The image of the complex textile supply chain in mind, the lecture offered figures and facts on the cotton market, the production and its resulting amounts, the volume of international trade as well as the numerous opportunities of application. While discussing lively about aspects of sustainability with respect to the raw material, widely spread prejudices were broken down by conveying objective information referring to water use, pest management, methods of plant breeding by means of bioengineering, and last but not least the meaning of organic cotton.

Information on cotton quality was an essential and for future fashion managers important aspect of the lecture. Cotton quality is of utmost importance for the creation of reputable products. The students were given the opportunity to examine numerous samples of ginned cotton from various origins not only optically, but also haptically. Thus, they were able to explore the fineness of the fiber, its color as well as kinds of contamination while being able to develop a sense for cotton.

Source: Bremen Cotton Report 45/46, November 2019