One of the most prevalent textiles in our wardrobes is cotton. It is breathable, resilient, hypoallergenic, and cozy. However, cotton is so much more than a simple commodity. This natural fabric is a game-changing product that benefits over 100 million families in 80 countries across 5 continents and supports 32 million growers (nearly half of them are women).

This implies that if you trace the origin of any cotton garment back via its trade network, a personal narrative will emerge. Although cotton is crucial to industrialised economies, it also serves as a safety net for least developed and developing nations. Many rural smallholders and laborers, especially women, rely heavily on cotton for their livelihoods and incomes, and some of the poorest rural communities in the world benefit from this employment and revenue.

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The United Nations hopes to increase the visibility of the cotton industry and understand the crucial role it plays in economic development, global trade, and poverty alleviation on this second official UN World Cotton Day. The celebration strives to emphasise the value of full and productive employment, sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, as well as decent work for all.

The "Cotton Four" gave rise to the concept of World Cotton Day.

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World Cotton Day was created in 2019 when the Cotton Four, a group of four sub-Saharan African cotton growers, suggested to the World Trade Organization that October 7 be designated as World Cotton Day. The day provided a chance to spread knowledge and highlight cotton-related activities for two years in a row.

This fantastic opportunity raises awareness of the need for market access for cotton and cotton-related products from least developed countries, fosters sustainable trade policies, and enables developing countries to gain more from each stage of the cotton value chain now that the United Nations has formally recognised this World Cotton Day.

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