By Sonya Caruso

     

 

We see the labels everywhere, organic food, organic shampoo and organic skin care products, but why would someone be concerned with buying organic clothing? The answer is simple, pesticides. Cotton contains natural vegetable fibers that produce a sweet, insect attracting nectar. In order to fight off these tiny pests and an undesirable fungus known as wilt, cotton growers utilize approximately 25% of the global insecticides and 10% of the global pesticides. This chemical warfare does affectively destroy the insect population; consequently, it also destroys the soil in which cotton is grown, draining the earth of its natural nutrients and making it unsustainable for future crops. Though strict regulations are in place for food crops, the regulations are much less stringent for cotton. This means these chemicals enter our food supply through cotton seed, which can be found in a great deal of processed foods, and through any live stock or dairy cattle that snack on the cotton husks or seeds. In addition, these toxic chemicals are in the air that we breathe, the water we drink and the clothing we wear. This is reason enough for a number of consumers, designers, farmers and clothing manufacturers to consider an array of environmentally friendly alternatives.

Although for some consumer eco friendly clothing is old news, still for many who may be interested in trying organic clothing there is the underlying concern that clothing made from these fabrics is too expensive and not very fashionable. However if we take a closer look, we will find that these concerns are no longer sensible. Fashion designer Rogan has created the company Loomstate, which manufactures 100 percent organic clothing for the fashion conscious. His company is dedicated to designing clothing through earlier, traditional methods which emphasize the sustenance of the earth and its inhabitants. With careful attention to details, the company has advantageously created a line of clothing that is comfortable and, at the same time, extremely fashionable. There web site www.loomstate.org, is artistic and informative, with information on the cotton process, as well as links to clothing sites that carry the Loomstate line.

If you check out Loomstate, and you like what you see, you may also want to take a look at Rogan’s other line, Edun, which was created with the help of Bono and his wife Ali Hewson. Edun does not necessarily use organic material for their line, but the focus of the company is to better the world by creating fair-labored jobs for people in countries that need them the most. Generally, the clothes are made in family-run factories in South America and Africa. This is a great alternative for the socially conscious buyer who would like to see work conditions improve around the world. Their line can be found at www.Edun.ie.

In relation to Rogan’s organic lines, hemp shops are becoming increasingly common, and some companies have attempted to introduce the fabric at an affordable price. Adidas, a company that is credited for being both socially and environmentally conscious, has ventured to make a hemp sneaker with a recycled rubber sole. While companies like Gap and Nike carry organic lines, these clothing lines are allusive and there business practices are questionable. Although most of alternatives cannot be found at your local malls, there are many websites that offer affordable fashionable clothing. Patagonia and Gaiam both have websites that are easily accessible and user friendly, with reasonable prices and substantial selections. Another great website that offers affordable, yet very cool clothing is www.soul-flower.com. Soul-flower specializes in organic cotton, hemp, products made from recycled material, herbal bath and body products and jewelry. There prices are extremely reasonable and there products are extraordinarily stylish.

With the increased interest in organic fabrics, there is also an increase in the number of farmers who are now choosing to grow their cotton organically, without the aid of chemicals. The organic cotton is grown in clean soil. The plants grown in healthy soil will be stronger and more resistant than stressed plants that are chemically grown. The process requires more hands on the farm to tend to the crops and to watch for any potential problems. It also requires a diverse ecosystem. If a balanced field is left alone, nature will take its course and the bugs will battle among themselves. A healthy, organic cotton field advantageously yields as much fiber as one that is doused in chemicals.

Hemp farming is yet another alternative that is rising in acceptance, and with good reason. Hemp is a natural herbicide and is pest resistant. It has a deep root system that helps prevent erosion and prepares the soil for future crops. It yields more fiber per acre than trees or cotton, and requires little water or fertilizer making it less expensive to grow. Hemp grows rapidly and can be replenished three times per year. While the stalks are used for fiber, the seeds can be used in oils and food substances. Hemp is multifaceted and can be used in the production of paper, paint, skin care products, and among other things, fuel.

Perhaps the most common alternative to chemically grown cotton is wool; and, what could be more natural? It grows naturally without any human intervention, until sheep shearing time. Wool is absorbent, durable and naturally flame resistant. If you have an old wool sweater hanging in your closet, you already know that wool withstands the test of time. You do have to be careful when washing wool because it has tendency to shrink, but with proper care your wool will wear for many years to come. Wool is priced fairly reasonably, and unlike most other alternatives, you can find wool in any area mall, in small shops and online.

Two of the more surprising clothing alternatives are bamboo and soy. While bamboo furniture and soy food products are relatively common, bamboo and soy clothing are almost unheard of in the clothing industry. Bamboo is a member of the grass family and, like grass, naturally resists most insects and diseases making it a renewable resource that grows without pesticides. The fiber used to make bamboo clothing is thinner than the fiber of some of the other alternatives, and so it is often mixed with cotton. When used for clothing, bamboo fiber is soft and can be compared to silk. Bamboo is also an extremely breathable fabric making it desirable in warm climates. Like bamboo, soybean is also a renewable resource. Along with the advantage of being a popular food by-product, soy is being used to make plastics and clothing. Soybean fiber is soft and luxurious making it a higher end fabric. Both bamboo and soy fabrics are currently less accessible than many of the other alternatives. The price of soy fabric is about 30% higher than that of hemp or organic cotton, with the exotic bamboo cloth also trailing at the high end of this spectrum.

All of these alternatives are increasing in popularity, but change is often difficult and takes time. Cotton growers rely on federal subsidies that require chemical programs to be in place for funding to be received, hemp continues to battle its reputation as a recreational drug, and bamboo and soy may exceed the price range of the average consumer. Still, the environmentally and socially conscious alternatives speak for themselves and if the consumer demand gradually increases, so will the supply and availability. In the meantime, awareness is a powerful ally in protecting the environment, even if we decide to do it one shirt at a time.

 

 

     

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© Melt Magazine 2005