Why Wear Organic Clothing?

Since 1996, the demand for organic clothing in the US has been increasing at an annual rate of about 22%, bringing light to a new, positive and eco-friendly trend. Even though the demand is growing, organic cotton still only accounts for 0.03% of the world’s cotton supply, meaning a vast majority of the world’s cotton is still plagued with poisonous pesticides and toxins.

Farming the crops for organic clothing is known to be extremely difficult, but not impossible. From managing soil fertility to insect control, there are many more demanding ways to deal with these problems that often take more time and energy, although for those willing to put in the commitment, the payoff is premium, not only monetarily for the farmers but for Mother Earth as well.

The concept of organic farming is also based on being kind to the Earth, not destroying nature and simply helping crops grow the way they are naturally meant to be grown. With nonorganic farming, the soil becomes so sterile for the purpose of growing one plant that all living matter excluding that one plant is virtually eliminated. On organic farms, the soil is alive and enriched by compost and other organic matter used in farming.

Organic farming is also based on producing healthy plants, and the idea that when a plant is alive and healthy, it will naturally resist diseases and insects better than those under stress. By feeding plants massive amounts of chemicals and synthetic materials, it makes the plants weaker and therefore unable to fend off diseases naturally.

The heavy use of pesticides is not the end of the dangers of nonorganic farming. Conventional cotton also is treated with major amounts of toxic herbicides, fungicides and defoliants. It is often processed with chlorine bleach, heavy metal dyes and formaldehyde resins (used for "easy care treatments.") The bleach can be worse than the pesticides because it causes brutal health problems and vast environmental damage.

When you buy organic, you are not only benefiting yourself but a lot of the world around you. Some common benefits of choosing to wear organic clothing are:
• Organic farming has a significantly smaller carbon footprint throughout the entire process.
• The crops are grown with natural fertilizers instead of synthetic, and dangerous chemicals
• Environmentally friendly processing does not pose threats to the workers’ health, as well as the environment around the farm
• Those with allergies or sensitive skin greatly benefit from organic clothing because it does not retain harmful toxic residues.
• Organic clothing will last longer, is better quality and feels better against your skin!