Synthetic fabrics dampened demand for cotton. There's a plan to revive the industry

NPR | By Michael Marks

Published September 22, 2026 at 3:52 AM CDT

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Demand for cotton has been stagnant for decades thanks to the growth of synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester. But now, cotton boosters and their allies have a plan to try to reverse that trend.

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Michael Marks

Synthetic fabrics dampened demand for cotton. There's a plan to revive the industry

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