Chinese Cotton Ban

by Kaiden Tran, Features Editor

Feature/China AP

Famous fashion and sports companies and stores such as H&M, Nike, and Adidas have been gaining attention recently for their new ban on the use of cotton from Xinjiang, China. This cotton is believed to be a part of growing human labor concerns from China which explains the companies’ disuse of the material.

After accusations emerged, China began to boycott products from these companies due to their attempt at taininting the name of China’s fashion industry. The country has a large population, and comes with a reputation of heavily discounted clothing. Shares for the companies decreased dramatically, while shares for local replacement businesses like Anta Sports Products Ltd. and Li Ning Co. soared.

Chinese Internet users have also stated hatred against the companies in the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), the group of activists that alerted China on suspicions of forced labor a year ago.

“If you boycott Xinjiang cotton, we’ll boycott you. Either Adidas quits BCI, or get out of China,” one Twitter user said.

Additionally, China refuted these claims stating that the alleged “abuse of labor” was due to vocational training of its people. Chinese officials also encouraged protestors to call out other countries for past use of forced labor, using the United States as an example.

“(In) the U.S...Black slaves were forced to pick cotton in the fields,” spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry Hua Chunying said. “More than 40% of the cotton in Xinjiang is harvested by machinery, so the alleged forced labour is non-existent.”

Chinese ambassadors and partners for these companies have terminated their contracts based on reports of the companies' actions and accusations against their homeland. Most notably, musician and celebrity Jackson Wang terminated his partnership with Adidas.

“National interest is more important than anything,” Wang’s management team said. “This studio and Mr. Jackson Wang strongly object to all deplorable behavior that smears and spreads rumors about China.”

Wang, along with his other Chinese K-pop stars who have cut ties with companies defaming China, has been receiving both applause and criticism. Some Chinese fans have applauded the stars for leaving their partnerships with the companies. However, international fans began to criticize the stars online for their actions.

“I cannot believe that Jackson really left Adidas to protect China, I can’t support him anymore” outraged fan Ann Burke said.

As of now, these stars have yet to comment further on leaving their partnerships with these fashion companies though they have rapidly been losing fans from their support.