Cotton Talk at Kingpins
NEW YORK—For the second season, denim trade show Kingpins reprised its cotton panel discussion, featuring agronomists, farmers and fiber makers discussing the rise—and fall—and possible rise again—of cotton prices. Held on July 20, the second day of Kingpins two-day run at the Skyline Studios loft space in midtown Manhattan, the conference drew a mix of denim designers and suppliers looking to hear the latest news about cotton prices and fiber development.Speaker O.A. Cleveland, a professor emeritus from Mississippi State University, kicked off the discussion with the welcome news that cotton prices have fallen.
“Six months ago, cotton was trading at a dollar and a half—and it sailed past that,” he said. “We’ve come down 50 cents in just six weeks. “ Cleveland acknowledged that the seminar attendees had had a rough time coping with the rapid changes in cotton prices.
“You’ve been met with such hellip; price volatility,” he said.“I think we’ll continue to see such price volatility. I would anticipate that the market will be a bit more stable, but I think that anything from $1 to $1.10, you should be fairly aggressive. We are a bit low right now. Now’s the time to buy.”
Other panelists included Kater Hake, vice president of agricultural research for Cotton Inc.; Monte Christian, vice president, Western Hemisphere, for Bayer CropScience; and farmers Steve Newsom, who grows conventional cotton in Levelland, Texas, and Cliff Bingham, who grows both conventional and organic cotton in Meadow, Texas. Jeff Silberman, head of the textile development and marketing department of the Fashion Institute of Technology, served as moderator.
The panel discussion was live streamed, and a link is available on the Kingpins Facebook page.—Alison A. Nieder
