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IN-CONVERSION COTTON
At Native Spirit, we are committed to the use of hybrid raw materials that combine tradition, science and innovation. In-conversion cotton offers both financial and environmental advantages with a view to more sustainable production processes and consumption patterns.
Therefore, the choice of in-conversion cotton constitutes a first step on the path to recycled and organic eco-friendly textiles.
In-conversion cotton: in the process of becoming organic...
Until the late 20th century, cotton yarn was the world's most widely produced and commonly used natural vegetable fibre. Today, it faces stiff competition from synthetic fibres.
As for the word "cotton", it refers to the plant itself, the fibre, and the fabric. "In-conversion" cotton is cotton that has been grown according to organic standards but is not yet certified.
It takes two to three years for fields to be cleared of the toxic chemicals used, after which point they can regenerate. During this period, farmers cultivate cotton in accordance with the same standards as those that apply to organic cotton.
"In-conversion" cotton was created to support farmers through this transitional process and above all, to encourage and increase the global production of organic cotton.
Reduced water and energy consumption
Organic farming helps maintain and/or improve soil fertility. It also uses less water and energy than conventional cotton farming and is therefore cleaner!
Organic cotton has several advantages in relation to conventional cotton. To start, it is bleached with hydrogen peroxide and not chlorine, so no toxic substances are used. Moreover, the dyes used are made without any carcinogenic substances. Lastly, biodiversity is also enhanced, because many different crop types are produced and no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are used. This final argument speaks for itself when we consider the hazards associated with GMOs.
That being said, we are not the only ones who benefit. Indeed, although cotton farming itself is important, the lives of cotton farmers are also at stake. Organic agriculture guarantees improved working and living conditions. This is because the risk of farmers becoming contaminated by chemicals is minimised.
Furthermore, in-conversion cotton has the advantage of being cultivated in total compliance with the principles of organic agriculture; it will also cost much less than cotton produced through well-established organic farming methods.
Sustainable production is about maintaining healthy soils that are resistant to climate change, promoting biodiversity, and protecting farmers. Organic agriculture is based on exactly the same approach.
This means that organic cotton is indeed a sustainable raw material. In-conversion cotton – the outcome of the first step in this process – is also sustainable.