“The Discover Natural Fibers Initiative will build on the success of the IYNF and adopt the same objective, which is to raise the awareness and profile of natural fibers, including cotton, and emphasize their value to global consumers while helping to sustain farmer income,” said CCI President Wally Darneille. “Natural fibers, including cotton and U.S. cotton, are key economic contributors. The global recognition this initiative will bring to cotton and other natural fibers is well-deserved.”

The decision to continue working closely together was the result of an IYNF committee meeting held in Frankfurt, Germany, in January 2010. DNFI is an alliance of key international natural fiber organizations including CCI, the International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO), the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the Bremen Cotton Exchange, the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) and many others. Henrik Kuffner, Director General of IWTO, was elected as committee chair for the year 2010.

Cotton—a natural, renewable and biodegradable resource—is the largest natural fiber in the global fiber, textile and apparel economy, now representing roughly 80 percent of all natural fibers consumed. Cotton represents hundreds of billions of dollars of economic activity and globally employs hundreds of millions of people from field to fabric to retail.