Armani Group announces first results of Apulia regenerative cotton project

Fashion

Approximately 1,000 T-shirts were produced with the cotton from the first sowing Credits: Courtesy of Armani Group

Automated translation

After two years, the Apulia regenerative cotton project has yielded its first tangible results. This marks a significant step towards regenerative fashion and the achievement of its goals for soil, water, and biodiversity regeneration.

Launched in June 2023, the project is a collaboration with the Sustainable Markets Initiative Fashion Task Force and the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance. It is coordinated by the European Forest Institute (EFI), the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), and Pretaterra. The Apulia Regenerative Cotton Project was established to develop an experimental cotton field using a regenerative cultivation system. This involves scientifically testing and evaluating sustainable cotton production through the application of agroforestry regenerative agriculture techniques in Italy.

Following the first cotton planting with rows of peach trees on one hectare of land in 2023, the cultivation gradually expanded the following year. Poplar and pomegranate trees were added alongside the cotton, covering a total of 3 hectares, with 0.6 hectares in agroforestry and 2.4 in monoculture. In the third year, cotton was sown in alternation with rows of carob, fig, and mulberry trees, totalling approximately 5.2 hectares (3.6 in agroforestry and 1.6 in monoculture). This expansion of agricultural land meant the five-hectare target was reached ahead of the five-year schedule.

In the first year, 2,400 kilograms of regenerative cotton were harvested; in the second year, 3,000 kilograms were harvested.

The experimental project has generated four articles. After peer review by independent scientists, these were published in English-language scientific journals, including Agroforestry Systems, Journal of Environmental Management, and Plants. The articles address topics such as sustainable cotton production; carbon storage in soil with agroforestry; and the use of artificial intelligence to conserve irrigation water.

Another milestone was the creation of the first garment made entirely from regenerative cotton. This cotton is so named because it originates from crops based on an agroforestry system. This system promotes agricultural practices aimed at improving biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, while also reducing emissions, chemical use, and water consumption.

Approximately 1,000 T-shirts have been produced using cotton from the first harvest. Made entirely from Regenagri cotton, the T-shirts feature a QR code and a digital passport to guarantee their authenticity and traceability. The certification covers the entire supply chain, ensuring complete product traceability and chain of custody. Every supplier involved, from cotton cultivation and processing to weaving, manufacturing, packaging, and sales, undergoes audits to obtain Regenagri certification.

Available in white and blue with the Giorgio Armani signature embroidered in the same colour, the T-shirts are currently only available in a men's model. They will be on sale in selected Giorgio Armani boutiques in Europe (excluding the UK and Switzerland) and online in the same regions from July. The packaging is also made from recycled material.

This article was translated to English using an AI tool.

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