Natural Cotton Color receives sustainability certification in Milan

Natural Cotton Color takes another step when the subject is sustainability and has just announced it has received the certification Friend of the Earth, accepted in more than 50 countries. The company is a participant in Texbrasil, the Internationalization Program of the Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry – a result of a partnership between Abit, Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association and ApexBrasil, Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency.

The certification process is done by the World Sustainability Organization (WSO), a globally recognized entity. The certificate will be presented to the brand at a Sustainable & Ethical Showroom event, held by WSO. The international certification is accepted in more than 50 countries. 

Paolo Bray, founder and director of WSO, explains that the Friend of the Earth label was created to certify sustainable agriculture and livestock products. Backed by many years of experience, the organization has also developed certification requirements for sustainable clothing and fashion products. “The aim of the label is to stimulate and favor change toward fashion that is more respectful of the environment and workers,” he adds. 

Friend of the Earth contributes to the company’s marketing, in its promotion and, consequently, in the activation of sales. And this certificate adds to another important recognition that Natural Cotton Color has already received. The company already has the international certification of organic product Ecocert, and is strengthening in the market also due to a productive arrangement guided by the principles of sustainability that draws the market’s attention. 

In August, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/ONU) visited the cotton fields in Ingá, in Paraíba, and checked out the socio-environmental and cultural preservation program in the region. “Our cotton is grown by family farmers with a guaranteed purchase contract. The price paid per kilo is the highest in Brazil”, says Francisca Vieira, Natural Cotton’s director. Besides this, the municipality of Ingá is a great booster of cotton production consorted with other products such as corn, beans, and fava beans, to guarantee food security. 

Innovations on the runway 

Natural Cotton Color also presents its new creations in a runway show and a showroom in actions parallel to the Milan Fashion Week, from September 20 to 26. The brand is positioning itself in the Italian market with women’s and men’s pieces made of organic cotton and silk, with handcrafted details and several innovations.

Another differential of the brand is the use of organic cotton jacquard colored with silk and the use of denim that does not go through the dyeing process, a differentiated fabric that has a patent applied for in the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). The company also uses flat fabrics made on handlooms. 

Among the handcrafted techniques, it is worth highlighting the labyrinth embroidery applied by artisans directly on the pieces. Another innovation of the company is the tracking of the fabrics, which allows the consumer to read information such as the location, origin, and production process of the pieces. 

About Texbrasil

The Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program (Texbrasil) works together with companies in the textile and apparel sector in the development of strategies to conquer the global market. Over almost twenty years, it has helped about 1,500 brands get on the export trail, making USD 3.6 billion in business. The Program is conducted by Abit in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).