The Cotton

bee

Better by Detail...

Beginning with the ONLY bee-pollinated cotton, Vidalia undertakes a comprehensive process to transform this cotton into exceptional textiles and clothing. The journey starts in Vidalia, Louisiana, where this curated cotton is integrated with special tracing technology. The cotton is opened, cleaned, carded, combed, spun, and wound into premium long-staple Heirloom Pima cotton yarns. These yarns are then meticulously crafted into high-quality fabrics, including artisanal canvas and denim.

Vidalia specializes in creating combed ring-spun yarn from select Heirloom Pima cotton, renowned for being the pinnacle of quality in both method and material. This long-staple cotton yarn, derived from Heirloom Pima cotton, sets the benchmark for excellence.  Better cotton plus better yarn equals better products.

While it's possible to produce yarn more quickly or cost-effectively using inferior materials, Vidalia is dedicated to surpassing the standard. Vidalia embodies the commitment to superior quality.

Good Stewardship

For Vidalia, environmental stewardship is not a mere facet for promotional rhetoric; we steadfastly reject the practice of greenwashing and the compromise of standards.

We champion the use of superior-quality fiber that benefits the earth.

Vidalia opts for non-GMO Heirloom Pima Cotton. This choice diverges from the norm of genetically modified cotton cultivation, which often relies on harmful herbicides and fertilizers standard in global industrial cotton farming.

Heirloom Pima Cotton champions the cause of fertile soil, judicious water use, and the cultivation of fiber in harmony with nature.

It symbolizes a commitment from farmers to employ sustainable practices such as cover cropping and reduced tillage, enhancing soil health with each crop cycle. This approach is grounded in ecological guardianship, eschewing the hazardous overuse of fertilizers and pesticides.

Furthermore, Vidalia is a Polyester and Spandex-free zone, deliberately avoiding both, which are elastomeric fibers known for contributing to microplastic pollution in our oceans.

These materials shed microfibers that infiltrate groundwater and seas, affecting marine life across the spectrum.

Meet The Growers

Every month, Vidalia is set to spotlight a grower from within the industry, showcasing their contributions and the significance of their work to our products. We hold the conviction that growers are the fundamental support of our production chain - they are the cultivators of the exceptional cotton that forms the foundation of our top-tier products for the apparel industry. Each of these growers operates domestically within the United States, and we are eager to both learn their stories and share them with you.

Cole

PART 1

Cole Viramontes

Cole Viramontes recounts a rich family legacy rooted in agriculture, tracing back to his grandfather's founding of their farm in the 1950s, marking the beginning of a 70-year journey in farming. Initially, his grandfather cultivated a variety of commodity crops, including cotton and grains, laying the groundwork for the farm's future. The agricultural venture faced its challenges, especially when transitioning to the hands of Cole's father in the 1980s. During this period, the volatility of commodity markets prompted a shift towards vegetable farming, with green chili peppers, onions, and watermelons becoming the new focal points, though cotton remained a part of their crop rotation.

Cole Viramontes

Cole Viramontes recounts a rich family legacy rooted in agriculture, tracing back to his grandfather's founding of their farm in the 1950s, marking the beginning of a 70-year journey in farming. Initially, his grandfather cultivated various commodity crops, including cotton and grains, laying the groundwork for the farm's future. The agricultural venture faced challenges, especially when transitioning to the hands of Cole's father in the 1980s. During this period, the volatility of commodity markets prompted a shift towards vegetable farming, with green chili peppers, onions, and watermelons becoming the new focal points. However, cotton remained a part of their crop rotation.
 
The farm's relationship with cotton was complex, influenced by the high costs of water and the uncertainties of the cotton market. It wasn't until the 1990s that cotton was phased out of their operations, a decision that held until Cole, having worked on the farm throughout his life, decided to reintegrate cotton into their crop selection in the 2010s. Experimentation with upland cotton varieties initially showed promise but ultimately faced market challenges.
 
A significant turning point came three years ago when Cole explored the cultivation of hybrid Pima cotton after meeting Rick Neuenschwander, who introduced him to the superior qualities of this variety. The decision to adopt Hybrid Pima cotton marked a new chapter for the farm, offering a more premium fiber that could command higher prices in the market. This variety, especially the Gowan's hybrid, not only elevated the farm's competitive edge but also increased yield volumes, blending the robustness of upland varieties with the premium quality of Pima cotton.
 
Now, for the first time, the farm is dedicating its entire cotton program to Gowan Hybrid, a testament to the journey from traditional commodity farming to a niche, high-quality cotton producer. This evolution reflects a deep-rooted commitment to innovation and excellence in agriculture, carried forward from generation to generation.
 
Vidalia will continue this series with Cole as we progress and dive deeper into other areas, such as soil cultivation, sustainability, and regenerative farming—practices that Vidalia specifically seeks out in the growers it aligns with.
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