Events & News

U.S. Cotton Takes Center Stage at Central America’s Premier Sourcing Event

Cotton Council International (CCI) promoted U.S. cotton to members of the Central American textile and garment industry at the 32nd annual Apparel Sourcing Show in Guatemala City, the largest apparel and textile sourcing show in Central America.

With over 5,000 industry members in attendance, CCI’s presence at the event—through its COTTON USA™ booth—underscored its strong commitment to the Central American textile industry and the valued customers who rely on high-quality U.S. cotton.

CCI engaged with 50 key U.S. cotton customers at its COTTON USA™ booth to discuss evolving textile demands, demonstrate how U.S. cotton continues to meet these needs with quality and sustainability, and share insights into upcoming regional COTTON USA™ initiatives.

Prominently positioned at the event, the COTTON USA™ booth also highlighted the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol — the field-level sustainability program and traceability platform for U.S. cotton — reinforcing the U.S. cotton industry’s commitment to more sustainable production.

Professor Muhammad Tausif Delivers First U.S. Cotton Fiber Course at China Cotton School

This event marks the first time the China National Cotton Exchange (CNCE) has invited an international speaker to the China Cotton School and the first time a COTTON USA™ spinning technology expert has delivered such specialized instruction in China.

“Exchanging knowledge on U.S. cotton fiber and spinning technology with peers and trainees in China’s textile industry underscores COTTON USA™'s commitment to advancing high-quality and sustainable development in the global cotton industry,” Tausif said.

Combining research data with real-world production cases, Tausif illustrated that scientific fiber selection not only directly improves the physical properties and appearance quality of yarns and fabrics but also enhances a company’s competitive edge by using U.S. cotton.

The COTTON USA™ mission continues to promote the value of U.S. cotton worldwide while building valuable relationships.

The U.S. and Pakistan are advancing a sustainable cotton supply chain.

Cotton Council International (CCI) led a delegation of top U.S. cotton leaders to Karachi and Lahore for COTTON USA™ Leadership Forums, engaging prominent Pakistani textile leaders on key global cotton supply chain issues and the evolving trade dynamics between the U.S. and Pakistan.

“Our COTTON USA™ Leadership Forums in Pakistan marked a significant milestone in strengthening U.S.-Pakistan cotton trade relations,” said Will Bettendorf, CCI director of South Asia and supply chain marketing. “The U.S. executive delegation reinforced mutual collaboration with its Pakistani counterparts toward advancing a sustainable cotton supply chain and establishing a robust foundation for enduring, resilient partnerships.”

CCI’s role is pivotal in aligning both countries’ interests through collaboration, innovation and trust, a powerful step toward a stronger and robust U.S.-Pakistan relationship.

“These initiatives provide invaluable exposure to global best practices and open direct channels with American industry leaders, “ said Haroon Ellahi, a leading Pakistani mill owner from the Nagina Group.

​Strengthening trade partnerships through trust and quality.

We recently welcomed 14 leading Vietnamese textile mill executives to the U.S. Cotton Belt for our COTTON USA™ Special Trade Mission, giving our partners a behind-the-scenes look at the innovation and dedication driving U.S. cotton forward.

“Vietnam is a vital trading partner, and this tour wasn’t just about showing the participants our superior product — it was also about building trust, deepening relationships and opening doors to future collaboration,” said CCI Executive Director Liz Hershfield.

Vietnam is the largest importer of U.S. cotton in the 2024/25 marketing year, as well as world’s second-largest cotton fiber importer. Highlighting the advantages of “The COTTON USA™ Difference” on this tour — superior quality, transparency and dependable supply — reinforces why U.S. cotton remains the most trusted fiber in the global market.

Intelligence, insights and partnership, all designed to boost your spinning mill's performance using U.S. cotton: that's COTTON USA SOLUTIONS®.

Five business-building programs show how using U.S. cotton can boost your mill's productivity, efficiency and profitability.

- COTTON USA™ On-Site Mill Visits
- The U.S. Cotton Academy
- COTTON USA™ Mill Exchange Program
- U.S. Cotton Seminars
- COTTON USA Mill Performance Index®

Experience The COTTON USA™ Difference.

There is always something to learn in the cotton industry.

