Cotton Industry Fashion and Sustainable Development: A Review, Prof. Hasabo Ahmed, Prof. Nevin Gürsoy, Dr Pelin Altay
Professor Hasabo Abdelbagi Mohamed Ahmed
Department of textile Engineering
Sudan University of Science and Technology
Khartoum
Sudan
ORCID: 0000-0002-5095-8650
Professor Nevin Ç. Gürsoy
Faculty of Textile Technologies and Design
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul
Turkey
ORCID: 0000-0001-6707-4256
Dr Pelin Altay
Faculty of Textile Technologies and Design
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul
Turkey
ORCID: 0000-0001-7888-9477
Type of Paper: Review
Received: 28 October 2025/ Revised: 3 December 2025 / Accepted: 15 December 2025 / Published: 30 December 2025
DOI: 10.47556/J.WJCSD.1.1-2.2025.3
Purpose: This study critically investigates the sustainability challenges linked to cotton production and the fashion industry, with a specific focus on the systemic impacts of fast fashion. It aims to evaluate the environmental pressures generated by cotton cultivation and textile manufacturing processes, while exploring emerging institutional initiatives and technological innovations that may facilitate more sustainable production and supply-chain practices.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A qualitative, literature-based analytical methodology is employed, synthesising evidence from peer-reviewed academic publications, industry reports, and established sustainability frameworks relevant to cotton agriculture, textile manufacturing, and fashion supply chains. The analysis emphasises key sustainability dimensions, including water consumption, chemical input intensity, energy use, and the role of policy, institutional mechanisms, and technological interventions in enhancing environmental performance.
Findings: The findings indicate that increasing global demand for cotton, driven largely by fast fashion, has intensified environmentally unsustainable practices across both agricultural and industrial stages of the value chain. Key challenges include excessive water withdrawal, high dependence on agrochemicals, and inefficient energy utilisation, collectively contributing to water scarcity, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and potential human health risks. Sustainability initiatives such as the Better Cotton programme, the expansion of organic cotton systems, and the adoption of improved agronomic practices demonstrate measurable potential for mitigating these impacts. In addition, advancements in precision agriculture, particularly sensor-based monitoring and GPS-enabled technologies, emerge as effective tools for optimising resource efficiency and reducing environmental burdens.
Originality/Value of the Paper: This study contributes to the literature by offering an integrated perspective that connects agricultural sustainability challenges with the structural dynamics of the fashion industry, particularly fast fashion. By examining the interdependencies between cotton farming, textile processing, and consumption patterns, the paper highlights the combined influence of institutional initiatives and technological innovation in advancing system-level sustainability transitions.
Research Limitations/Implications: The study is constrained by its reliance on secondary sources; this may limit the representation of regional heterogeneity in cotton production systems and recent industry-specific developments. Future research should incorporate empirical case studies, field-based assessments, or quantitative modelling to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted sustainability interventions across diverse geographic and socio-economic contexts.
Practical Implications: The results offer practical guidance for policy-makers, cotton producers, and fashion brands by emphasising the importance of water-efficient management, reduced chemical input use, and investment in precision agriculture technologies. For the fashion sector, the findings support the adoption of sustainable sourcing standards and responsible production strategies as critical measures for reducing the environmental footprint of cotton-based apparel.
Keywords: Cotton Industry; Water Scarcity; Sustainable Development; Fertilisers; Contaminates; Fashion; Ecosystem.
Citation: Ahmed, H. A. M., Gürsoy, N. C. and Altay, P. (2025): Cotton Industry Fashion and Sustainable Development: A Review. World Journal of Cotton and Sustainable Development (WJCSD), Vol. 1, Nos. 1/2, pp. 29-49.
