West Indian Sea Island Cotton

According to an article in the Barbados Nation News, EXCLUSIVE CARIBBEAN COTTON INC, (ECCI) has no plans to sell cotton grown in Barbados to manufacturers in any part of the world.

Sea Island Cotton was being sold at US$10 a pound, and North American manufacturers are making huge profits from manufactured products.

For those not familiar with Sea Island Cotton, it is one of the most valuable and pricey cotton varieties.

The Sea Island Cotton fibers are 50% longer than the regular cotton strain. This particular plant has yellow flowers and black seeds.

The cotton is strong as silk, and soft like cashmere. It is very easy to care for, quite versatile and the fabric keeps your body cool in extremely hot weather.

I purchased several Sea Island Cotton dresses, blouses and pants from Bajan designer Carol Cadogan, owner of "Cotton Days" some time ago, and still enjoy wearing.

Back to the article in the Nation News . . .

Apparently it takes one pound of lint to make a polo shirt for baseball players in the United States, and manufacturers sold one polo shirt wholesale for US$125 and a retail price of US$250. Yeah, that's a lot of profit!!

The Nation reports a North American manufacturer has a large amount of cotton lint stored in a warehouse in Italy waiting to be spun into fabric there - so the services of spinners in Italy actually carry out the process.

ECCI figures it can can hire the spinners of Italy to do the same for them, instead of just getting $10 a pound - Makes perfect sense to me - keep the money at home.

West Indian Sea Island Cotton thrives in Barbados and is considered to be one of the best in the world. However, it does not grow easily in other environments.

Sea Island Cotton was cultivated and harvested in the U.S. southeast from the late 1700's until early in the 20th century. It was the most important economic force of the South, and the cotton was prized by kings and queens as being recognized as the finest cotton in the world.

Just to get an idea of how much this special cotton sells for, visit John Smedley website

Comments

[Mary King]

I understand that Barbados & Jamaica are leading this revival in SI Cotton. What are the possibilities of a JV with T&T to startup production on e.g. Caroni Lands to establish a regional industry: growing, processing, cotton manufacture, design and fabrication of high fashion garments?

As a regionalist I would really appreciate hearing more about SI cotton, its economics etc.

Best regards
Mary K King
Economist
T&T

[Linda Thompkins]

Thanks for stopping by and commenting Mary. I get lots of requests for information on Sea Island Cotton. If I get more information, I will definitely post. I think your proposal sounds great - perhaps someone in the know in your region can make it happen.

[Sea Island Mistress]

Antigua and Barbuda has been in the race too,to grow plenty cotton.

[Richard Vidaurri]

There is a new book out, Sea Island Cotton, by Richard Porcher and Sarah Fick. It is an exhaustive (500+ pages) study of SI cotton, its history and current state. AND...

I'm sorry to disappoint you here, but Porcher and Fick contend that for a number of reasons true Sea Island cotton has not existed for decades. The closest thing we have now is Supima Cotton, which is a registered trade mark.

Many high-end manufacturers and retailers claim to sell Sea Island Cotton and they can get away with that deception because SI has never been a protected name. In reality what they are selling is any fine, extra-long staple cotton fabric such as Supima.

RV

[Mikael Hall]

It was sad to hear that Sea Island Cotton does not longer exist.
I have since beeing very young only been able to wear the finest cotton shirts and pyjamas. Now I have an idea to make the best quality pyjamas in Sea Island Cotton at reasonable prices for men and women that appreciate the quality and feel that this material represent. Can anyone support me and send information where I can buy the cotton fabric I need ?

Mikael Hall
Sweden

[Regina Kennedy]

I also am disappointed that authentic sea Iisland cotton is no longer grown.I would like to know the reasons why this is so..

[a vex West Indian]

Will the real "Sea Island Cotton" please stand...want to know more about West Indian Sea Island Cotton - see www.life-n-styles-barbados.com or www.eccicotton.bb. it's a pity there's so much garbage written on these blogs. And, recently saw this - if you can get your hands on a copy of "Ins & Outs of Barbados 2010" have a look at what's written there about West Indian Sea Island Cotton.