Organic
Cotton Clothing
Organic Cotton
Clothing and consumer demand.
As more and more people turn towards environmentally friendly
fabrics, patterns of farming are forced to change. With continued support from
consumers the industry can sustain investment in alternative methods of farming
with re-assurance that there is a market for their products. Currently suicide
rates amongst Indian farmers are 1 every 8 hours (DNA.com report August 26,
2006). This is mainly due to the crippling debt that cotton farmers are under
that drives mostly young men of earning age to end their life. Pesticide debt
puts farmers in a downward spiral of financial ruin. Equally, farmers cannot
afford to switch to organic cotton farming without support. One failed crop
would be enough to destroy their whole family livelihood, so fear and lack of
education and financial support drives the endless cycle. Co-operatives and
fairtrade developments help give farmers the support they need. Governments
now need to do more to help farmers make the switch to organic and biodynamic
farming, thereby reducing environmental damage, human suffering, poisoning,
water pollution, animal endangerment, and pest resistance.
Although cotton farming only totals 2% of the world's farming acreage, it is
sprayed with up to 25% of the world's pesticides and herbicides. Every year,
about 3 million people are poisoned around the world and 200,000 die from pesticide
use. Chronic long-term effects discovered through new studies link certain pesticides
to cancer, lowered fertility, disruption of the endocrine system and to the
suppression of immune systems. Communities and consumers are insidiously exposed
to pesticides through contamination of the soil, air and water. Bhopal is a
scary reminder of a catastrophe caused by pesticides. In addition to ill-health
cotton farmers suffer a continued financial struggle against rich farmers in
the West.
Current methods of farming and processing of cotton fabric and paper pulp are
highly destructive to the environment. Chlorine, pesticide, and other chemicals
are flushed out into rivers and streams thereby polluting local natural wildlife,
ground water and soil. High water usage and long growing times in ratio to smaller
crop sizes are not the most economical based on our dwindling resources. Continual
logging to produce paper pulp is destroying many natural habitats, and delicate
eco-systems.
If we switched to using crops like organic cotton, hemp and bamboo, the latter
of which both grow in abundance and without pesticide use, it is likely that
their wouldn’t be a problem with global warming!
Although we may think that 100% non organic cotton products are best for us,
what they have destroyed to get to us should make us think twice.
Organic baby clothing: organic childrens
clothing: organic kids clothing
Organic Cotton Baby clothes by Organics for Kids
Organic 4 kids organic baby clothing is produced in the UK under fair-trade
principles, there are no children in sweat shops producing these fine items
of designer baby clothing. All you’ll find is cute baby and toddler clothing
made or organic cotton. The organic cotton is soft and weighty, not weightless
like some organic cotton clothing lines. The fabric is soft to touch and washes
well. The colours are appealing and soothing and the styles are modern, classic
and attractive. Items can be matched together to create the perfect organic
cotton baby layette, or presented as a natural gift to someone special. The
styles suit most tastes. The organic cotton sleepsuit is our top seller, followed
by the organic classic sleepsuit. Seasonal items are always popular as is the
daysuit range. If you're bored with the completely beige organic cotton clothing
that fills every store then check out this range which is beautifully tailored.
Only natural dyes are used to create shades of pastel blue, lilac, baby pink,
coral and dusty pink. Easy to care for, they can be washed in the washing machine
at 40C. If cared for, these lovely clothes won’t loose their shape or
fall apart after one child, but will go on to be used for siblings.
Organic clothes
for kids by Tatty Bumpkin
Tatty Bumpkin organic clothes for kids for 1-7 year olds are fun, hip and trendy.
Not only are they bright and vibrantly coloured, but very comfy and usable.
Some items can be worn inside out, so they’re great if your out and they
get stained…just turn them around! Made for yoga, you can imagine how
easy and comfy they are to wear. These are organic cotton kids clothes that
are liked by kids and adults alike, easy to care for, made in an ethical way
and comfy. The leggings can be used as Bermuda shorts when they get a bit short,
they still look good. And the comfy pyjamas come in their own matching bag,
so they’re great for sleepovers. The little mini skirt for girls can be
worn over the leggings in winter, so they still get used and in a stylish way.
The bandanas in our accessories section can be used not only as bandanas but
as bibs for little ones or as a light blanket for a baby. Many parents who are
looking for organic kids clothing are also looking for style. Whether children
wear an outfit or not will often depend on its style and comfort. Tatty Bumpkin
Kids clothes are well liked by kids because they do meet these two important
criteria. Whilst lounging around they don’t looking scraggy either, they
still look presentable. Add to that they’re so very versatile, good for
the environment and for your child and voila! You have a range of organic kids
clothes that makes you feel good about your purchase.
