Armani Group announces a pilot project to develop agroforestry cotton production.
The so-called ‘Apulia Regenerative Cotton Project’ is focused on developing an experimental agroforestry cotton site in the Italian region of Puglia, the fashion group announced on Monday.
Agroforestry refers to land use systems that combine trees and agriculture. For example, woody plants, i.e. shrubs and trees, are grown on the same area as crops. This creates ecological and economic advantages between the various components, such as increasing biodiversity or improving the area-related energy balance for farmers.
With its climate, the Apulia region creates ideal conditions for the cultivation of diverse agricultural crops. The cultivation of cotton on one hectare of land started in May. From 2024, this is to be gradually expanded to a total of five hectares. New ways of implementing sustainable cotton production in Italy are to be tested. In addition, it should be shown that cotton can be produced with a lower CO₂ footprint through the use of agroforestry systems.
The project is created in collaboration with the Fashion Task Force, one of King Charles III. formed collective that includes Burberry, Chloé, Mulberry and Stella McCartney, among others. Also involved in the project are the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, the European Forest Institute (EFI) and the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics of Italy (CREA).
“In fashion, everything starts with the material: all my designs start with the choice of fabric. But the textile industry is one of the industries with the greatest impact on the planet and this is an issue that cannot be neglected. With the Sustainable Markets Initiative we want to bring about positive change: It is a bold and innovative project that has a special meaning for me and my company. Active participation in the development of agroforestry regenerative cotton, especially on Italian soil, is an important step and will also have an impact on local communities,” says designer Giorgio Armani.
The project is part of the Fashion Task Force’s Sustainable Markets Initiative Manifesto for Regenerative Fashion. By signing the manifesto, the companies committed to contribute to a shift towards regenerative fashion and a circular industry.