Cotton is one of the most common fabrics in the world, from its origins in ancient India to the modern garments many of us wear today. This durable, versatile and naturally organic fabric is made from the white, fluffy fibres around the seeds of cotton plants. 

However, the backstory of cotton is more complicated. Its production is heavily dependent on natural resources and labour; and unfortunately, child labour is often a part of this. Children are involved in a wide range of tasks in the cotton industry, including preparing the land, handling pesticides and handpicking the cotton balls at harvest time.

Mali is the second largest cotton producer in Africa and child labour in the cotton industry is prevalent there, perpetuating a cycle of poverty for their families and their communities. Moreover, many of the children who work in Mali’s cotton fields are not enrolled in school.