How to Revive Ancient Cotton
A pilot project in Monaragala, Sri Lanka, is reviving ancient cotton farming using regenerative techniques to help farmers escape debt cycles tied to conventional crops. Led by Mygroup and Fibershed Sri Lanka, the initiative supports local farmers through training, fair pricing, and cooperative structures while rebuilding soil health. The cotton produced is processed locally and used in a new clothing brand called Exiled, with plans to expand the program significantly by 2027.
- ▪The Exiled project, launched in 2025 by Mygroup and Fibershed Sri Lanka, aims to reintroduce regenerative ancient cotton farming in Monaragala.
- ▪The pilot phase yielded 280 kilograms of cotton from one acre and has expanded to involve 20 farmers across 25 acres in 2026, with plans for 100 acres and 50 farmers by 2027.
- ▪Farmers are paid LKR 1,400 ($4.40) per kilogram of cotton, a substantial increase compared to the LKR 150 ($0.47) per kilogram typically earned from maize.
- ▪The Cotton Farmers’ Cooperative Society provides training, interest-free loans, and emergency funds to support participating farmers.
- ▪On-farm ginning and spinning hubs in shipping containers are being developed to enable local processing, with textiles eventually sent to the UK for garment production.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
SustainabilityHow to Revive Ancient CottonBy Megan DoyleApril 30, 2026Photo: MYGroup/ S.SandeuSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this storyDeep in the center of Sri Lanka’s agricultural heartland lies Monaragala, which in early April, is simmering under unseasonable heat and humidity. A five-hour drive from the capital of Colombo, it’s home to a unique initiative: reintroducing near-forgotten ancient cotton farming practices to the region, with a modern regenerative twist.Launched in 2025 by UK recycling and waste management firm Mygroup and run on the ground by Fibershed Sri Lanka, the Exiled project is capturing the interest of local farmers increasingly disenfranchised by the debt trap and a reliance on agrochemicals necessary to produce the region’s common crops: rice, maize, and…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Vogue.
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