Why sustainable fashion needs more than organic cotton

Only around 1.4% of the world's cotton is organic. Demand keeps rising, but the transition from conventional to organic farming is slow. It takes three years before a farm can be certified. That's why we also use cotton in conversion to support farmers during those crucial transition years.

Meanwhile, our soil is in trouble. Intensive farming has depleted the ground for decades. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, we lose the equivalent of one football pitch of healthy soil every five seconds. 

With organic cotton alone, we won't meet our climate targets. Even though organic farming creates healthier soil compared to conventional farming, regenerative takes this a step further: rebuilding soil that absorbs carbon into the ground. Carbon emissions are the main driver of climate change. So we need farming that doesn't just do less harm, but actively repairs what's been damaged.

That's where regenerative agriculture comes in.

What's the difference between organic and regenerative cotton?

Both organic and regenerative farming are better for the planet than conventional agriculture. But they focus on different things.

• Organic cotton is about what you don't use: no synthetic pesticides, no chemical fertilisers, no GMO seeds. It protects farmers and the environment from harmful chemicals.

• Regenerative cotton is about what you actively do: rebuild soil health, increase biodiversity, and capture carbon in the ground. It's farming that restores ecosystems rather than just maintaining them.

The two approaches aren't opposites, they can work together. But regenerative farming goes a step further by focusing on outcomes: healthier soil, more wildlife, carbon drawn down from the atmosphere. Think of it this way: organic farming does less harm. Regenerative farming repairs the damage.

Regenerative cotton at Kuyichi: what's next

We're not claiming regenerative cotton will solve everything overnight. It's early days, and we're learning as we go.

But we believe this is where the industry needs to head. Just like we believed in organic cotton before it was mainstream.

You'll find regenerative cotton in selected styles from our AW24 collection onwards. It's the next step in our journey: farming that doesn't just take, but gives back.