October 7th
World Cotton Day
On World Cotton Day, the United Nations wants to raise the visibility of the cotton sector and raise awareness of the vital role it plays in economic development, international trade and poverty alleviation. It also aims to emphasize the importance of sustainable and inclusive economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
The World Cotton Day initiative was born in 2019 when four cotton producers in sub-Saharan Africa - Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali, known as the Cotton Four - proposed to the World Trade Organization to celebrate World Cotton Day on October 7th. Cotton is one of the most common fabrics in our wardrobes. It is a comfortable, hypoallergenic, breathable, and durable material. However, cotton represents much more than just a commodity. This natural fabric is a product that changes lives around the world, supporting 2.867 billion growers and benefiting over 100 million families in 75 countries on 5 continents. This means that behind every cotton garment, there is a personal story. While cotton is indeed important for developed economies, it serves as a lifeline for the least developed and developing countries. Cotton is the main source of livelihood and income for many rural small-scale farmers and workers, including women, providing employment and income to some of the poorest rural areas in the world. Source: https://www.un.org/en/observances/cotton-day
