Atlanta McIlwraith, director of global community engagement and activation for Timberland, said: “Five years ago, Timberland set out with a vision to bring cotton farming back to Haiti after a 30-year hiatus. 

"We are incredibly proud to have a new source of responsibly-grown cotton. We branded it Community Cotton, because the agroforestry model plants trees, increases farm productivity, and enhances farmers’ incomes and lives."

Footwear using this cotton include the women’s Atlanta Green EK+ Sneakers, men’s TrueCloud EK+ Sneakers and Caswell EK+ Bags. 

Timberland first partnered with SFA in 2010 to plant five million trees in five years in Haiti. To fulfill that commitment, the SFA created its Tree Currency agroforestry model to engage smallholder farmers to grow, transplant and care for trees. 

In exchange for their time working in tree nurseries, participating farmers earn credits they can exchange for better quality seeds, hand tools and agricultural training. After a few years, the list of redeemable benefits grew to include literacy programs, microcredit services, livestock and more services the farmers requested.

On average, the 6,000 SFA farmers engaged in the program saw a 40% increase in their crop yields and a 50% to 100% increase in their incomes, according to Timberland. 

Timberland decided to explore cotton as a crop that farmers could grow and the brand could use in its products - evolving from a supporter of the Haitian smallholder farming community to a customer. 

This new cotton supply chain is open to other brands and industries to expand the opportunity and ensure diversification for the farmers. 

Timberland recently pledged to plant 50 million trees worldwide by 2025. The SFA will plant 25 million of the committed trees in Haiti as part of this effort.

 

 

Image: A cotton field in Haiti, couresy of Timberland