Cotton on to organic clothing!
As Christmas is almost upon us, and we all get caught up in the whirlwind of consumerism as we panic buy our way towards the dreaded date – us ethically conscious people feel an especial sort of pressure to do the right thing ethically and environmentally, but I realise it can be as tempting as a child in a sweet shop to choose the easy option and shop for presents in the multiples. One popular gift choice for many people is clothing – not only for adults (the standard gift of socks for men and gloves for women!) – but for babies and children as well. What can seem an alluring option as time is becoming of the essence is the large and varied – as well as highly affordable – lines available in stores and supermarkets, and the time-saving temptation of throwing gifts in with the weekly shop, but the truth is that although you may not carry the cost for bargain clothing, those involved in the growing and manufacturing processes certainly pay the price.
Organic cotton and bamboo clothing may seem an unattainable, elusive and unnecessary option, particularly at times when quantity rather than quality is more pressing, for example, buying children’s school uniforms and clothing fast-growing babies, but it is exactly at these times that organic clothing is most desirable. GM and conventional cotton is responsible for a whopping 16 percent of annual global pesticide use, with over $2 billion worth of highly toxic chemicals sprayed on cotton every year. Virtually all cotton (99%) is grown in developing countries, and pesticides used to treat the crops are responsible for 3 million poisoning cases every year. Not only this, but cotton farming can be highly abusive with record numbers of exploited workers, in particular women and children. As well as the effects of agricultural poisons and poor working conditions on these labourers and their families and the toxic effects on the local environment, once the cotton is manufactured and turned into clothing for us to wear, these highly toxic pesticides can actually remain in the cloth. Out of sight is certainly out of mind in this instance, but these invisible substances can continue to release their toxins even after many washes.
Organic clothing has been shown to be a wonderful solution for sufferers of some skin conditions such as eczema, presumably because of the absence of these highly noxious substances, which can include organophosphates and even cyanide. It’s estimated that around 17 teaspoons of fertilizers and one of active ingredients are used for every average sized T-shirt – with 60% of what we put onto our skin actually absorbed into it, why on earth would we want to choose anything less for our children than the purest, softest and ethical materials for their clothing?
Whilst shopping for organic cotton clothing may seem a little daunting in our fast paced have-it-all consumerist society, we at www.buyorganics.co.uk have sourced some of the many wonderful manufacturers (such as Tatty Bumpkin, Howies and Cat’s Tail) and who produce adults, children’s and babies’ clothing from fairly traded, non-toxic organic cotton. Maybe this Christmas is the time for more people to take the plunge and choose one or two special items as gifts which can be treasured and worn guilt-free into the next year? My vision for the perfect world would be one where organic cotton clothing becomes mainstream and as easily obtainable on the high street as it currently is through specialist outlets and on-line ordering – we all deserve the right to toxin-free clothing, and certainly those in the developing world involved in its manufacture should not have to suffer the consequences of Western society’s predilection for cheap, readily discardable clothing.
It’s not just cotton that can be ethical and beautiful – unique bamboo clothing by Bam introduces a range of men’s and women’s organic clothing made from sustainable and naturally breathable, antibacterial bamboo fibres to the highest ethical production standards. www.buyorganics.co.uk takes positive lifestyle choices seriously and tries to provide people with a wide choice of clothing for all tastes. There are some great styles of organic clothing on offer especially online at a range of online stores. I would like to think that people would choose organic cotton where they can when it comes to a Christmas gift of clothing, not only because it is a message to the recipient that you care, but also the people whose lives are involved in its production and who will ultimately benefit from your choice.
By Sonia Kalia-Sagoo, buy Organics
www.buyorganics.co.uk
