Make Cotton Sustainable

PRESS RELEASE / ANVIL KNITWEAR

Anvil Knitwear Joins Hands with CMiA


After making a commitment to double the production of organic cotton in the US a few months ago, Anvil Knitwear has now joined hands with the Cotton Made in Africa initiative.

Cotton Made in Africa is an initiative by the ‘Aid by Trade Foundation’, established in 2005. The purpose of this foundation is to remove poverty and promote economic development through sustainable development projects.

Aid by Trade Foundation is expanding the Demand Alliance for its Cotton Made in Africa (CMiA) initiative to the USA. The idea is to invite companies to buy CMiA cotton for the production of their goods and hence increase the demand for it. Anvil is one of the biggest consumer of sustainable cotton and its joining the CMiA initiative would ensure an increased demand of sustainably produced cotton and hence help African farmers fight poverty.

Anthony Corsano, Chief Executive Officer of Anvil Knitwear explains the widening of the company's sustainability strategy: “Cotton made in Africa is another source of sustainable fiber for Anvil. It is rain fed, utilizes principles of soil conservation, reduces pesticides, and incorporates important ILO labor principles. We also hope our purchases help African small-holder farmers improve their own living standards.”

West African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Zambia and Mozambique are covered under the CmiA project. The initiative provides training to cotton farmers on how to use efficient methods of cultivation and make judicious use of natural resources.

CMiA would continue to build its Demand Alliance of international textile companies. The Alliance currently includes over twenty textile major companies.

To read the full story: Anvil Knitwear Becomes First US-based Company to Join Cotton made in Africa Initiative