Natural Cotton Color brings Brazilian heritage to Milan with the “Tropeiros da Borborema” collection
The World Sustainability Organization returns to centre stage during during the days of Milan Fashion Week with a collective runway show featuring 13 carefully selected brands, ready to unveil their new Spring/Summer 2026 collections.
The event will take place on Thursday, 25 September at 5 pm at the Istituto dei Ciechi in Milan, a symbolic venue that will host this important occasion dedicated to sustainable fashion.
The show is held under the banner of the Friend of the Earth certification, an international programme that sets rigorous sustainability standards for the fashion industry. This certification ensures transparency and accountability across the entire supply chain, promoting environmentally responsible practices. Through Friend of the Earth, the WSO is committed to guiding the industry towards a more conscious future, collaborating with brands that share values of sustainability and innovation.
One of the featured brands in the 4th edition of Beyond the Claim Sustainable Fashion Show is Natural Cotton Color (NCC), which will be taking part for the fourth time in Milan’s sustainable fashion week, presenting the collection Tropeiros da Borborema”“. The collection pays tribute to the pioneers who facilitated cotton trade in the Paraíba region during “White Gold” cycle.
Natural Cotton Color’s participation in the show is supported by Texbrasil — the Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program — the result of a partnership between Abit (Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association) and ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency).
Blending the cultural heritage of the sertão with contemporary and sustainable design, the collection is inspired by the memories of founder Francisca Vieira, herself the daughter and granddaughter of tropeiros. It makes use of naturally coloured organic cotton, which grows in shades of beige and brown in Paraíba.
For women, the collection features organic cotton and silk dresses, cloaks and coats inspired by traditional travelling garments, as well as dresses reinterpreted with natural fabrics and artisanal applications. For the first time, the brand has incorporated crystals into the garments, representing the wealth cotton once brought to Paraíba.
Tradition is reimagined through layered looks that recall the iconic leather jacket, hats redesigned in contemporary versions, and the revival of fuxico – an ancient hand-stitching technique that today becomes a refined decorative detail on dresses and accessories. For men, the collection includes monochrome suits and hand-embroidered pyjamas.
The collection also reflects the history of Paraíba’s cotton, which during the White Gold cycle (1860–1930) made the state the world’s second largest cotton producer, surpassed only by Liverpool, England. “The saga of the tropeiros was essential to the Paraíba cotton trade, leaving a legacy of courage, community and resilience,” Francisca emphasises.
Natural Cotton Color reaffirms its social and environmental commitment by using cotton grown without irrigation or chemical dyes, saving up to 87.5% of water. The collection also highlights the craftsmanship of local lace makers, weavers and embroiderers.
The collection features collaborations with designer Léo Mendonça, and brands Makano, Maria Karaguatá, Pacoa Eco, Virgínia Barros, Texpar and Dalila Têxtil, and is sponsored by Círculo and Swarovski.
About Texbrasil
The Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program (Texbrasil) works with companies in the textile and apparel industry to develop strategies to conquer the global market. Over 22 years, it has helped around 1,900 brands to enter the export market, generating more than US$ 9 billion in business. The program is a partnership between Abit (Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association) and ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency). To take part in Texbrasil, the company must fill out this form, or speak to our Relationship department by e-mail texbrasil@abit.org.br.
About Abit
The Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit) is one of the most important entities among the country’s economic sectors. It represents the productive force of approximately 25,300 companies of all sizes located throughout the country, employing more than 1.34 million workers and generating combined revenue of R$204 billion in 2024.
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. “To achieve its objectives, ApexBrasil carries out a range of commercial promotion activities aimed at boosting exports and enhancing the visibility of Brazilian products and services abroad. These include exploratory and trade missions, business rounds, support for Brazilian companies taking part in major international trade shows, visits from foreign buyers and opinion makers, among other business platforms designed to strengthen the Brazil brand.” The Agency also works in a coordinated manner with public and private actors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil with a focus on strategic industries, aiming at developing the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country as a whole.