Cotton and related items account for about 60% of Pakistan's export earnings.

ECONOMIST: The riddle of Pakistan | The

Indeed, Kozmo is frantically trying to ditch its college-student customers, who last year made up 76% of its business, in pursuit of those who will pay a premium to have thousands of items, from DVD players to cotton swabs, delivered to their doorsteps in an hour.

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In the meantime, some big retailers are having to limit their organic clothing to particular (often small) items such as babywear, or to blend organic cotton with other fibres.

ECONOMIST: Ethically minded shoppers turn their focus to cotton

Such materials would include items vital to the German military, notably phosphate, platinum, petroleum, cotton and feed grain.

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Mixed in with the opportunistic merchandise are 600 items that the store manager must keep always in stock, like batteries, mouthwash and cotton balls.

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