Throughout this article you can find groups that provide invaluable
information and are great to join.
Look, learn, join, pass it on and
enjoy.
What makes clothing organic?
Organic clothing comes from all-natural materials (no synthetics like
polyester or rayon) and there are no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides,
rodenticides, radiation, or genetically modified organisms used when
growing the cotton/hemp/linen, or whatever plant we’re talking about.
Organic certification is complicated. According to the Organic Trade
Association, organic cotton is grown in 12 countries, with Turkey and
the United States leading the pack. There are a number of certifying
bodies around the globe including: Demeter (Europe), KRAV (Sweden),
Naturland (Germany), SKAL (Netherlands), The Soil Association (England),
The Japan Organic Cotton Association, The International Natural Textiles
Association (Germany), the USDA, and more. The International Federation
of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) strives to create international
standards, and certifies the certification schemes of individual nations.
The Institute for Market Ecology provides on-location certification
on behalf of many of the organizations listed above, and according to
the Organic Cotton Blog, is certifying Walmart’s and Sam’s Club cotton.
The Organic Trade Association has developed certification for fiber
processing. What does this mean? Clothes certified organic will arrive
having been processed, dyed, transported, etc. in the most non-toxic
manner possible. What are the various meanings of "sustainable" and
"organic" clothing? Check out this informative examination from the
Organic Clothing Blog. The Fiber and Fabrics section in general is a
great place to learn about hemp, wool, bamboo... And the associated
Lotus Organics Clothing, Fiber and Fashion glossary contains most of
the fiber definitions you would ever need.
Conventional agriculture destroys biodiversity and renders
the soil barren.
More than 2.3 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year on US
farms alone. Unfortunately, pesticide use is steadily increasing, in
the US and worldwide. In conventional agriculture, chemical pesticides
are used to eliminate all other plants and unwanted insects. This also
kills the beneficial micro-organisms that normally bring nutrients to
the soil, making it necessary to add synthetic fertilizers. As pests
build immunities, the soil becomes stripped of nutrients and the need
for more chemicals increases, creating a spiral that eventually leaves
land barren and unable to grow.
Organic farming brings balance to the field and strength
to the plant.
The philosophy of organic farming is about bringing life to the
soil, and managing the balance of a diverse ecosystem. When left
alone, insects and plants in nature keep each other in check by
thriving off of one another. Organic farming uses this diversity
to its advantage, and keeps fields in balance using natural predators
against pests. Without chemical treatments, the plants grow stronger,
and are better able to fend for themselves. As a result, organic
fruits and vegetables are higher in antioxidants and nutrients,
and organic cotton fiber is stronger than conventional cotton.
"All natural fiber" isn't necessarily chemical-free.
The conventional processing of cotton textiles relies heavily
on chemicals, many of which are acutely toxic, and classified
by the World Health Organization as hazardous. Our groundwater
is increasingly polluted by wastewater from textile manufacturing.
Traces of these chemicals can remain in fabrics, even after washing.
This can cause an array of health problems that affect the nervous
system, respiratory system and the skin, including; head-aches,
dizziness, and irritations to the eyes, nose and throat, as well
as difficulties with sleep, concentration and memory. Some chemicals
are stored and collected in the body, called bioaccumulation.
These chemicals attack and weaken the immune system.
Pesticides used on conventional cotton end up in our
food.
During ginning, the cotton plant is separated to utilize its different
parts. Cottonseed oil is commonly found in snack foods like potato
chips and cookies. And the cottonseeds themselves, high in protein,
are used to feed beef and dairy cattle. Fortunately, organic cottonseed
is being sent to organic dairy farms as feed. So when you purchase
organic cotton, you are also helping to provide the much needed
chemical-free seed to organic dairy farmers.
One great way to support change is by the consumer choices
you make.
-- www.looporganic.com
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For more information about GOING GREEN visit these sites:
EARTHY DESIGNS
The fashion industry answers a growing call for trendy clothes with a conscience
By Barbara Sullivan --Buffalo News - Buffalo, NY, May 19, 2007 Straight to the Source
This year's hottest fashion buzz word is: Green. With a fervor not seen since the Summer of Love, Americans are seeking out clothes that are ecologically safe and environmentally sound.
