The Future of Fashion: Organic Clothing
Posted By: Smidge "The Boss" | April 2, 2010 | 1 comment
Over the last decade, earth-friendly practices have become a booming trend. From recycling to buying organic, people have become more environmentally aware, and they are doing what they can to help preserve the planet. Companies everywhere are changing the way they operate to become more environmentally friendly, or “green”—even the fashion industry.
Now, most of you know the benefits of buying organic food, but what about when it comes to the clothes we wear? What are the benefits of buying organic clothes? Organic cotton refers to the way cotton is grown and manufactured. Instead of resorting to pesticides and other chemicals to maximize profits, eco-friendly farmers have been using insects that are beneficial to the growth of these plants.
According to the USDA, “in one year alone over 50 million pounds of pesticides were used on U.S. cotton fields. Pesticide and fertilizer use on cotton has been linked to ground and surface water contamination, and the pollution of drinking water.”
Why organic? I’ll tell you:
Better for Your Skin:
People with allergies and chemical sensitivity especially benefit from organic cotton clothing, as conventional cotton may retain harmful toxic residues. These toxic residues can cause rashes, or hives. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, organic cotton will just feel better against your skin.
Better for Earth:
It’s eco-friendly. Eco-friendly processing that does not compromise workers’ health and helps reduce water and electric use and toxic runoff, e.g. non-chlorine bleach, silicon-free softeners and low impact, azo-free dyes. Manual farming and organic practices have a lower carbon footprint as the entire process consumes less fuel and energy and emits fewer greenhouse gases. It is grown with natural soil rather than synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and no chemical defoliants are used. Obviously getting rid of the pesticides benefits the earth a lot. Another thing to think of is that along with this, farmers are utilizing their land better by rotating the crops and tending to the soil. Thus preserving the land for the next generation of farmers (we’re talking about our children and their children and their children… you get the idea)
It’s Just BETTER:
Although cotton is the most popular fiber used in fabrics, there are other materials that organic clothing can be made from…like hemp, soy, wool, and bamboo. AssociatedContent.com provides great reasons on choosing organic cotton and other organic materials:
1. Soy feels a lot smoother than cashmere. It is also a lot more durable and can be dyed many different colors.
2. Organic wool is made from sheep that have been farmed on organically certified soil.
3. Both cotton and hemp are commonly available. These materials are extremely durable and very efficient to produce. It is interesting to note that organic cotton has exactly the same qualities as non-organic cotton.
4. Bamboo trees grow rapidly. In fact, they can actually grow several inches each day. The pulp of this tree is as smooth in texture as silk but it feels better on your skin. It is also highly breathable and resistant to UV rays.
So now you know WHY you should choose organic clothing over the “conventional” kind…. but where can you BUY organic clothing?
Many corporate clothing lines are starting to use organic clothing, and I’m sure they’re great, but I’d rather recommend places that deserve the support:
ORGOTTON.COM
(organic+cotton)
“Styling the Globe, One Sustainable Thread at a Time”
This local company owned by two sisters (Kristy & Stefanie Emery), are dedicated to helping the environment with their eco-friendly clothing. In addition to being the nicest people you will ever meet, they are whole-heartedly committed to making the environment better, and it genuinely shows. You can find them in Buckingham, Warrington, and Newtown (all in PA).
“Screen printed t-shirts- handmade with love and care”
If you haven’t heard of Etsy.com yet, check it out. All shirts are designed and screen printed in Santa Cruz, California, and sold on this site for your online shopping convenience! They sell tote bags too!
(pronounced “now”)
“We make sustainable urban+outdoor apparel – integrated designs for the modern mobile life.”
As I began the search for awesome organic clothing lines, this one immediately caught my eye. This clothing company, (based in Portland, Oregon) voluntarily meets the strictest global legislation. This means that they seriously take into consideration ALL aspects of their clothing: Beginning and End of Life (how the fabrics are created, its durability, and its reusability), Restricted Substances (safety regulations), and Traceability (where they get the fabrics from). Not only this, but I enjoyed reading their main objective: “to redesign fashion and to redefine business so that each become a powerful force for change. One small step towards unfucking the world.”
There are many organic clothing lines out there, you just need to keep an eye out!
Remember: Every dollar spent on organic clothing helps keep an organic farmer in business and toxic pesticides out of our dirt, air, and water. So, you don’t need to really hug a tree—unless you want to.
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