Monday, February 2, 2009

Organic clothing - what is it and why buy it?

By MJ Erwin

As the awareness for global warming spreads, many people are now trying to live a 'greener' lifestyle. People are now opting to eat more organic foods and try to make use of renewable energy sources. But eating organic food isn't the only way we can parti

Organic clothing is defined as clothing that is made from materials that are raised or grown without the use of chemicals in the form of pesticides - herbicides or other chemicals. Its main material, cotton, is grown completely naturally in farms the same way cotton has been grown for hundreds of years before the advent of chemicals like pesticides began.

Though organic cotton has less environmental effect than growing conventional cotton, it's more expensive to produce. Side-effects of conventional production that are avoided in organic growing methods include:

High levels of agrochemicals are used in the production of non-organic, conventional cotton. Conventional cotton is responsible for nearly 25% of the insecticides and 10% of the pesticides used in the world, though is it grown on only 3% of the total cultivated area. The excessive use of chemicals in conventional cotton made it rank fourth as the most heavily-fertilized crop.

The chemicals used in the processing of cotton pollute the air and surface waters. Eco-friendly farmers try to find different ways to lessen the amount of harmful chemicals they put into the ground, as these chemicals mix into the soil. This will eventually affect vegetation and animal life through many years to come. These chemicals may also seep into natural fresh water deep underground and contaminate it. As many other farmers begin to realize this, instead of using synthetic fertilizers which messes up the soil's PH balance, many are now turning to natural composting. Pesticides can throw off the food chain and affect larger animals, so organic farmers introduce beneficial insects and predators, as well as setting up insect traps to have a specific area for insect control.

Residual chemicals may irritate the skin. Since the production of organic clothing involves no chemicals, it causes fewer irritants, making it the perfect textile for infants' delicate skin and people who are prone to allergies. It can also give off a pleasant smell and is believed to reduce respiratory problems.

Organic cotton clothing is a lot pricier than non-organic cotton clothing but the price is definitely worth it. These type of clothing wear better and are much durable than conventional cotton and is often more breathable than synthetic materials.

Organic cotton has unique properties that set it apart from synthetic cottons found on most major retailers. The colour brown, for instance, darkens slightly during the first three washings. Since organic cotton is not stripped of its natural wax by chemicals, most weaves have a unique smoothness and weight which makes the fabric particularly flattering. Organic cotton can be dyed using natural dyes as well. Aside from being eco-friendly and beneficial to health, organic clothing is a beautiful and stylish material. - 15634

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