And unlike those scratchy ponchos and shapeless tie-dye T-shirts circa '67, many contemporary "green" garments are more hip than hippie; they actually follow fashion trends instead of bucking them.
Mainstream retailers are introducing organic cotton tops, pants and dresses into their mix, and design companies at the top of the fashion food-chain are experimenting with organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, soy and corn fiber. At one show during fall fashion week in February, high-octane lines like Oscar de la Renta and Proenza Schuler put completely conscientious looks on the catwalk.
Meanwhile, Glamour, InStyle and Vanity Fair have recently run articles about the trend. Even that catalog of conspicuous consumption, Vogue magazine, features a multipage paean to eco-chic this month.
According to the Organic Trade Association, organic clothing is one of the fastest growing sectors of all organic products.
Production of organic cotton increased 76% between 2005 and 2006, and demand for almost doubled, according to the Organic Exchange, a nonprofit group that promotes organic agriculture. Clothes made from sustainable materials and manufactured in ways that do minimal damage to the earth are becoming much more prevalent in Western New York, especially in smaller specialty stores, according to Gabriel Colella, owner of Buffalo Hemp Outfitter, 1005 Elmwood Ave...
Organic Cotton Thought widely to be a natural, healthy
fiber, cotton is, in fact, one of the most chemically laden crops in
the world! Conventional cotton (grown with the aid of pesticides and
herbicides) occupies only 3% of the world's farmland yet demands fully
25% of the world's chemical pesticides and fertilizers. These chemicals
not only destroy the earth, they affect the farmers who work with them
as well as chemically sensitive people who wear the fiber. Organic cotton
is grown without the use of harmful chemicals, just like the more mainstream
concept of organic food.
Organic Wool Like organic cotton, organic wool is produced without
the use of harsh chemicals that can (and do) harm the sheep as well
as the farmers and workers who are involved in the process. In fact,
organic wool retains its lanolin (the natural oil found in sheep's wool)
which is stain resistant Vintage Fabric Clothes made from reconstructed
vintage fabric are possibly the ultimate in eco-fashion. Unwanted clothing
is deconstructed and then re-made into new, beautiful, sometimes funky
creations. Nothing new is produced and waste is reduced. Most of these
pieces are handmade, intricate, and truly works of art.
Bamboo Bamboo is known to be the fastest growing plant on earth,
making it naturally highly renewable. In fact, bamboo grows to its maximum
height in approximately 3 months and matures in 3-5 years for harvest.
Bamboo's growth characteristics enable it to spread rapidly across large
areas. Because of its growth characteristics and ability to spread,
bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas
of land. Bamboo's natural growth habits allow it to reproduce in abundance
without the use of fertilizers and without the need for pesticides.
The process to make bamboo fiber and yarn is similar to the process
used to make tencel. The end result is a luxurious, silky, earth-conscious
fabric. Soy Now, soybean protein fiber is being marketed as a
"vegetable cashmere" - a new eco-friendly luxury textile. Those who've
tried it speak enthusiastically about soy's soft feel, lustre, combined
with washability and durability. Soybean fiber also has the advantage
of being a renewable natural resource and a by-product of food manufacturing.
Hemp Hemp is about to defy its reputation for being an ugly,
colorless and formless fabric. The clothes at shopenvi.com made from
hemp are the antithesis of this stereotype-stylish, soft in texture,
and beautifully colored! Hemp crop is naturally resistant to insects
and pests and therefore can be grown free of chemical pesticides. Its
ability to regenerate the soil makes it one of the most environmentally
beneficial crops. Hemp fabric is durable, warm, nonirritating and breaths
well.
Sustainable Cotton encompasses biologically-based, IPM, and organic farming
practices in the production, manufacturing and use of cotton. The Sustainable
Cotton Project’s grower programs help move farmers through the changeover
from chemically-dependent to more biological sound approaches. Composted
manures and cover crops replace synthetic fertilizers; innovative weeding
strategies are used instead of herbicides; beneficial insects and trap
crops control insect pests; and alternatives to toxic defoliants prepare
plants for harvest.
