COTTON
is one of the most common natural fibers. It is breathable and versatile, yet requires a large amount of energy to produce. Less than 1% of global cotton production is organic, while the vast majority consumes more pesticides than any other single crop1. Cotton is also extremely water-intensive. Commercial farming of the crop leads to the depletion of groundwater tables in areas already affected by climate change that are increasingly prone to droughts and harsh weather.
Most of the cotton clothing the world comes from ten countries: India, China, United States, Brazil, Pakistan, Turkey, Usbekistan, Mexico, Australia and Mali2.
Teju Adisa-Farrar wrote and performed this original poem for the Fibershed 2019 Gala. In an episode of Fibershed’s Soil to Soil podcast, Teja shares the poem and delves deeper into the importance of interconnectedness and the shaping of alternative futures.