Zaid Siddik, Managing Director of Premium Textile Mills Ltd. in Pakistan, shares why there is no downside to gaining a competitive edge with the COTTON USA Mill Performance Index®.

Results from our crucial benchmarking tool show the impact of U.S. cotton across five key cost drivers: material yield, machine productivity, labor productivity, efficiency management and energy management.

✅ 706,000+ data points collected
✅ 1,067,000+ tons of cotton consumption tracked
✅ 100% confidential and secure data

Join 140 mills and sign up for the COTTON USA Mill Performance Index® today.

Our recent COTTON USA™ fashion show in Taiwan celebrated the future of sustainable fashion by showcasing original designs made of high-quality U.S. cotton.

Models walked the runway wearing U.S. cotton-rich apparel from innovative Taiwanese brands such as Story Wear, a zero-waste fashion brand whose entire clothing and accessories range is handmade from 100% up-cycled denim jeans.

The show also featured clean, minimalist designs from COTTON USA™ brand Yvonne Collection and bold, avant-garde creations by Tiffany Yang, the winner of the Shih Chien University College of Design’s competition—an initiative that promotes sustainability in fashion to up-and-coming designers.

Experience The COTTON USA™ Difference of superior and sustainably grown U.S. cotton to stand apart from the competition.

Stronger fibers. Smarter partnerships.

Our first-ever COTTON USA™ event in Egypt was a powerful step forward for win-win partnerships between the U.S. cotton industry – a reliable supplier of high quality, sustainable fiber – and the dynamic Egyptian textile industry.

In Cairo, the COTTON USA™ Technical Team showcased how U.S. cotton’s strong, consistent fibers can boost productivity, efficiency and profitability—the kind that helps Egyptian spinners deliver premium, reliable textile products.

Why does fiber selection matter? Because quality in means quality out. And with U.S. cotton, that quality starts at the source.

Discover how high-quality U.S. cotton, plus the elevated partnership we offer through The COTTON USA™ Difference, can transform your supply chain.

Stop guessing and start knowing with the COTTON USA Mill Performance Index®.

See how using U.S. cotton can boost your mill’s global ranking across five key metrics.

Ask your COTTON USA™ rep how you can gain access to this patented tool.

Want proof of the superiority of U.S. cotton?

The patented COTTON USA Mill Performance Index® delivers it. See how increasing U.S. cotton usage can improve your mill's performance across five measures. It's yet another example of The COTTON USA™ Difference. Talk to your COTTON USA™ rep about how to gain access.

COTTON USA™ Chronicles in Bangkok

At our recent COTTON USA™ Chronicles event in Bangkok, one thing was crystal clear: the future of cotton is not just sustainable — it’s smart. U.S. cotton is at the forefront of this transformation, driving innovation to take cotton to the next level.

A key takeaway from our expert speakers: Technology is the driving force behind trust, traceability and transformation across the entire supply chain.
From farm to fashion, the entire journey is being reimagined to not only reduce environmental impact but to boost transparency, efficiency and value. That’s the COTTON USA™ Difference: a powerful blend of services, data and intelligence to help you stay ahead by using U.S. cotton.

Ready to transform your mill’s success with U.S. cotton?

Connect with your local COTTON USA™ representative to learn more.

How does using U.S. cotton make YOUR spinning mill perform better vs. your global competition?

We're able to show you with our patented mill performance comparison tool, the COTTON USA Mill Performance Index®.

✅ Material Yield
✅ Machine Productivity
✅ Efficiency Management
✅ Labor Productivity
✅ Energy Management

140 mills have already signed up for the COTTON USA Mill Performance Index®. Want to be one of them?

The Impact of COTTON USA™

Partnership, networking and ongoing education are fundamental to the service element of The COTTON USA™ Difference. That's why we host events all around the world - events our partners find invaluable.

But don't take our word for it – take it from Guatemala Senior Sourcing Executive @Target Hector Tock, who spoke with us at Colombiatex 2025 about the valuable impact of COTTON USA™ on his business development in the Western Hemisphere.

The COTTON USA™ Technical Team at the U.S. Cotton Academy

The COTTON USA™ Technical Team led the most recent U.S. Cotton Academy, which highlighted U.S. cotton’s high quality and technical advantages alongside its robust sustainability and traceability platform.

The event in Istanbul hosted 22 participants from 14 European and U.S. brands and retailers, taking their knowledge of U.S. cotton to the next level.

