⋅ BY STACEY GORMAN ⋅
WARREN, ARKANSAS
The Cotton Board is governed by its membership consisting of both cotton producers and importers. The importers serving on The Cotton Board represent major U.S. brands and retailers — significant downstream cotton users. The producers on The Cotton Board represent their respective states in the U.S. Cotton Belt.
Together, these segments of the board represent a wealth of unique perspectives and insight that help guide The Cotton Research and Promotion Program (the Program).
During its 2024 Annual Meeting, The Cotton Board elected new officers to guide the program, including Akiko Inui, to serve as chairman for the 2024/25 program year.
Inui, an importer from New York, is an expert in the intersection of fashion and sustainability. She currently works at Ralph Lauren as transparency and traceability program advisor (consultant).
To learn more about Akiko’s unique perspective as an importer leader in the cotton industry, she answered a few questions below.
Q:
Why is it important for importers to serve on The Cotton Board?
A: Serving on The Cotton Board is a unique opportunity for importers to directly influence the Cotton Research and Promotion Program, ensuring it remains aligned with industry challenges and priorities. As importers, we are cotton’s customer and key stakeholders in the cotton supply chain.
By staying engaged, we offer valuable insights into emerging research, evolving technologies and global market shifts — knowledge that ultimately benefits the cotton industry as a whole.
Q:
What have you learned from the producer members of the Cotton Board?
A: Through my interactions with the producers of The Cotton Board, I have gained a profound appreciation for their unwavering dedication and expertise. The daily challenges they encounter are truly remarkable. The success of their endeavors hinges on the harmonious convergence of various factors, such as weather conditions and temperature.
Moreover, their problem-solving abilities are indispensable in overcoming the myriad obstacles that arise each day to ensure their continued success. The resilience they demonstrate in consistently restarting their operations year after year, despite the inherent uncertainties, is truly inspiring.
Q:
What makes you passionate about the cotton industry?
A: Cotton as a raw material has been the foundation of my career, shaping my professional journey and allowing me to evolve alongside this dynamic industry. I am passionate about cotton because it is a vital, ever-adapting fiber that continues to inspire innovation and sustainability.
As the industry has embraced sustainability, I have been deeply involved in developing responsible sourcing strategies and implementing emerging technologies in traceability to enhance transparency. Beyond the product itself, what fuels my passion is the opportunity to collaborate with exceptional individuals across the entire cotton value chain, working together to drive meaningful progress for the future of cotton.
Q:
What is the biggest challenge facing the cotton industry in 2025?
A: In 2025, the cotton industry faces several significant challenges, including an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, rising inflation affecting interest rates and input costs and shifting consumer preferences that demand greater diversification.
As the cotton industry becomes more regulated and market dynamics continue to evolve, it is clear that no single country, company or organization can tackle these challenges alone. The key to success lies in industry-wide collaboration, working together to overcome these obstacles and achieve success.
To learn more about the cotton importers and producers who serve on The Cotton Board, visit cottonboard.org/our-leadership.
Funded by America’s cotton producers and importers through check-off dollars collected by The Cotton Board, the Cotton Research and Promotion Program’s research and promotion activities are conducted by its contractor Cotton Incorporated, with the purpose to increase the demand for and improve the market position of cotton.