India’s cotton history is rich and extensive, and recent initiatives are giving the country’s modern cotton sector an even larger prominence on the global stage. The country’s upscale cotton sector, known as Kasturi Cotton, sets new benchmarks in Indian cotton by creating a dependable, verifiable supply chain that delivers “consistently superior quality,” authentic cotton.
Kasturi Cotton is cleaner with 2 percent or less trash and a ceiling of 8 percent for moisture content, according to India’s Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), the textile body for export development entrusted with Kasturi’s branding, traceability and certification program. This enables importers to get greater operational efficiencies, reduce waste, realize better yarn and gain superior product output.
Building on this success, Kasturi Cotton is looking forward to expanding its offerings to include Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton with fiber lengths of 31 mm and beyond. This expansion caters to the growing demand for luxury cotton products and introduces a new dimension to the brand’s portfolio.
“For centuries, India has been a global exporter of cotton. Kasturi Cotton builds on this rich heritage, reflecting the nation’s commitment to continue to meet global requirements of consistent supply of the best of Indian cotton with the added features of complete traceability and transparency,” said Dr. Siddhartha Rajagopal, executive director, TEXPROCIL.
To construct this initiative, a historic agreement was signed in December 2022 between the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), a public sector company that plays a vital role in advancing the Indian cotton economy, representing the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and TEXPROCIL.
At the heart of Kasturi Cotton’s innovation is its state-of-the-art blockchain traceability platform that guarantees 100 percent authenticity. Such transparency fosters trust and accountability, while the adaptable platform meets both current and future global supply chain regulations. Stakeholders as well as consumers can now track the cotton’s journey from farm to final product. An Oversight Committee comprised of agriculture and textile trade bodies, representatives of the Indian textile industry along with statutory bodies for quality standards regularly monitors the Kasturi Cotton program, with TEXPROCIL operating as the administrative “nerve center.”
Such stringent specification-based standards ensure that apparel garments and home textiles made with Kasturi Cotton excel in softness, strength and cleanliness, promising an elevated experience.
Such origin verification also gives importers peace of mind considering cotton compliance issues. “As the world moves away from Xinjiang cotton [in China due to forced labor regulations], Indian cotton provides a robust alternative that companies must consider,” said Dr. Rajagopal. “With initiatives like Kasturi Cotton, Indian cotton can be a source for companies looking for clean cotton that complies with testing, certification and authentication of country of origin.”
Kasturi Cotton goes beyond merely delivering top-tier cotton. It is also dedicated to sustainability and education, collaborating with Indian Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to promote best practices and sustainable farming techniques. As an open platform, Kasturi Cotton meets sustainability criteria without compromising on quality by enabling all standards like the Better Cotton Initiative, Regenagri and Organic Cotton to join the program.
Since its launch, Kasturi Cotton has successfully shifted perceptions and highlighted the potential of Indian cotton. Major industry players using Kasturi Cotton have reported significant advantages, including enhanced operational efficiencies, reduced turnaround times and superior quality outputs.
Kasturi Cotton is also suitable for eco-friendly end-of-life programs as it is a 100 percent natural fiber, noted Dr. Rajagopal. “Kasturi’s cleaner construction aligns with recycling goals by reducing the need for intensive cleaning and its superior quality enables it to withstand multiple uses in recycling/upcycling.” Overall, with its focus on quality, environmental responsibility and comprehensive traceability, Kasturi Cotton has redefined the expectations in the Indian cotton textiles industry.
