We all need to wear clothes in our daily lives, (unless you keep your camera switched off on your work zoom call, that’s entirely your choice) 😉 We use clothes to make a statement, show our style, fulfil a function and to be comfortable.
Cotton, for example, is one of the most used fibres in the world and is used to make our jeans, t-shirts, undies, socks, bedclothes, coffee filters and thousands of other items. It’s a breathable, light, comfortable material that we can wear it all year. A superstar of fibres as such! And, unlike synthetic fibers such as polyester, which is derived from crude oil, and rayon which undergoes so much chemical change in its process, cotton is natural and grown from the earth.
But even with these benefits there are also major disadvantages to farming conventional cotton. Farming it is extremely water intensive and is harmful for the soil, air, waterways and people. It actually takes an average of 2,700 litres of Water to make just ONE cotton T-shirt. Yes, you read that right, just one! That’s enough to sustain one person for 900 days.
Unfortunately, cotton has become known as the dirtiest crop on earth. It consumes 16% of the world’s insecticides and requires $2 Billion in pesticides each year. These contaminate the soil we use to grow the crops, the air we breathe and the water we drink. It greatly affects the people working directly in cotton harvesting and production and can result in cancer, asthma and chemical poisoning.
Pesticides used on cotton are super toxic so it’s likely that your cotton clothing could have harmful pesticide residues on them and these are the type of toxins that can get into your body. Think for a moment about your skin, if it is on you, it’s in you. Your skin is absorbing and eliminating things all day long, so it is a given that the chemicals in your clothing can permeate your skin and enter your bloodstream.
Thankfully cotton is generally safer than some synthetic materials but it can’t hurt to be conscious of the facts.
SO HOW CAN YOU SHOP BETTER FOR YOU?
Usually when we shop we focus on the shape, colours, fit and style rather than the material it is made from. We know about the health benefits of buying organic food, cosmetics and cleaning products but what about organic materials in clothing?
When you next purchase a T-shirt or some underwear why not choose Organic cotton or recycled materials instead?
“Everything I do, I try to think, Okay, what are the ramifications? Like, with the clothes I wear, I prefer if it’s grown organically, because cotton—which is what’s used in most clothing—takes up 50 percent of all pesticide use.”
– Woody Harrelson
From “Woody Harrelson”
By Rachel Rosenblit, Elle, 16/11/2009
Organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals, like synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, leaving the soil, air and water free from contaminates that cause harm. It uses 88% less water and 62% less energy to produce. Organic cotton farming does not allow the use of toxic chemicals or GMOs (genetically modified organisms) which is important for you as you will not subject your body to these chemicals when you wear your organic cotton clothing.
A win for both you and the environment.
Organic cotton also benefits you because:
It is renewable, biodegradable and better for your skin than conventional cotton. The dyeing process of organic cotton also uses natural dyestuffs with a low percentage of metal and sulphur.
It’s hypoallergenic and is less likely to irritate your skin or cause rash unlike synthetic fibers. It is the perfect material if you have allergies.
The chemicals used in the production of conventional cotton can lead to skin reactions, allergies, asthma and even cancer. Given that we spend more and more of our daily lives enclosed in cotton (bed, clothes, using wipes for removing makeup etc…) it’s a no brainer to choose the safest possible choice for you and your family. (The phrase “Wrap someone up in cotton wool” didn’t come out of nowhere…) 🙂
Organic cotton can help you sleep better without subjecting your skin to any harmful chemicals.
It’s safer for babies and children due to the absence of toxic chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides and pesticides. That’s got to be a plus right there.
Always remember to check the label for 100% organic cotton. Cotton clothing is biodegradable and can be used as compost material but only if the fabric is made of 100% cotton.
More and more brands and fashion houses are committing to organic materials. H&M recently became the world’s largest buyer of organic cotton.
Unfortunately, Organic cotton still only makes up less than 1% of cotton produced. By choosing organic over conventional cotton we have the purchasing power to influence brands and manufacturers to make more of their products organic.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
“I don’t want to wear something on my body that hurts the environment or the people in it… It shocks me that even today only one per cent of cotton produced in the world is Fair Trade and organic. It’s important to be conscious of what we’re buying and where it comes from. As consumers, we have so much power to change the world just by being careful in what we buy.”
– Emma Watson
From “Emma Watson models her range for People Tree”
by Hilary Alexander, Telegraph, 01/02/2010)
Organic cotton is not only better than conventional cotton, it is more sustainable, better for our health, the farmers, communities and the environment.
Sources:
FERN + FIA 
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