Cotton Crisis in America: US Textile Mills Drops to Lowest Since 1885 Cotton: Imagine stepping back in time to 1885, the year the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York. That's how long you'd have to go back to find a year when American textile mills processed less cotton than they're on track for in 2024. A whopping 15% less than last year, and even lower than expected, this marks a historic low and raises serious concerns about the future of the once-mighty US textile industry. Clothes made in countries with lower labor costs simply undercut American-made options, while fabrics like polyester offer more affordable and often more durable alternatives. Read: Bangladesh’s Clothes Sales to US Drop in 2023 This isn't a new trend. Decades of competition have pushed many US textile mil...