History & Future
THE LEGACY OF AMERICAN COTTON
Cotton’s soft hand belies a harsh history of anti-Black racism and oppression in America. The ubiquitousness of this natural fiber is a direct result of the plantation slavery that enabled its lucrative proliferation. The modern production of organic cotton does not reproduce these traumatic conditions and, instead, reinvests in its workers and the land by promoting equitable labor standards, and regenerative environmental practices. This model leads us all to a more sustainable and inclusive future.
We know that supporting domestic ranchers and fortifying the American supply chain is as important to you as it is to us. In purchasing Dapple and organic cotton, you support the health of the land and its workers while enriching regional fiber economies.
Donations from Dapple
Recognizing the violent history of cotton cultivation makes the future of agricultural success and safety for Black farmers an even more necessary goal. Legacies of exploitation and discrimination have kept Black farmers from land ownership and successful agricultural careers. Of America’s 3.4 million farmers, 95% are white, with Black-owned farms accounting for a mere 0.5% of American farmland.
Sales from Dapple will contribute 3% profit to the National Black Farmers Association in perpetuity to support these farmers who have routinely been excluded as a result of this history. No complex issue can be solved overnight, but moving towards a more inclusive future for all is crucial to our values of domestic sourcing, equity and antiracism.