Our Cotton
The cotton we use for our T-shirts are organically grown by a group of cooperative farmers in India. The program is called Chetna Organic.
CHETNA ORGANIC
Chetna Organic is a unique 360° development intervention for smallholder (&tribal) farmer families primarily dependent on rainfed agriculture. Chetna was established with the primary aim of enhancing their livelihood options through making their farming systems more profitable and sustainable. Chetna focus states include Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha and with specific technical services extended to other states.
The Chetna Organic & Fair Trade Cotton Intervention Program started in 2004 as a composite pilot on Organic / Non-Pesticide Management (NPM) & Fair-trade supply chain development,in response to the agrarian crisis in India. The intent was to improve livelihood options of smallholder farmers by making their farm systems more sustainable, profitable and creating access to ethical and fair-trade markets in cotton.
Find out More about Chetna Organic: http://www.chetnaorganic.org.in/
THE FACTORY
Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills Pvt. Ltd (RCML) - India’s one & only 100% Organic and Fairtrade garmenting company, has been a longstanding partner and the strongest supporter for Chetna Organic since inception. Initially, RCML purchased almost all cotton produced by the Chetna and continues to be one of the most consistent and substantial buyer. In 2008, Chetna Organic through its cooperatives picked up a 10% stake in RCML.
This relationship provides many additional benefits including the creation of contracts from the beginning of the season to secure bank loans for farmers, access to pre-finance of over 50 percent of the cotton harvest, and importantly active participation of brands in community development projects such as supporting schools, vocational training centers, eco-centers, women enterprises (incl. tailoring units), creating revolving funds, etc. in remote villages – all as a result of the integrity demonstrated in the Chetna supply chain and further complimenting the Fairtrade premiums.
We are very happy working with RCML as we know the finished Vonadhona Cotton products we are offering to you comes from a Sustainable source and the products are manufactured with to stringent Fair Trade Certified™ Standards.
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