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The week-long programme saw 32 students from a range of subject areas – including business, fashion and geography – follow the cotton supply chain, from the villages of Maharashtra to the fashion houses of Mumbai.

During the trip, the undergraduates were asked to consider the environmental, social and economic implications of India’s primary export. The students met key individuals on the cotton supply chain, beginning with the cotton pickers and growers.

They learned how the Better Cotton Initiative works with producers, such as Technocraft, towards more sustainable production methods.

The group discovered how high-end fashion label House of Anita Dongre and its brands are influencing global fashion. They also saw how it is empowering women to gain new skills and develop independent careers.

Meanwhile, Vogue India digital editor took time to discuss the industry’s impact on local and global fashion trends.

With this experience, Edinburgh students got a chance to get under the skin of one of the developing world’s largest industries and fastest growing economies. We wanted them to put themselves in the shoes of the farmers, manufacturers and exporters to ask whether fashion can ever be truly sustainable.

The project was sponsored by the , a new hub which brings students and researchers together to tackle real-world issues.

The trek culminated in a day-long interactive challenge, where the group joined fellow students from Mumbai’s Indian School of Design and Innovation to devise innovative solutions to the Indian cotton industry’s most pressing challenges, such as working conditions and sustainability.

Dr Winston Kwon is Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Edinburgh Business School.