Why Bother Shopping for
Organic Cotton Clothing?

The last time you went shopping were you shopping for organic cotton clothing?

Not very many of us are looking for organic cotton after all it's hard to find. Most retail stores don't carry it yet. If you do find it, it usually costs more and let's face it organic cotton clothes have not exactly had the reputation of being stylish. But all that is changing as fashion designers create beautifully styled organic cotton fashions.

Today, I am wearing a cotton t-shirt and denim jeans. They're comfortable, feel good clothes. But consider this, one pound of chemicals was used to grow and process the clothes I am wearing. And that's just for one t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Many different chemicals are used worldwide to make cotton clothing.

DID YOU KNOW:

• The Organic Exchange reports that cotton provides at least half of the world's need for fabric so it is grown by millions of farmers worldwide. Many people are dependent on cotton crops from the farmer, to the workers, to the manufacturers, to the retailers to us.
• According to the Organic Trade Association, in the US, conventionally grown cotton uses up to 25% of all pesticides used to grow crops. (Pesticides include herbicides, fungicides and growth regulators.) We all know the dangers of pesticides, so it is not surprising that many cotton farmers and workers report symptoms of poisoning from chemicals used in cotton production.
• Pesticides affect the soil, water and air we all share, even if we never set foot near a cotton field.

Part of the problem with conventionally grown cotton was the increased need for more cotton. Farmers in an effort to meet demand needed to increase production. Chemicals are used to increase yield but a developing immunity to pesticides means more chemicals used which further depletes the soil and hurts us and the environment.

Fortunately, it looks like the U.S. is taking a lead according to the Organic Trade Association. The U.S., in particular my home state of Texas, and Turkey are two leading producers of organic cotton.

So why aren't we seeing more organic
cotton clothing?

Despite this being a growing market there still aren't nearly enough organic farmers to meet our needs for cotton. For the conventional grower, it can initially be more costly and time consuming transitioning conventional cotton to organic.

There are costs involved to be certified and it takes at least 3 years for organic certification. The use of natural insect control and fertilizers can initially be more expensive. But as cotton farmers become more productive and their soil becomes richer and more pest and disease resistant, it becomes easier and costs come down.

For designers and manufacturers needing a reliable supply this becomes a problem that some of them are trying to solve by developing their own supply chain and working with farmers to grow cotton to meet their needs and provide growers an incentive of having a ready made market for their organic cotton.

Let's face it, not enough designers, clothing manufacturers or consumers have been that interested in organic cotton clothing. It brings to mind rough fabrics, boring styles and high cost. Not very appealing. But new safe processing techniques have made it softer and easier to care for and we can all begin to appreciate it's benefits to us and to the earth.

This is where we can help by beginning to add organic cotton clothing to our wardrobes.

Sometimes the label or product descriptions can clarify things. Some companies provide informations on their websites about the processing chemicals or dyes being used. Look for low impact or clay dyed and minimal processing.

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