On a 27 February deadline, Sourcing Journal reports on the recent Buying American Cotton Act.
Alexandra Harrell | February 27, 2026
In the letter, the group describes the bill as an opportunity to strengthen the American cotton supply chain “from farm to retail,” arguing that federal procurement policy can reinforce domestic production while supporting producers, manufacturers and retailers tied to U.S.-grown fiber.
Comprising 78 undersigning organizations, it cut across agriculture, manufacturing and retail. Big brands like Gap, Levi’s, Ralph Lauren, Target, Under Armour and Victoria’s Secret are all there, alongside the U.S. Fashion Industry Association. But the bulk of the signatories actually come from state-level and commodity-backed groups: think Farm Bureau chapters, cotton growers and regional co-ops from Arizona to the Carolinas.
“On behalf of our members, we support the initiative by the U.S. cotton producers. Fashion brands and retailers work closely with the cotton producers and, of course, we are their customers,” said Julia Hughes, the USFIA‘s president. “This is a creative effort to offer an incentive that benefits both the cotton producers and the retailers. To my knowledge, this type of program has never been tried before, and we are pleased to be a part of the effort.”