Maritaş Denim Harvested the First Regenerative Cotton in the Harran Plain

Maritaş Denim Deputy General Manager Fatih Kesim, who produces with a team of 520 people and a fabric capacity of 24 million meters per year in fully integrated production facilities from yarn to weaving, stated that they aim to gradually increase the share of cotton obtained through regenerative agriculture in total fabric production.

Maritaş Denim, which set out to pioneer and contribute to regenerative cotton production in Turkey, carried out Turkey’s first regenerative cotton harvest, carried out in collaboration with TÜBİTAK-supported universities and industry, in the Harran Plain. Aiming to support local farmers and draw attention to regenerative agricultural practices at the national level, Maritaş Denim reinforced its pioneering role and leadership in the sector with its first harvest event called “Harvesting in Harran: Maritaş Denim Regenerative Cotton Journey”. The project, which is realized in cooperation with Harran University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops and Gaziantep University Department of Textile Engineering, aims to provide contracted production and close supply to farmers. In the first stage, the work carried out in 500 decares of production area and 10 decares of pilot project area is planned to last 24 months gradually. Within the scope of the project, the first harvest of cotton seeds planted in May 2023 was realized.

500 thousand meters of raw material will be obtained to meet the fabric demand

Maritaş Denim, which produces fabric for 340 companies in total and leads the sector in the field of green transformation, exports fabric to 340 brands in 41 different countries through its agencies located in 16 countries. With the first harvest of regenerative cotton, it is foreseen to obtain raw material that can meet the demand of approximately 500 thousand meters for an average weight 100% content fabric.

Taking an important step to discover and develop best practice methods in raw material supply, Maritaş Denim aims to provide valuable data with its research that will shed light on future production processes and contribute to the company reaching its sustainability goals. One of the main goals of the research is to identify the most current and effective practices in raw material supply, develop them and make them applicable in a wider perspective. This research project, which is intended to be a guide for the future process, is considered an important step taken to strengthen Maritaş Denim’s commitment to sustainability and to contribute to the local economy by expanding its cultivation areas.

Supporting regenerative agriculture with close procurement

Maritaş Denim, which imports cotton obtained through regenerative agriculture, which has been developed and widely used in recent years as a response to climate change, from 5 thousand km to 7 thousand km away, has started to use the contract farming method in order to reduce the need for raw materials from a distance. Maritaş Denim, which aims to obtain its raw materials through close sourcing by contracting farmers in the Harran Plain, supports regenerative agriculture by reducing carbon emissions. This support aims to improve the soil, increase crop productivity and water retention capacity compared to monoculture agriculture.

“We will create not only local but global impact”

Stating that they want to create a momentum and take a real step on behalf of nature, humanity and the industry with the project they have realized, Fatih Kesim, Deputy General Manager of Maritaş Denim, said: “We believe that the regenerative cotton production we have started in the Harran Plain is a guide to the return of the soil and nature to its essence, to generations that can produce without pollution and live in harmony with nature. We are proud to have pioneered a movement that will create not only local but also global impact. We would like to extend our endless thanks to the authorities of Harran University, Gaziantep University and Şanlıurfa Chamber of Agricultural Engineers for guiding us in our project, which we have realized to redefine denim and transform our approach to cotton in the perspective of sustainability in the industry.”

“We will create a sustainable cotton supply chain for the textile industry”

Harran University Faculty of Agriculture Field Crops Department Head Prof. Dr. Osman Çopur stated that cotton has been planted in approximately 75% of the Harran Plain, where cotton has been produced for 28 years, and that Şanlıurfa accounts for 45% of Turkey’s cotton production, and said, “Continuous cultivation of cotton can cause deep plowing in the soil, formation of bedrock, disease, increase in weeds and deterioration in the microbiology of the soil. Research shows that more than 100% of the carbon emissions caused by industrial agriculture can be absorbed back in a period of 3 years with the widespread use of regenerative agriculture practices. Our work, which we implemented with Maritaş Denim’s social responsibility and sustainable agriculture approach, started in November 2022 with the planting of winter intercrop lentils. Soil enriched in nitrogen also reduced cotton production costs. Our aim is to create a sustainable cotton supply chain for the textile industry and to leave a healthy soil for future generations.”

“Regenerative cotton offers high fabric quality”

Talking about the importance of cotton fiber for the textile industry, Gaziantep University Textile Engineering Department Head Prof. Dr. Cem Güneşoğlu said, “The target of increasing cotton production has resulted in a high level of chemical consumption. Today, while cotton production constitutes 2% of global agriculture, it is responsible for 20% of the drugs consumed in agriculture. This is not a sustainable situation. Therefore, the last link of sustainable agriculture and cotton production, which started in the 1980s, is regenerative. Protecting soil health means increasing the quality of every product grown in this soil. That’s why regenerative cotton offers higher quality fiber, higher fabric quality and good wearing comfort. When regenerated cotton is mentioned in our country, recycled cotton comes to mind. Unlike other companies, this awareness of Maritaş Denim is very valuable to us” made his statements.