Tatty bumpkin clothing is produced in Turkey
Organic cotton fairtrade clothing by Cat’s Tail.
New to buyOrganics,
this wonderful line of childrens ethical organic clothing from France is also
fairtrade. A wonderful gift for any child or simply a compliment to your childs
wardrobe, this beautiful range of organic childrens clothing uses a wider array
of fabrics than just normal knit organic cotton. The winter range consists of
an organic corduroy trouser and kimono top which are wonderfully warm to wear.
The sweat top is made out of the softest organic velvet/ velour fabric. All
their fairtrade organic clothing is brightly and fashionably coloured.
The Cat’s tails, fairtrade principles, ensure that workers receive a fair
wage, and that working conditions are fair.
The Cat’s Tail has made a firm commitment to fairtrade projects that benefit
the local community; they are contributing to the rent of an orphanage in the
locality where their organic fairtrade clothing is made. They are also looking
to further support a local school in the Dahr region. Out of each fairtrade
organic clothing collection, clothing is sent to charities in France which benefit
homeless mothers. The company is also working with a not-for –profit organisation
in France involved in retraining disabled people. These people produce assist
in document production whilst being trained in new skill development.
All of the Cat’s tail fairtrade organic clothing is produced by a factory
in Umergam, Gujarat, India. It is clean and spacious, works only with organic
cotton and provides a safe working environment for the 160 workers there. Female
workers which make up 30% of the work population at the factory are paid equally
to male counterparts. NO children are employed here!! On starting, employees
receive a larger than average wage, a yearly bonus equating to an extra months
salary, medical insurance, and access to a doctor and pharmacy for themselves
and their families. They are working towards the social accountability 8000
certification. Completed goods are shipped to France from India, rather than
being flown…making them more environmentally friendly.
Organic
baby sleeping bags and organic cotton clothing children love by Grembo
At buyOrganics high
quality workmanship and the use of the finest organic cotton is important to
us. Grembo produces well fitting and beautifully tailored organic cotton baby
sleeping bags. Meaning “womb” in Italian, Grembo sums up the environment
they create in a sleeping bag baby will love. They use colour grown organic
cotton to create naturally coloured organic baby sleeping bags and organic childrens
clothing. The baby sleeping bags are created especially according to the season
so you and baby can sleep safely knowing that the temperature will be right
for baby. Follow our season and fitting guide to pick the right Grembo organic
baby sleeping bag for you. If your baby's anything like mine, she kicks off
her covers at night and then wakes up because she's too cold! Avoid sleepless
nights by making sure she is covered appropriately and only in the finest, safest,
softest, organic cotton baby sleeping bag!!! There are many makes out there,
but are you sure their tog is right?
Grembo organic cotton clothing children will feel comfy and cosy in. Weighty
and soft, their essentials range can be used as undergarments or as outerwear
when weather permits. Also reassuringly not even natural dyes have been used;
the colour comes from naturally varying shades of organic cotton yarn. Grembo
organic cotton childrens clothing is also easy to care for, machine washable
and long lasting. The range covers organic cotton underwear for boys and girls,
organic cotton baby vests and baby pants. They really are essential.
Organic mens clothing: organic womens clothing:
Organic
Cotton Clothing for Teenagers and Adults
howies clothing is one of the top brands of ethical clothing on the market today.
If you are looking for ethic clothing, organic, hemp, natural dyes, then look
no further. Although howies are not officially fairtrade they operate by fairtrade
principles which are good enough for us. Howies have a policy as to how and
who their clothing is made by which is what we are concerned with. No children
in sweat shops here. Although howies sell many different types of clothing,
our main interest is their organic cotton clothing and their hemp clothing.
Amongst our top sellers are the howies womens organic Tomboy jeans and the howies
mens organic skomer jean. We sell a wide range of howies mens organic clothing,
and howies womens organic clothing other than jeans which include seasonal organic
cotton T-shirts and blouses.
All
about Hemp and hemp clothing
Hemp is one of the
world’s most renewable resources. It can be used for food, methanol fuel
and fibre, drinks, clothing, paper, plastics, building materials, jewellery,
cosmetics, cleaning products and paints. It grows in abundance without the help
of man and is pest resistant so does not require pesticide usage. If processed
in an environmentally friendly way then it is also earth friendly.
