Cotton: why the price of clothing is likely to increase
Maud Descamps, edited by Gauthier Delomez
The price of cotton is at its highest for ten years due to the very strong demand, which exceeds the producers. Consequence: the price of clothing could increase in the coming weeks. Manufacturers would think about opting for synthetic fiber, cheaper to buy, to produce their clothes.After the prices of fuel or energy, it is the turn of cotton to burn. With the very strong economic recovery, the prices of this raw material are at their highest for ten years. Demand is soaring and producers are struggling to keep up, which could affect the price of clothing in the coming months or even weeks.
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An increase in the price of clothing expected in early 2022
In the space of a few months, the price has soared by 54% for conventional cotton and 100% for organic cotton. "From an average of 60 to 90 pence, we went to 120 a few weeks ago", explains Charles Jannet, president of the French cotton association, on Europe 1, who concedes that there will be "clearly an impact prices in the clothes on the shelves".
These increases could even occur as early as the first quarter of 2022. A major women's clothing brand tells Europe 1 that it hopes to contain the increase below 5%. However, an executive in the clothing sector fears that these increases will reach 20%.
Some manufacturers would opt for synthetic fiber
For Gauthier Watrelot, managing director of the IDKids group, the rise in the price of clothing is inevitable in order to continue manufacturing with quality materials. "It's a real dilemma. We want accessible and responsible brands. At times, the equation is not simple. We will have to combine all that", he underlines at the microphone of Europe 1.
Some textile manufacturers could even give up making their clothes with cotton and switch to synthetic fiber, which is less expensive.
