Forced Labor and Xinjiang Cotton

The Uyghur Dilemma: Forced Labor and Xinjiang Cotton Under Global Fashion’s Microscope

Uyghur controversy forces the fashion industry to reckon with ethical supply chains and human rights. Despite international bans and brand scrutiny, cotton from Xinjiang remains a staple in textile production, states Modaes... ln 2020 the United Nations (UN) urged fashion to review its value chain and most recently in the wake of the Xinjiang scandal in early 2026, international organizations, governments and specialized analysts agree that the risk of forced labor is still present in global textile supply chains...

Despite international vetoes, cotton production in the Uyghur autonomous region of Xinjiang has been growing steadily in recent years. According to official data from the Chinese Bureau of Statistics in 2025, the region produced 6.165 million tons of cotton, accounting for nearly 93% of the total cotton grown in China. The progression is evident, as it accounted for 92% in 2024 and 90% in 2023. According to the country’s National Cotton and Cotton Yarn Trading Center, more than 21% of the world’s cotton comes from Xinjiang.