As a food source, hemp contains, fibre, protein and essential fatty acids, it
is thereby one of the earth’s best food sources. All kinds of foods can
be cooked with hemp oil and baked from hemp meal. It can even be brewed to make
beer! As a natural cosmetic and skincare ingredient, hemp is more beneficial
ingredient petroleum based mineral oils which are regularly used in cosmetics
today. The high fatty acid content of hemp oil feeds the skin making it healthier
on the inside opposed to petroleum based mineral oils which, though cheaper,
odourless and clear, have no benefit to the skin as they originate from dead
matter. Hemp oil is an excellent natural remedy for psoriasis and eczema. (see
our skincare section for more info). As a fuel, hemp is can be classed as a
clean fuel that doesn’t release sulphur and ash when burnt. It is one
of the world’s major biomass producers and presents a real alternative
to present fuel sources. Work is also being done to develop Hemp plastic materials,
which has reached so far as to create CD cases and biodegradable bags, wrapping
products and cosmetic containers, made from hemp starch.
Hemp oil is an excellent ingredient in natural cleaning products as a replacement
for chemical surfactants. Hemp oil works easily as well in all manner of cleaning
agents and is also an excellent addition to high quality paints, facilitating
in the drying process. Hemp fibres form the basis of many building materials
today based on well known factors regarding its strength, resilience, mould
resistance. Hemp fibres fused with plastics have been used by car manufacturers
in place of fibreglass mouldings.
One acre of hemp can produce the same amount of paper pulp as four acres of
woodland, therefore making hemp one of the most economical sources of paper
on the planet. In fact before the 1800’s approximately three quarters
of the worlds paper came from hemp. Whereas, a woodland area or tree plantation
may take 20 years to mature, a hemp crop takes only 4 moths. Hemp paper is easily
recycled and of superior quality and longer lasting than tree paper, there is
no yellowing effect over time. Hemp paper processing also results in less soil
erosion, less damage to the environment through chlorine bleaching as is done
with tree paper.
Hemp is a natural material which has been used since ancient times in the production
of textiles. It grows in abundance up to heights of 10-15 feet. In Elizabethan
times, if farmers did not grow hemp they were fined. Hemp requires less water
to grow and its depth of growth leaves no room for weeds therefore requiring
no herbicides. The resulting crop therefore holds more nitrogen in the soil
enriching it for future vegetable cultivation. Hemp fibre is used to make ropes,
clothing, accessories such as bags, socks, belts, jewellery, curtains, tablecloths,
carpets, rugs etc, etc. the fibre is very strong. Strong enough to create withstanding
fabrics, it is also delicate enough to weave with silk, and benefits from becoming
softer and softer wash on wash, depending on what products you’re using
to wash with. It is similar to bamboo in that it is resistant to mould and 95
% of UV light if it is tightly weaved ,thereby making it an excellent sun protective
fabric.
Our Hemp clothing range is provided by a UK top designer at Clothworks. Clothworks
clothing uses mostly hemp, followed by organic cotton and silks.. Clothworks
items are amazingly special pieces that are essential items for any ethical
wardrobe. Clothworks essential hemp skirts and dresses, their beautiful designer
natural hemp coats and jackets will be all the rage this autumn and winter and
are all available at buyOrganics.
At buyOrganics we also sell hemp one size nappies. Woven with organic cotton,
they are soft, mould resistant, UV resistant and naturally antibacterial. Ideal
for European and Asian babies, they are not too big in size as are some American/Canadian
made nappies.
All
about Bamboo clothing
Bam bamboo clothing is made from bamboo pulp. Clothing made from bamboo is not
only incredibly soft, almost like cashmere but it also has many qualities that
make it the number one choice for wearing all year round. Bamboo clothing will
keep you dry when you are hot and sweaty, as it absorbs and evaporates sweat
instantly. Rather than getting a wet t-shirt that sticks to your skin, bamboo
maintains its natural breath ability which will keep you comfortable and dry
for longer. Bamboo clothing is an ideal fabric for hot weather because it stays
about 2 degrees cooler, whilst also keeping you significantly warmer in the
cold. This is because of the structure of the bamboo fabric which is filled
with a multitude of micro-porous holes and gaps. Clothing made from bamboo is
the most natural sun protective clothing. It has natural properties that shelter
from the sun’s harmful UV rays, without added chemicals to do the job.
Clothing made from bamboo is also naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti
static. Whilst other petrol based synthetic fabrics start to smell after a while,
bamboo clothing contains a natural anti-bacteria and bacteriostasis bio-agent
named "bamboo kun". This natural anti- bacterial property out ways
the chemical forms that are used in socks and clothing currently on the market,
which sometimes cause skin problems, and are of course absorbed and stored by
the body over time. Scientific tests show an over 70% death rate of bacteria
after bacteria was incubated on bamboo fibre fabric. These qualities are maintained
over time and do not diminish even after continual washing as proven by tests
by the Japanese Textile Inspection Association. Clothing made from bamboo is
therefore healthier, more hygienic and is guaranteed by BAM to be odour resistant.