The 3-day event featured:

- Informational lectures
- Deep-dive breakouts
- A vertical mill tour to see U.S. cotton manufacturing

Add value to your business through these exclusive COTTON USA™ opportunities for partnership and education by using superior U.S. cotton.

EXPERIENCE THE COTTON USA™ DIFFERENCE AT SAIGONTEX 2025

How to find COTTON USA™ at SaigonTex:
Dates: April 9-12, 2025
Venue: Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Hall A, Lobby 1, Booth L1K03

COTTON USA™ SEMINAR: U.S. COTTON FOR MODEST FASHION 2025

We’re weaving together innovation and sustainable fashion.

The COTTON USA™ Seminar: U.S. Cotton for Modest Fashion 2025 in Jakarta brought together visionary minds to explore performance, innovations and future trends of U.S. cotton in the modest fashion sector.

Our COTTON USA™ Technical Team is passionate about supporting designers with superior materials that make a real difference. When you choose U.S. cotton, you're not just selecting a fiber—you're making a powerful statement about quality, innovation and environmental responsibility.

THE INDUSTRY’S FIRST MILL COMPARISON TOOL PROVES THE SUPERIORITY OF U.S. COTTON

They say not to compare yourself to others.

We say it’s worth comparing when your business performance depends on it.

The industry’s first mill comparison tool proves the superiority of U.S. cotton with:

- Increased labor productivity
- Better running conditions/less ends-down
- Higher yield in combed and carded yarns
- Higher machine productivity
- Higher spindle speed

COTTON USA™ AT BHARAT TEX 2025

Thank you to the mills, manufacturers, brands and retailers who visited our COTTON USA™ booth at Bharat Tex 2025, India’s largest global textile event!

This expo showcased the evolving landscape of India’s textile industry, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable manufacturing and innovation, and how U.S. cotton balances these objectives.

Guests experienced “The COTTON USA™ Difference” and learned how superior U.S. cotton plus our service, data and intelligence provide best-in-class solutions to boost your business. COTTON USA SOLUTIONS®, our COTTON USA Mill Performance Index® and the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol® took center stage at our booth and empowered spinning mills to take advantage of these innovative programs.

At COTTON USA™, we remain dedicated to fostering strong partnerships and leading the world to cotton’s next level.

COTTON USA™ AT YARN EXPO

Learn how using U.S. cotton can boost your mill’s productivity at Yarn Expo in Shanghai, Asia’s leading global yarn and fiber showcase!

Join us March 11-13 to connect and learn about our elevated services, data and intelligence that deliver you a 5-star experience.

How to find us:
Dates: March 11-13, 2025
Venue: National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai
Location: Hall 8.2 / Booth E55

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL COTTON USA™ MILL EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN THE BOOKS

Turkish textile leaders visited COTTON USA™ Signature Mills in Pakistan to witness the full power of U.S. cotton’s effects on a mill’s performanc

The results speak for themselves:

- 95% gained valuable insights to enhance their operations

- 90% discovered U.S. cotton technical advantages

- 84% built successful business relationships

Participants learned from their Pakistani peers how U.S. cotton makes their mills more competitive, while our COTTON USA™ Technical Team provided U.S. cotton spinning expertise. This event strengthened connections that began when Turkish leaders hosted Pakistani and Bangladeshi executives last September and shared their own best practices – taking everyone to the next level in cotton.

Ready to take your mill operations to the next level with U.S. cotton? Connect with your local representative to boost your mill’s competitive edge with COTTON USA SOLUTIONS®.

Welcome 2025 Cotton Council International President Carlo Bocardo

“CCI is driving innovation and technology to lead the world to cotton’s next level, and I’m eager to serve as CCI President and show our export customers that U.S. cotton remains the global cotton leader,” Bocardo said. “CCI is an integral partner to our mill customers, offering personal and curated services that are unique to COTTON USA™ and valuable to our customers’ business, which can only increase U.S. cotton demand and loyalty.”

Carlo Bocardo, executive vice president of sales for Calcot, Ltd., takes over the presidency from U.S. cotton grower Lee Cromley, who will serve as CCI chairman.

CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export promotion arm and carries out programs in 50 plus countries under the COTTON USA™ trademark.

