IT IS generally an overlooked part of the island’s agricultural sector. But it still rakes in at least US$1 million in foreign exchange yearly.
West Indian Sea Island Cotton is a highly sought-after yarn in Europe, with customers of the end product willing to shell out hundreds of United States dollars for one dress shirt. But there are still some issues plaguing the sector.
This week, Heather-Lynn’s Habitat looks at the cotton sector.
THE RICH WANT their West Indian Sea Island Cotton clothes.
And the chief executive officer (CEO) of Barbadian company Exclusive Cottons feels that if farmers increase the acreage of cotton, the industry could move from earning US$1 million to as much as US$4 million.
Adlai Stevenson said the company’s Italian buyers were telling them to keep the island’s high-quality lint coming since there seemed to be an upswing in demand for clothes made from West Indies Sea Island Cotton.
The company’s buyers were Italians who converted the Sea Island Cotton to yarn and then into fabric. An Italian dress shirt made from West Indian Sea Island Cotton could retail for US$200.
“Our cotton is an extra-long staple and, ultimately, it is converted into very luxurious fabric. Increasingly, the world is moving away from the cheap, very short lasting fabrics and products. People are now moving back into wanting quality stuff and that can be West Indian Sea Island Cotton shirts and garments,” Stevenson explained.
As a result, he said the company’s buyers were urging the island to increase its production.
And Exclusive Cottons had been lobbying for that.
“We had asked for 450 acres last year and we got 256. This year we asked for 600 acres and we got 400,” the CEO said, as he pleaded with farmers who had land lying fallow or under grass to get into cotton production.
Stevenson said while the cotton industry was small compared to other sectors, the US$1 million it earned could not be scoffed at.
“There are those who would say, well, we in Barbados need to be earning some of that value-add and at Exclusive Cottons what we have started to do is to buy back the high-end fabric and yarn.”
That high-end yarn, he added, was being converted – by locals at the showroom of the Groves, St George ginnery and visitor centre – into either fabric or shirts, blouses and robes.
“It’s in small quantities but the objective is to go after the value-add so, as we increase the marketing, we anticipate that more tourists and ultimately locals will be coming to us for West Indian Sea Island Cotton products,” he said.
“So again I appeal to those farmers who have land to come on board and help us to achieve the 600 acres from August.”