Cotton has always been considered to be the king of fabrics. It is a natural fiber that can be spun alone or blended with other fibers to create fabric. Although cotton is no longer the lead for use period, it is currently the most popular fabric in the world for apparel. This incredibly versatile fiber has been cultivated for over 7000 years and it is still continuing to grow and adapt as technological and agricultural advances occur. However, in recent decades, the world’s favorite fabric has lost and continues to lose a growing portion of its market share to synthetic fiber competition.

Cotton is known for its dependability. It is even associated with being natural, pure, safe and environmentally friendly so why are we not using it to the max of our ability? Would consumers still prefer to use synthetic fibers if they knew that there were no benefits long term? If consumers knew the amount of pesticides and chemicals used to produce synthetic fibers, would they still feel the same way about using it in the production of children’s clothing.

The long-term goal of this project is to encourage the use of cotton that has been created in a more environmentally and socially conscious atmosphere. With all the technological developments that have taken place in the last decade, it is prudent for our planet to evolve cotton into our number one fabric once again. Our objective is to find out what consumers are preferring and why?