Tocco Report: Cotton 2025 - The Past & Present of an Age-old Notorious Fiber
Cotton: The Fabric of Change is prominent
Cotton has long been celebrated as the backbone of the textile industry, woven into the fabric of countless cultures and economies. Yet, beneath its soft, natural allure lies a complex societal and environmental story.
This report, inspired by The Cotton Issue from Substance Journal by Sara Van Pée, is an exploration of cotton’s past, present, and future. From its status as one of the world’s most resource-intensive crops to groundbreaking advancements like lab-grown and recycled cotton, this report unpacks the evolving journey of cotton in a rapidly changing world.
As the world looks for ways to balance tradition with progress in the next decade, the story of cotton becomes a mirror for our collective aspirations—a fabric that connects us to the past and inspires us to create a more conscious future.
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Overview
Sara Van Pée is a sustainable fashion editor, and the founder of the sustainable fashion magazine Substance Journal.
She collaborates with other media and brands on communicating fashion’s environmental and social impact. Through words and images, she intends to reconcile the ethics with the aesthetic.
In this report, Sara co-authored with Tocco team to threads together the past, present, and a vision for a future of cotton.
- Cotton in Numbers
- History of Cotton - Cotton through Time
- Cotton Certifications
- Recycling is not downgrading
- Notable Innovative Cotton Uses
Materials in focus
Explore the innovative materials shaping the future
Biodegradable
Recycled
Bamboo
Mycelium
Silk
Upcycled
Cotton
Linen
Latex
Bioplastic
Hemp
Leather
Jute
Banana Fibre
Wool
Fur
Sisal
What's inside?
somethingCotton Recycling
Cotton is increasingly expensive. In kidswear, cotton is one of the biggest expenses. It is a strategic issue for brands to find alternatives to virgin cotton.
Guilt-tripping won’t help, though. Brands do what they can with their implantation, tools, processes and the fast-paced rhythm of the industry. Realistically speaking, you can’t change everything at once. Sustainability can’t suddenly become a huge part of an existing strategy. It’s a work in progress. Every brand has its inertia and future challenges.
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