Did you know that your favourite pair of blue jeans contributes to a significant amount of carbon emission into the atmosphere? With the amount of water used, process of dyeing the fabric, and high amount of energy needed for its production, denim is infamous for its notoriously high energy consumption levels. As a consumer, it is a given that one must make sure that they purchase apparels to make them last; and as a producer, it is of utmost necessity that their resources are streamlined to make up for the pollution and emission caused by the manufacture of products like denim. As a shining example, Pakistan based Soorty stands out in this discourse through their partnership project with REEDS – Soorty Regenagri Initiative (SRI)
The partnership
The project aims to apply regenerative farming practices to the cultivation of cotton for Soorty denim. These practices focus on restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and promoting ecological balance. The partner organisation, Rural Education & Economic Development Society (REEDS) is not new to the rural agriculture sector, already having implemented the Primark Sustainable Cotton Program (PSCP) that focused on agronomist and farmers training sessions in how to cultivate sustainably with lesser water and pesticide usage, et al. Together, they bring forth Pakistan’s first private-sector regenerative cotton cultivation project.
In an announcement made in February this year, the project head, Dr. Yousaf Ali shared, “Regenerative agriculture isn’t just about maintaining the status quo – it’s about actively improving soil health and biodiversity, with SRI, we’re proving that ecological restoration and premium cotton production are not mutually exclusive goals.” With the initiative, Soorty not only seeks to produce cotton in a more environmentally friendly manner that fosters transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain but also aims to uplift local farming communities by providing them with the knowledge and resources needed for sustainable cultivation, creating a sustainable agricultural ecosystem for generations to come.
A thread to tie them together
The project, whose inception was in April 2023, has already made significant inroads, partnering with over 1,100 small-scale farmers across an expanse of approximately 5,000 acres. “With SRI, we’re not just sourcing better cotton, we’re investing in the wellbeing of entire communities. This ethical approach resonates with our customers, who understand that true sustainability extends beyond the product”, remarked the executive director at Soorty, Ebru Debbag. SRI integrates a sophisticated digital framework that tracks and documents the journey of cotton from seed to fabric, aiming to enhance transparency in the textile supply chain. This system not only facilitates detailed monitoring of agricultural practices but also enables the journey tracking of cotton bales and the geolocation of farms, enhancing accountability and traceability. This allows Soorty to share the story of each garment’s origin with its customers – a story of revitalised landscapes and empowered communities that reinforce tangible impact.
The SRI is not Soorty’s first step towards sustainability. Ever since its early years, the venture has kept the delicate ecology in mind with an aim to cause it as less damage as possible. Through the practice of vertical infrastructure, Soorty is enabled to do everything denim-production-related in-house. The team informs, “This not only lowers our carbon footprint but also helps us design key-and-lock solutions within the supply chain while monitoring and optimising different process cycles.” Moreover, in line with Soorty’s sustainability program, ProSeam- Soorty’s state-of-the-art and fully compliant sewing thread dyeing facility with a capacity of 180 tons per month- offers SmartKnot – a Cradle2Cradle Platinum certified organic cotton thread, as well as a C2C Bronze certified SmartTwist recycled poly thread.
The team at Soorty and everyone else involved with the brand continues to work towards sustainable fashion. With that it mind, they declare, “Weaving responsibility, innovation, and purposeful design into every thread, we’re co-creating a canvas that benefits the society, the environment, and fashion itself.”
Read More: Cottonworld: Sustainable fashion in a pod
