Safia launches Organic Cotton Declaration in Japan – endorsed by PAN UK (Pesticide Action Network)
Organic cotton symposium in Tokyo last week
People Tree, Avanti and Patagonia are the pioneers for organic cotton here in Japan. All of us have been working in organic cotton for over 12 years and have developed some of the best fabrics and clothes in the international market. This week we celebrated organic fortnight in the UK – so we decided to celebrate in Japan too!
Hikaru and Yuri model organic cotton with Safia and the president of Avanti Watanabe
Organic cotton clothing is now in some high street stores, but without legislation, manufacturers can call it ‘organic’ without specifying how much is ‘organic’ – and the manufacturing is not necessarily to organic standards. The only way to be sure, is to show certification that meets the Global Organic Textile standards (GOTS). The Soil Association is a member of GOTS and the mark guarantees that from the field through spinning, fabric making, dyeing, tailoring and its journey to the warehouse the product meets organic standards.
Cotton farmers in India are being undermined further by 3 billion US dollar subsidies to US cotton farmers - that brings down the international price of cotton by 25%. They can’t even use the one advantage that they have: their cheap labour to earn a living. In the last six years over 100,000 farmers have committed suicide, many in desperation as they are unable to repay their debts, much of which is due to the impacts of buying chemical pesticides.
This is crazy and why we decided to launch the Organic Cotton Declaration and to make a commitment to double our orders of organic cotton. Enabling farmer to earn 30% more than conventional cotton.
Hasmukh Patel speaking at the press conference
In Roppongi Hills, a gleaming building in the heart of Tokyo, we hosted a press conference, where journalists were briefed on the issues facing cotton farmers worldwide, the campaign is expected to galvanise the Japanese garment industry to promote organic cotton. Hasmuk told them of the cotton farmers’ plight and the difference that fair trade and organic cotton makes. We need more certified organic cotton. We also need high street stores to develop long term relationships with farmers so they can expand the land under organic cotton with confidence. It is not enough to hop on a plane after your competitor launches an organic cotton range and want it “yesterday”. Approximately 30 journalists then joined over 150 members of the public in a symposium on organic cotton – clearly it is only the consumer that can push for change – and sustain it. Buying Certified Organic and Fair Trade cotton sustains a movement to clean up the fashion industry.
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