COTTON USA™ at Colombiatex

We’re earning more global recognition for U.S. cotton as a sustainability leader!

Last week, our team brought COTTON USA™ to Colombiatex in Medellín, the largest textile trade show in Latin America. More than 29,000 visitors could learn about U.S. cotton’s spinning advantages and sustainability, as well as the business benefits of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol® and COTTON USA SOLUTIONS®.

U.S. cotton’s credentials scored us a “GOLD” position on the trade show’s “Sustainability Route,” its highest accolade given for a strong commitment to sustainability.

COTTON USA™ collaborates with IKAT Indonesia

U.S. cotton’s moment on the runway: introducing an exciting collaboration between COTTON USA™ and IKAT Indonesia.

COTTON USA™ alongside IKAT Indonesia by Didiet Maulana has unveiled the stunning "Ayara Kinandari" collection at the GARIS POETIH RAYA FESTIVAL 2025 in Jakarta, organized by the renowned Indonesian designer Ivan Gunawan.

“The innovative Ayara Kinandari collection vividly shows the natural beauty of U.S. cotton in a bold fusion of traditional and avant-garde Indonesian designs – as well as the natural partnership between COTTON USA™ and the Indonesian fashion industry.” - COTTON USA™ Indonesia Representative Rio Hartanto Jap

The collection features 100% U.S. cotton apparel fused with traditional and innovative Indonesian design while showcasing the natural beauty of sustainable cotton.

COTTON USA™ shaping future of U.S.-India partnerships

Cotton Day in Coimbatore brought together 125 industry experts to discuss innovations shaping the global textile sector. The event highlighted the importance of U.S. cotton and India's textile industry, exploring potential opportunities for collaboration and future growth.

Attendees at COTTON USA™ events build relationships, exchange knowledge and lead the way forward in cotton and textiles.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation in 2025. Contact a local COTTON USA™ representative to learn more!

Celebrating sustainability at Cotton Day in Hong Kong

The U.S. cotton and Chinese textile industries united at Cotton Day in Hong Kong to explore collaborating to positively impact the future of sustainable cotton textiles. Garrett McDonald, director of the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office at U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau, joined an audience of 130 to highlight the role of U.S. cotton in building a sustainable supply chain.

The event featured key industry players, including U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol mills and global brands, who focused on enhancing transparency and sustainability in the cotton textile supply chain.

Learn how the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is measuring sustainability outcomes and assuring trust in U.S. cotton.

2024 COTTON USA™ Summit

Over 400 U.S. cotton exporters and global textile mill executives joined our 12th biennial COTTON USA™ Summit in Carlsbad, CA. This exclusive COTTON USA™ event provided unparalleled networking opportunities to cultivate and reinforce partnerships with industry collaborators from 29 countries.

The textile mills at the event collectively consume over 14 million bales of cotton, equating to a significant buying power of approximately $7 billion.

Attendees gained valuable insights on global trade policies, their implications for the textile industry, global cotton economics and the transformative potential of AI for their companies.

Connect with your local COTTON USA™ representative today to discover how to benefit from the COTTON USA™ advantage.

COTTON USA™ is taking Pakistan's textile industry to the next level

We recently hosted 90 senior Pakistani mill executives and the U.S. Consul General in Pakistan, Scott Urbom, for COTTON USA™ Seminars in Karachi and Lahore.

Our focus: showing how U.S. cotton can enhance Pakistani spinning mills’ efficiency and meet consumer demands for sustainable textiles.

- Why U.S. cotton stands out: unmatched quality, technical advantages and superior sustainability credentials.
- Consumer trends favor sustainable textiles: U.S. cotton helps mills meet these demands while optimizing efficiency.

Connect with your local COTTON USA™ representative today to discover how U.S. cotton can benefit your business.

The impact of U.S. cotton is global

We brought The U.S. Cotton Academy to Latin America for the first time, equipping future textile leaders with unrivaled expertise in U.S. cotton spinning.

Based on insights collected from over 500 mills worldwide, the COTTON USA™ Technical Team shared how U.S. cotton’s superior quality and performance can help mills boost efficiency and productivity. Thank you to mill leaders from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru for joining us.

Ready to take your spinning mill to the next level with U.S. cotton? Explore the benefits of COTTON USA SOLUTIONS® today.