BEIJING: China has stepped up plans to launch a domestic cotton project, forming its own national standards on cotton, according to people familiar with the matter, China Daily reported on Friday.
Zhongnong Guoji, a Beijing-based cotton vertical service provider, started the Weilai Cotton, or future cotton project, two years ago, and has made some progress since January when two organizations – the China Fashion Association and the Modern Seeds Development Fund – became involved, according to SCMP, citing Zhao Yan, one of the coordinators for the project.
The recent international hostility toward Xinjiang cotton has accelerated the project, which is expected to demonstrate a “national aspiration” at this “crucial moment”, Zhao said. “We have been living with Switzerland’s standards for years, but the country doesn’t even produce cotton. Now it is time to form our own national standards,” said Zhao.
Zhao, who will be the chief brand officer for the project, said the group may also establish a separate company called Weilai Cotton to run the day-to-day affairs and organize various events in the industry, with various preparations still ongoing before the project itself can be launched. The Weilai Cotton project will first look to recruit Chinese brands before considering whether to recruit international brands, Zhao added, and all cotton garments will eventually be tagged with a QR code which will show the entire supply chain.
– The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item
