#cotton — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #cotton, aggregated by home.social.
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Slavery was abolished in 1807*
Slavery and forced labour is alive and well in Xinjiang. Major retailers complicit. Welcome to ‘cotton laundering’
August 2026
Many people believe that slavery ended sometime in the 19th Century and many – certainly older people reading this – think that Britain led the way. Slavery continued for many years afterwards. The reality is that slavery is alive and well and that you are wearing the products of this vile system while sat reading this. You may feel that you have purchased your cotton garments from a respectable high street retailer so this surely cannot be the case. If you watch the video in the RTE programme [link below], they will explain how retailers such as M&S who feature strongly in the film, are evading controls with vague labelling.
The story of cotton
Around 80% of cotton production in China comes from Xinjiang, using forced labour from the Uyghur which represents 20% of the global cotton production. Following an uproar and call to action in 2020 that called on numerous fashion brands (such as Nike, Adidas, Zara, H&M, Amazon, etc) to sever ties with Uyghur forced labour, many of these brands decided apparently to stop sourcing cotton from Xinjiang. If we were to ask these brands today about their commitment to Uyghur rights, they would answer that Uyghur forced labour has been cut from their supply chain. (Photo is one of the major companies involved in China).
However, the reality is not that simple. Cotton production has not reduced in the region since 2020; instead, Chinese manufacturers have resorted to “cotton laundering”. Once the cotton has been transformed into yarn or fabric, the cotton enters the supply chain through third countries such as Bangladesh or Vietnam. This results in cotton that is extremely difficult to trace.
Cotton laundering
Some brands may claim that having the label ‘Better Cotton’ to claim that their supply chains are ethical. However as investigated by RTÉ, it appears that “the Better Cotton can be mixed or blended with what they call conventional cotton very early on in the supply chain, and that includes cotton from the Uyghur region“. The RTE film (5 mins) can be viewed here.
Although companies have acted on demands to stop using suppliers that rely on Uyghur forced labour, it can be easy to imagine that cotton harvested in Xinjiang finds its way to those factories through cotton laundering. That is why we are asking you today to write a question to a company that produces apparel which contains cotton to ask them what processes and safeguards are in place to ensure forced labour is not present in their supply chains.
Research published by Sheffield Hallam University shows in detail how the system works and contains much evidence. They say that previous research has provided significant evidence indicating that these programmes are indeed tantamount to forced labour, human trafficking, and modern slavery and that this system of repression is particularly deployed in the cotton and textile industries, which for China are centred in the Uyghur Region. Reports have shown that much of the region’s cotton is hand-picked by people who are forced to do so, that textile factories in the Uyghur Region employ forced labour, and that minority citizens of the region have been “transferred” thousands of miles into the interior of China to work in factories for major textile and apparel exporters.
The notion of slavery today is universally condemned. Britain was heavily involved in the trade for nearly two centuries transporting well over 3 million in the triangular trade. Many are often surprised to discover that the slave owners (not the slaves) were compensated and the debt was only paid off in 2015.
As we have noted before, although Xinjiang seems a long way off and few will have been there, the products of this obnoxious and cruel system are sitting on the clothing racks of our major high street retailers and hence in your wardrobes. Truly we are all involved.
[*Quite when slavery ended is difficult to be precise. Many ships simply reflagged to avoid patrols. Slavery persisted for decades in the Caribbean and America. Slaves were still transferred between countries. A separate act was later passed to end the practice in India. Freed slaves simply became indentured.]
Letter
This is a sample letter to a retailer or manufacturer to model yours on. It is likely you will receive a standard reply but it will register with the retailer that they are being watched and if not careful, they could receive reputational damage:
Dear xx,
I am writing to express my concern as to the possibility that your cotton products contain cotton produced in Xinjiang using Uyghur forced labour.
One tactic used by Chinese manufacturers to sell cotton produced by forced labour and internal displacement of Uyghur population is “cotton laundering”. These companies will transform cotton into yarn or fabric and then introduce them to global chains through third countries such as Bangladesh or Vietnam. As a result, the origin of the cotton is extremely difficult to trace.
In addition, the label “Better Cotton” does not prevent products from containing cotton produced through forced labour. The Better Cotton Initiative does not have a traceability protocol and enable mixed or blended cotton with ethically sourced material. Cotton from the Uyghur region may very well be present in those mixes or blends.
As a concerned consumer, I would like to ask you: what protocols and safeguards do you have in place to absolutely ensure that none of the cotton present in your garments is a result of Uyghur forced labour? How do you verify that the cotton used in your garment does not come from Xinjiang?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Yours sincerely,We have drawn from material produced by RTE (Ireland), Sheffield Hallam University, Statista and from the Uyghur Solidarity Team with thanks.
- Slavery was abolished in 1807*
- Uyghur campaign progress
- Another vigil and is the mood changing in the US?
- Are American attitudes towards Israel changing?
- Latest Death Penalty Report
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Cotton-Fiberglass Composite Makes Lightweight RV Countertops
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Australia’s trade in human flesh: blackbirding - follow the money...
"Between 1860 and 1906 up to 62,000 Pacific Islanders were shipped to Australia to work primarily in sugar cane and cotton farming.."
