Cotton

https://www.statista.com/statistics/191895/leading-cotton-exporting-countries Oct 6, 2020 The United States was the leading exporter of cotton worldwide in 2019/2020. In that time period, the U.S. cotton industry had an export volume of 3.38 million metric tons. Statista

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SMNYivhGsc&t Oct 17, 2012 Invented in 1793, the cotton gin changed history for good and bad. By allowing one field hand to do the work of 10, it powered a new industry that brought wealth and power to the American South -- but, tragically, it also multiplied and prolonged the use of slave labor. Kenneth C. Davis lauds innovation, while warning us of unintended consequences.  Lesson by Kenneth C. Davis, animation by Sunni Brown. View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-inventions-change-history-for-better-and-for-worse-kenneth-c-davis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKLJ6KQAcjI Jan 23, 2020 Dig into the science of how cotton transforms from seed to fiber, and how these cotton fibers are used to make everything from fabrics, to currency, and fishing nets.  --  Centuries ago, the Inca developed ingenuous suits of armor that could protect warriors from even the fiercest physical attacks. These hardy structures were made not from iron or steel, but rather something unexpectedly soft: cotton. Today cotton is used to make everything from fabric, to currency, diapers and fishing nets. Michael R. Stiff explores the science of what makes cotton so versatile.  Lesson by Michael R. Stiff, directed by WOW-HOW Studio. View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-is-cotton-in-everything-michael-r-stiff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiSYoeqb_VY&t Sep 5, 2017 Consider the classic white t-shirt. Annually, we sell and buy 2 billion t-shirts globally, making it one of the most common garments in the world. But how and where is the average t-shirt made, and what’s its environmental impact? Angel Chang traces the life cycle of a t-shirt. Lesson by Angel Chang, directed by TED-Ed. View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-life-cycle-of-a-t-shirt-angel-chang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_YMOhpyErI Apr 23, 2020 Dive into the anatomy of a sneaker to better understand your clothing’s carbon footprint, and how to be a more responsible consumer. Australians call them “runners." The British know them as “trainers.” Americans refer to them as “sneakers.” Whatever you call them, these casual shoes are worn by billions of people around the world. Today, roughly 23 billion shoes are produced each year. So, how can we balance our love of sneakers with the need for sustainability? Angel Chang explores how shoe manufacturing impacts our planet. Lesson by Angel Chang, directed and animated by Ella Dobson. View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-life-cycle-of-a-sneaker-angel-chang