The ultimate goal of “sustainable cotton” is to move sustainable
production, manufacturing and use practices throughout the cotton value
chain in order to create a healthy and profitable industry for growers,
their communities, manufacturers, retailers and users of all cotton
products.
Overview
The Sustainable Cotton Project is committed to promoting fair trade organic
and sustainable cotton clothes. We are helping to build a large network
of consumer activists, designers, students, labor unions, farmers, social
and economic justice groups, clothing manufactures, and environmentalists
to increase consumer demand for organic and sustainable cotton apparel
in our communities, companies and campuses.
More and more people are demanding products made without exploitative
labor – fair made, not sweatshop made. With pressure already upon
the garment industry for fair labor policies, why continue to support
the use of toxic fibers within the workplace.
Over the past decade, you may have heard some of the reports citing conventional
cotton farming as one of agriculture’s most environmentally destructive
activities. The simple act of growing and harvesting the one pound of
cotton fiber needed to make a T-shirt takes an enormous toll on the air,
water, and soil, not to mention the health of people living and working
in cotton country.
In response, a small number of farmers and manufactures have pioneered
the market for organically grown and sustainable cotton, producing fibers
and clothing while significantly reducing toxic chemicals. There can be
enough organic cotton produced annually to accommodate demand –
the big gap is the U.S. market, which means educating consumers and creating
consumer demand!
Check out our Tool Kit, a resource packet
of information you can use right away – please feel
free to copy and distribute the Tool Kit to your friends,
family, church, company, neighborhood stores, professors,
etc. The list of companies and colleges using organic cotton
fibers increases every day thanks to people continuing to
educate companies about the negative impacts of conventional
cotton! Search the web for “organic cotton” and
you will find numerous companies selling all kinds of organic
products.
Thank you for your continued commitment to socially and environmentally
conscious clothing. With your participation, we hope to achieve the
critical mass necessary to redirect the future of the world’s
favorite natural fiber.
The OCA and her allies have launched a new global campaign to raise awareness
about the negative health and environmental effects of conventional
and genetically engineered cotton and the institutionalized ex0plooitation
of clothing sweatshops. By uniting organic consumers, anti-genetic engineering
activists, trade unionists, religious social justice advocates, progressives
in the fashion and apparel industry, and the Fair Trade/anti-sweatshop
communities into a potent force we can change the dynamics of the marketplace
and fundamentally alter public policy. The Clothes for a change campaign
is demanding that major clothing retailers and manufacturers:
Stop using genetically engineered cotton.
Start blending in certified organic or “transition to organic” cotton in their clothing.
Guarantee that they meet independently
verified Fair labor (non-sweatshop) standards. While the
OCA and our allies put marketplace pressure on the clothing
giants, we will also be enlisting public interest groups
to support the campaign by:
Committing to procure non-sweatshop,
environmentally sound products
Signing-on in support of the core demands of the Clothes for a Change campaign.
While the OCA and our allies put marketplace pressure on the clothing
giants, we will also be enlisting public interest groups to support the
campaign by:
Committing to procure non-sweatshop, environmentally sound products.
Signing-on in support of the core demands of the Clothes for a Change
campaign.
In the US, it takes about a third of a pound of synthetic agricultural chemicals
to grow enough cotton, enough for one T-shirt.
-- Sustainable Cotton Project
Federal report: Children exposed to "cotton poison," methyl parathion, suffer
memory loss, emotional swings.
-- U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
In Bangladesh, women earn 1.7 cents for every baseball cap they sew with a
Harvard logo and 5 cents for every Disney T-shirt they sew that sells
for $17.99.
-- National Labor Committee
HOW TO GREEN YOUR WARDROBE
1. Shop with a plan - When you bring an article of clothing into your
life, it’s kind of like adopting a dog or cat. That cute little number
has to have a place in your wardrobe, and you’re agreeing to provide
for and give it the longest possible life with you. Abandoning the impulse
buy may sound boring, but how exciting is a closet full of stuff that
doesn’t work? In the long run, knowing what you're looking for before
you shop will save time and eliminate clutter. You'll get more use out
of a piece that looks and feels great: What colors work for you? What
fits work the best? How will the piece get along with everything else
in the closet? If the answer to "Will I still want to wear this rhinestone-studded
bustier in two years?" or “Can I eventually find a way to use it in
a craft project?” is no, skip it.