"...The Pacific Islanders came, they died, they were buried like dogs and more were sent for.” >>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/10/sydney-sugar-industry-slave-trade-pacific-islanders-ntwnfb
#slavery #Blackbirding #SouthSeaIslander #IndigenousPeoples #FirstNations #PastoralIndustry #sugar #cotton #plantations #PALM #books -
Couple of sketches inspired by eigenfaces
8x10,5 cm
#gouache #coldpressed #cotton #mastoart #fediart -
💁🏻♀️ ICYMI: 💧🧪 We wash our #hands, swim, drink from water bottles, and run through rainstorms.
#Water dissolves more substances than almost any other #liquid on #Earth, but materials like asphalt, #glass, and #cotton are made of #molecules with no charged parts.
👉 Learn more: https://seethis.tv/post/why-doesnt-water-dissolve-everything
#animation #chemistry #science #physics #nature #tksst #video
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How to Find T-Shirts That Don't Ride Up
Discover the ultimate guide to T-shirts that stay in place! Uncover the best fabrics, perfect fits, and shopping tips for all-day comfort and style.
https://teenetwork.co/how-to-find-t-shirts-that-dont-ride-up/
#tshirt #fashion #tips #style #cotton #fabric #shopping #clothing #blog
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💁🏻♀️ ICYMI: 💧🧪 We wash our #hands, swim, drink from water bottles, and run through rainstorms.
#Water dissolves more substances than almost any other #liquid on #Earth, but materials like asphalt, #glass, and #cotton are made of #molecules with no charged parts.
👉 Learn more: https://seethis.tv/post/why-doesnt-water-dissolve-everything
#animation #chemistry #science #physics #nature #tksst #video
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"B-b-but don't you need our cotton???"
https://piefed.social/c/historymemes/p/2163212/b-b-but-don-t-you-need-our-cotton
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"B-b-but don't you need our cotton???"
https://piefed.social/c/shermanposting/p/2163211/b-b-but-don-t-you-need-our-cotton
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💁🏻♀️ ICYMI: 💧🧪 We wash our #hands, swim, drink from water bottles, and run through rainstorms.
#Water dissolves more substances than almost any other #liquid on #Earth, but materials like asphalt, #glass, and #cotton are made of #molecules with no charged parts.
👉 Learn more: https://seethis.tv/post/why-doesnt-water-dissolve-everything
#animation #chemistry #science #physics #nature #tksst #video
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💁🏻♀️ NEW: 💧🧪 We wash our #hands, swim, drink from water bottles, and run through rainstorms.
#Water dissolves more substances than almost any other #liquid on #Earth, but materials like asphalt, #glass, and #cotton are made of #molecules with no charged parts.
👉 Learn more: https://seethis.tv/post/why-doesnt-water-dissolve-everything
#animation #chemistry #science #physics #nature #tksst #video
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Dress, 1870-1890
White, hand sewn, skirt has 7 pin tucks, gather into high waist, plain back with draw ties at neck and waist, bodice has broderie anglaise insert V shaped going into waist, herringbone stitch around waist, neck and on insert, small cap sleeves edged with picot, lace at neck edge. Name Ferguson in ink inside L bodice opening.
Howick Historical Village via DigitalNZ -
Sven Beckert et le capitalisme de guerre
Sven Beckert montre que le capitalisme ne s’est pas développé malgré la guerre, mais aussi à travers elle. L’expansion du coton, de l’esclavage, de l’empire et des marchés mondiaux révèle une économie fondée dès l’origine sur la coercition. #capitalism #war #politics #history #cotton #slavery #imperialism #market #SvenBeckert La réflexion de Sven Beckert sur le “capitalisme de guerre” permet de déplacer une idée encore trop…
https://homohortus31.wordpress.com/2026/05/26/sven-beckert-et-le-capitalisme-de-guerre/
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Farmers struggle to source cottonseed for cattle feed amid dry conditions
Graziers preparing for drought are struggling to stock up on a popular cattle feed, as worsening conditions slow…
#NewsBeep #News #Business #AU #Australia #cattle #commodity #cotton #cottonseed #Dairy #demand #domestic #Drought #dry #ElNiño #Energy #farmer #Feed #feedlot #Fibre #Gin #ginning #grazier #grower #livestock #market #Nutrition #process #protein #season #slow #supply #yield
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/686396/ -
Part of a decorated tunic, cotton and feathers, Peru, 600 AD - 1000 AD
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Soooo #hobbii brand got bought by a "Tech company" and the CEO recently made a LinkedIn post all about how ~great AI generated images~ are.
Notably they didn't put that on their store anywhere - just LinkedIn.
Aaaand the backlash has been swift.
Consumer trust ? Nuked from space.
Influencer Goodwill? *obliterated*.Why buy a company to just destroy it ?
#cotton #knitting #crochet #yarn #yarncraft #Craft #Craftwitch #YarnWitch
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Restrictions after drop in Menindee Lakes water level are ineffective, expert warns. Loophole keeping things pumping
"The NSW government last week introduced a temporary water embargo aimed at preserving water in the Darling River system and preventing ecological events such as fish kills and turtle deaths."
"The government has dragged its heels." >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-02/murray-darling-water-restriction-loophole/106616196
#biodiversity #wildlife #MassMortalities #water #rivers #MDB #cotton #irrigation -
#cotton : short-staple, from two thirds of an inch to an inch and a half
- French: coton
- German: die Baumwolle
- Italian: cotone
- Portuguese: algodão
- Spanish: algodón
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