There is organic cotton and then there is regenerative cotton, which leaves the soil in better shape than when it was planted, as model and activist Arizona Muse learned during her deep dive into sustainability in fashion. Muse is now sowing the seed of regenerative agriculture, through awareness with her nonprofit Dirt and in practice with clothing brand Faherty.
Muse and Faherty have teamed up to relaunch the brand’s Sunwashed T in regenerative cotton in a variety of neutrals. The T, which launches Friday, retails from $68 to $78 and is available in stores and online for $69 to $78, is created with a lower impact Ozone Wash process, which improves soil health in addition to avoiding harmful chemicals. “I absolutely love knowing that my Faherty T is made from regeneratively grown cotton from Peru,” Muse told WWD. “That means the land where this cotton was cultivated is actually getting healthier season after season. Wearing something that tells a story of regeneration and positive impact is the best feeling.”
Arizona Muse models Faherty’s relaunched Sunwashed T.
Courtesy of Faherty
Muse, who teamed up with Faherty on a mini-documentary that follows her trip to Peru to see regenerative agriculture practices up close, sees the process as holding limitless potential for the fashion industry. “When it finally clicked — that fashion starts with agriculture — I saw how transformative this industry could be,” Muse said. “If we grow all our materials — cotton, silk, wool, leather, tree fibers — using regenerative methods that restore soil health, then fashion can truly become a climate solution.”
As for how consumers can vet brands’ sustainable practices and regenerative cotton in the fashion industry, Muse has some advice: “The first step is simple: read the label. You need to know what’s in your garment. Then, dig deeper — look into the brand’s sourcing strategy. Do they seem truly knowledgeable? Are you learning something from their sustainability page? Transparency and education are key indicators of a brand’s commitment.”
Faherty’s relaunched Sunwashed T.
Courtesy of Faherty
“Right now, it’s hard for any brand to be perfect — for example, dyes remain a major challenge, as many brands have yet to find truly sustainable solutions,” Muse adds. “That’s why, at Dirt, the charity I founded in 2021, we’ve partnered with The Biodynamic Federation Demeter International to create a new dye standard for fashion brands and suppliers. This guideline ensures that the cultivation of raw dye materials, their processing, and the final dye itself all contribute positively to the environment. Ideally, dyes should be biodegradable and compostable, acting as food for worms rather than toxic waste harming ecosystems.”
Faherty, the New York-based lifestyle brand cofounded by chief executive officer Alex Faherty, is working toward using 80 percent responsible materials by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030.