2. Love your duds - Whatever you've chosen, take good care of it. When
you get home, change out of work gear and into your famous dressing
gown or leisure suit. Don’t cook or check the tire pressure in clothes
you want to wear in public. Learn how to sew a button back on, or how
to coax a nimble friend into doing it for you. Get the name of a local
tailor or seamstress for major repairs or alterations.
3. Don't go dry - Though the industry has improved much since 1992, there
is still a high likelihood that your trusty corner cleaner uses perc
(tetrachloroethylene), a known carcinogen. See if there is a local green
cleaner employing "wet cleaning" or liquid CO2 techniques. Many articles
whose tags ask for the dry clean treatment can actually be hand washed,
especially silk, wool and linen.
4. Buy vintage or used - People unload clothes for all types of reasons,
and you know that adage about trash and treasure. From Oscar-worthy
vintage dresses to Freecycled denim, you can likely find the piece you’re
looking for second hand. You’ll be giving a cast-off garment a second
life, and possibly supporting charitable work in the process.
5. Wash well - Washing wreaks the most havoc of all. It requires lots
of water and energy, so only do it when you absolutely need to and have
a full laundry load. Turn articles inside out and use the lowest temp
possible. If you have a dirty spot, make a thin salt
paste and soak the affected fabric for a half hour before washing. Choose
phosphate-free and biodegradable detergents and line dry as much as
possible. Treat stains quickly with nontoxic removers. If you’re buying
a new washing machine, look for one with an Energy Star label.
6. Wear organic - Though cotton is marketed as clean, fresh, and natural,
conventional varieties are anything but. It takes a third of a pound
of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to produce the cotton for one
T-shirt! That means lots of direct, unhealthy exposure for farmers and
nearby wildlife, and heaps of unnecessary pollution. Ick. Luckily, organic
cotton is becoming easier and easier to find. As mega-stores get into
the game, however, it’s important to stay vigilant about what organic
means, so you know you’re really getting clean clothes. Also know that
though the cotton may have been organic to start with, your T may be
full of processing chemicals and metal-laden dyes. See below for more
info on labeling and certification.
7. Find a re-purpose - A re-purposed garment used to be another or many
other articles. Designers all over the globe have taken on this transformative
challenge in recent years, with very wearable results. This means a
one-of-a-kind look for you, a new life for old fabric, and a livelihood
for maverick re-users.
8. Approach new fabrics with skeptical enthusiasm - No doubt you’ve heard
the hype around bamboo, soy, or even corn fabric. The idea of finding
alternatives to petrochemical-based and conventionally grown options
makes us all perk up and we see why many eco-conscious designers are
excited about them. Bamboo, for instance, sounds great: it’s a fast-growing
plant, not reliant on chemicals, and beautifully drapes the human form.
Trouble is, bamboo plantations can displace native forests, and the
harvesting and fiber processing are often polluting and unregulated.
As with soy, corn, and Tencel (which comes from trees), the processing
from plant to fabric is energy and resource intensive. For now, approach
these as alternatives to poly, nylon, acrylic or conventional silk and
await more info. As always, shop with a plan: don’t fill multiple shopping
bags just because the labels say “eco.” Read more about fabric choices
below.
9. Choose clothes that work for you - It’s hard to feel beautiful in
your raw silk dress when it’s likely that children’s scalded hands were
part of the production chain. Conventional clothing might not say it,
but clothing made under fair-wage and labor practices will usually advertise
it. SweatShop Watch and Behind The Label are good sources of info. See
more resources below. 10. Don’t throw it all away Finally, a stain,
a tear, or changing fashion threaten to separate you from your favorite
dress shirt. Don’t just abandon your old friend to the waste-stream!
If the condition is perfectly good, you can always donate or Freecycle
it (see below for donation resources).
