a long-term partner of the Egyptian Farming Association. Together they operate a fully traceable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible supply chain along the Nile River Valley.

Because cotton quality significantly impacts how garments wear over time, we only work with the absolute best cotton. Our favorite is Egyptian cotton because of its superior quality and fiber structure. The combination of seed type, extra-long staple fibers, and ideal climate in the Nile River Valley all combine to make Egyptian cotton exceptional. The cotton is also grown and handled with extreme care. This creates a dense, strong, luxurious fiber that makes a textile resistant to pilling, fading and wrinkling. The result is a lasting product that feels silky soft and wears like a second skin. We design all of our cotton tops to wear beautifully year-round.

A 2014 study by the Textile Exchange showed that organic cotton farming reduces water consumption by 91% and energy use by 62%. Unfortunately, less than 1% of the world’s cotton is grown organically.

Approximately half of all textiles worldwide are made of cotton, and cotton production provides income for nearly 7% of all workers in developing countries. Still, most current cotton production methods have yet to be made even partially sustainable.

Conventional cotton manufacture demands 24% of the world’s produced insecticides and 11% of its pesticides. These chemicals have a disastrous effect on our planet’s water quality, due to harmful run-off, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. They also deplete the soil and threaten the health and welfare of farming communities.

By comparison GOTS organic farming does not use toxic chemicals or dyes in any step of the production process. Organic cotton growers use healthy farming strategies such as crop rotation and companion planting to energize soil and naturally deter pests. These strategies maintain the balance of our global ecosystem and ensure that quality cotton will continue to be available for generations to come.