A new trend in athletic clothing could help give the cotton industry a much-needed boost.
Athleisurewear, athletic-inspired clothing that can be worn in other settings, could be a new potential market opportunity for cotton, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
“That’s an area of potential gain for cotton, if we can get into the market for athleisurewear,” Communications Manager for the Cotton Board Bob Stanley told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Most of these products are made from synthetic fibers like polyester.
“We have to build the demand so the voice of the consumer is loud enough that the companies will use cotton rather than the synthetic fibers,” Stanley said.
Break-even cotton prices are still higher than synthetics, which discourages mills from using cotton in their products.
“As long as we’re in the 70- to 850-cent range, that doesn’t tend to alter demand relationships too much,” Texas Tech agricultural economist, Darren Hudson told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Purchasing products made of cotton blends can benefit the cotton market, as well, according to Plains Cotton Growers spokeswoman Mary Jane Buerkle.
“It is critical that we as consumers take the time to check the tag whenever we’re making a clothing or textile product,” Buerkle said. “Be sure if it’s not 100 percent cotton that it at least has a good amount of cotton in it. That goes back to our producers. They need us purchasing the products that they grew the fiber to make.”
50-cotton-50-poly labels are also a good fabric blend option for shoppers to support cotton farmers.
Garments made with Cotton Inc.’s new technologies—STORM, TransDRY and WICKING WINDOWS—aim to keep moisture away from the body and onto the fabric where it evaporates quickly, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.