During the dying process the bamboo clothing is washed an extra time to reduce
shrinkage in the finished product. Therefore BAM clothing should not shrink
more than 4%.
In order to produce a stable fabric the bamboo clothing currently produced by
Bam contains 70% bamboo and 30% cotton. BAM bamboo active wear clothing contains
around 4% Lycra. They are working towards a total pure bamboo product, but this
will take a little longer.
Bamboo Clothing and the Environment
Bamboo is used for many things, including scaffolding and furniture, though
many different varieties exist, bamboo clothing is a highly durable fabric as
it has a high abrasion-proof capacity.
Bamboo is 100% biodegradable, unlike some synthetic fibres; It is naturally
grown without any man made assistance and without any treatment of chemicals.
BAM have ensured to keep the whole distilling and pulping process as natural
as possible.
BAM bamboo clothing is Panda friendly as the species of bamboo the yarn comes
from is Phyllostachys pubescens - Moso bamboo. Bam bamboo is grown principally
in Yunnan Province. Historically, it's most commonly used for construction purposes
and edible bamboo shoots. This bamboo strain is not the one consumed by Pandas
living in the wilds of China. The Bamboo plant is crushed and pulped after which
it's natural cellulose, containing the bamboo 'kun', is extracted to make fibre.
This naturally occurring bamboo ‘kun’ has the amazing qualities
that create bamboo clothing.
The dyes used in the production of BAM bamboo clothing are low impact and conform
to the Ecotex European standard.
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, its maximum height is reached
in about 3 months and it reaches maturity in 3-4 years. Bamboo spreads rapidly
across large areas and is great for improving soil quality in degraded and eroded
areas of land. In order to minimise on the environmental impact of Bamboo clothing
production, BAM and their production partners adhere to ISO14000, an ethically
principled environmental management standard (as well as the international quality
management standard, ISO9000).
Bam and Fair working practices
The BAM employment ethics are exemplary. Their bamboo clothing factory exceeds
all SA8000 conditions. SA8000 is based on international workplace norms in the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and the UN's Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and the Convention on Rights of the Child. Their charter includes
the following guidelines
- Child Labour: No
workers under the age of 15; minimum lowered to 14 for countries operating
under the ILO Convention 138 developing-country exception; remediation of
any child found to be working
- Forced Labour:
No forced labour, including prison or debt bondage labour; no lodging of deposits
or identity papers by employers or outside recruiters
- Health and Safety:
Provide a safe and healthy work environment; take steps to prevent injuries;
regular health and safety worker training; system to detect threats to health
and safety; access to bathrooms and potable water
- Freedom of Association
and Right to Collective Bargaining: Respect the right to form and join trade
unions and bargain collectively; where law prohibits these freedoms, facilitate
parallel means of association and bargaining
- Discrimination:
No discrimination based on race, caste, origin, religion, disability, gender,
sexual orientation, union or political affiliation, or age; no sexual harassment
- Discipline: No
corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse
- Working Hours:
Comply with the applicable law but, in any event, no more than 48 hours per
week with at least one day off for every seven day period; voluntary overtime
paid at a premium rate and not to exceed 12 hours per week on a regular basis;
overtime may be mandatory if part of a collective bargaining agreement
- Compensation: Wages
paid for a standard work week must meet the legal and industry standards and
be sufficient to meet the basic need of workers and their families; no disciplinary
deductions
- Management Systems:
Facilities seeking to gain and maintain certification must go beyond simple
compliance to integrate the standard into their management systems and practices.
The factory has also,
set up a local charitable fund to train people in essential skills free of charge.
The programme is open to anyone and Graduates are then free to work anywhere
they choose. The factory is also open to people from any organisation to visit
at anytime.
Organic Cotton Real re-usable nappies
At buyOrganics we have made a commitment to only supporting real organic cotton
nappies and nappies made from hemp or bamboo. Many more types are available
on the market, that use ordinary cotton. We don’t see the point of perpetuating
the same cotton farming crisis causing problems across the world. Instead we
at buyOrganics choose to encourage the reduction of waste build up whilst also
supporting organic cotton, hemp and bamboo farming. We say, if you’re
going to do it at all…then do it right!! Buy Organic cotton re-usable
real nappies