Overview
Dr. Andrew Jordan is helping to to tell the story of the wider U.S. cotton industry.
Deep Dive
When Field to Market, an alliance for sustainable agriculture, introduced the Trusted Adviser of the Year Award for the rst time in 2019, it honored Dr. Andrew Jordan’s leadership as a key participant of Field to Market since its inception, and a trusted adviser to farmers.
Considered a pioneering sustainability advocate for the cotton industry, Jordan has served as an essential conduit for bringing farmers along in documenting the sustainability of their operations, and telling the story of the wider U.S. cotton industry. He has worked alongside Cotton Incorporated to lead field tours for apparel brands and retailers, as well as garner grower input on how the Fieldprint Plat- form can be improved.
Jordan’s list of efforts and accolades is a long one. He assists clients in developing sustainable agriculture as well as environmental and social responsibility plans. He’s a director of Agricenter International and co-owner of food safety rm Secure Food Solu- tions, and he previously served as vice president of technical services for the National Cotton Council and advisor to its Cotton USA Sustainability Task Force.
What will the denim industry be like in the next 18 months?
My notion is that the industry, like the rest of textiles and fashion, is in a major adjustment. I think from the denim standpoint it is bound to parallel the global GDPs. I do anticipate it will recover—not as fast as many of us really want it to—but I would say denim will recover faster than other textile commodities.
What changes would you like to see in the denim industry as a result of Covid-19?
We, as a society, are probably being more focused on function and practicality and I’m anticipating that the denim textile manufacturers will most likely get into being more conscious of our impacts. The ones that continue to thrive will be those that are finding innovative ways to reduce the amount of water in processing and reduce the chemicals leaving the plant.
How do you define sustainability in a post-pandemic world?
I think it’s going to parallel what I’m seeing in societal adjustments. I think we’ll see an increased emphasis on quality, most likely more focus on longer-lasting fashions. Maybe we’ll use our clothes longer and that might not bode well for those of us that earn money by selling stuff like me, I make money promoting cotton. But we’ll find a way of getting back to the fundamentals of functional fashion.
Describe your dream jeans.
I have this vision of having a pair of jeans that’s so tough. I spend a lot of time outside. I’m looking for a super tough, long-lasting pair of jeans.
Describe your dream jeans.
I have this vision of having a pair of jeans that’s so tough. I spend a lot of time outside. I’m looking for a super tough, long-lasting pair of jeans.
What is your most worn pair of jeans, and why?
I look in my closet and pull out my go-to pair of jeans when I want to be comfortable. I want to not worry about tears or working on the farm, and it turns out to be an old pair by Carhartt. They’re comfortable, they’re worn, they’re aging gracefully, and that pair is matching my personality.
Name one word that best describes denim.
Function.