A Quiet Crisis in the Cotton Fields
In a small valley in Central India, cotton farmers have grown the same crop for generations. It’s their livelihood, their heritage — and increasingly, their burden. The rains have become unpredictable. When they do arrive, the sunbaked soil is so dry and compacted that the water runs off before it can sink in. What used to be a reliable rhythm of planting and harvesting has become a gamble. And the stakes keep rising.
Cotton, once known as “white gold,” is now bleeding communities dry. It’s not just in India. From California’s Central Valley to Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin, cotton-producing regions are facing the same challenge: a crop that demands more water than nature can sustainably provide in a warming world.
As the climate heats up, the earth becomes thirstier. Dry places get drier. Rain, when it comes, evaporates quickly or washes away unabsorbed. Intensive farming practices have depleted the soil’s ability to retain moisture, and cotton – a notoriously water-hungry plant – is suffering the consequences.
A Side-by-Side Look: Cotton vs. Tencel
So how did we get here? And more importantly, what’s the solution?
Let’s break it down.
1. Water Use
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Cotton:
It takes around 2,700 liters (713 gallons) of water to make just one cotton t-shirt. That’s roughly what one person drinks in 3 years. Cotton is grown on agricultural land that (combined with other crops) accounts for approximately one-third of the Earth’s dry land. But because of chemical overuse, monoculture farming, and soil degradation, these fields no longer act like natural sponges. Water use spirals. -
Tencel:
Tencel is made from sustainably harvested wood pulp, mainly from eucalyptus trees grown in responsibly managed European forests. These forests require no irrigation, no pesticides, and no fertilizers. Tree roots grow deep, allowing them to access underground water and thrive on natural rainfall alone. Producing a Tencel t-shirt takes up to 6x less water than cotton. Now that’s efficiency you can feel.
2. Environmental Footprint
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Cotton:
Intensive cotton farming has eroded topsoil and contributed to the collapse of local ecosystems. It supports less biodiversity and frequently relies on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides – adding to runoff pollution and soil toxicity. -
Tencel:
Tencel is produced in a closed-loop system, where over 99% of the water and solvents are recycled. The raw material – wood – grows back in the same forest, maintaining full ecosystem integrity, unlike monoculture crops that strip the land.
3. Long-Term Sustainability
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Cotton:
As climate stress intensifies, cotton farming is becoming less viable – both economically and environmentally. Without major interventions, cotton-growing regions face a future of increasing water scarcity and lower yields. -
Tencel:
Tencel is future-ready. It’s already setting the gold standard in sustainability, backed by science and trusted certification. It's not just less harmful; it's actively regenerative.
Why This Matters to You (and Us)
You might be asking — what does this have to do with golf fashion?
Well, everything.
At Swingmor, we believe your clothes should support your passions, not come at the planet’s expense. That’s why we exclusively use Tencel fabrics in our apparel. From our Tencel polos to our versatile golf athleisure wear, every item we design is made to do more good than harm.
Our community of golfers — busy professionals, weekend warriors, and thoughtful gift-givers — value time, performance, and purpose. But we know many of you also care deeply about the footprint you leave behind.
That’s why we built Swingmor different:
- ✅ 100% Tencel stretch fabric: natural, breathable, and water-light
- ✅ True fit sizing system for real bodies
- ✅ Smart seam technology to move with your swing
- ✅ Stay-fresh design to wear all day, every day
- ✅ Ethical supply chain and guaranteed end-of-life buyback
Every product is a piece of our circular vision. See our full closed-loop system →
Walking a Softer Path
At Swingmor, we call this approach "Walking a Softer Path." It's not about perfection. It’s about progress, responsibility, and real solutions. That means replacing thirsty crops like cotton with fabrics that require less – and give more.
We’re not just green in regulation, we’re green in our resolution.
We don’t greenwash. We don’t compromise. We don’t cut corners.
We’ve chosen Tencel not just because it combines the best of synthetic and natural fibres plus it feels amazing (although it really, really does) — but because it represents the future of golf clothing made with purpose. A future that cares for water, for forests, and for the planet our children will inherit.
Final Thought: The Power of Choice
When you buy a t-shirt, you’re buying a piece of someone’s land. Someone’s water. Someone’s future.
So choose wisely.
Choose a brand that does things differently.
Choose gear that looks good, feels good, and does good.
Choose Swingmor – where every stitch supports more time, more freedom, and more purpose.
Ready to Walk the Softer Path?
Discover our Tencel Polo Collection →
Explore more about how we turn purpose into action →
Or read our other blog posts:
Join us. Not just for better golf fashion, but for a better future.
One swing at a time.
Author of Climate Change and the Road to Net Zero, Dr. Mathew Hampshire-Waugh brings his deep understanding of sustainability to every thread of Swingmor. Built for performance, designed for purpose—because fashion should never cost the Earth.
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