Facts on Organic Clothing

Get the facts on organic clothing in order to protect your family and the environment.

The green movement is changing the way we live, shop and eat. One of the most compelling arguments for going green is to make our families safer by buying products and supporting practices that will keep dangerous chemicals out of our clothes, water, and food. Organic can be a tricky term, and may not mean what you think it means. Organic products that aren't certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) may or may not be better for you. Green, eco-friendly, all natural, and all organic are marketing terms that can result in hefty upcharges for retailers, so do your homework before you buy to insure that the products you bring home are as safe as you think they are.

The USDA certifies farms to produce organic products. These farms are monitored and undergo a tightly controlled and extensive evaluation process. "Certified Organic" products like cotton, meat, wool, and produce are free of chemical additives, synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This means a more wholesome product for your family and less likelihood of allergic reactions or inadvertent exposure to substances that may prove hazardous at some future time.

Another benefit of supporting U.S. organic farmers is that natural eco-friendly farming practices have less of an impact on the surrounding environment. Cancer causing chemicals like cyanide, propargite and dicofol have been used in conventional farming, contaminating local wildlife, water and soil. Once in the environment, they migrate through the water table, and can contaminate municipal water supplies, poison fish in local lakes, and damage the delicate balance of nature in our parks, wildlife refuges and neighborhoods.

Understand the facts on organic clothing. There are many organically grown fibers out there that have a lot to offer the discriminating consumer. From silk to wool, organic fabrics are free of chemicals, harsh dyes and unnecessary fillers. They're better for your family and the planet:

• Because they're composed of natural materials, many organic fabrics, like bamboo and hemp, are naturally mold, mildew and UV resistant.
• Wool is a naturally fire retardant fiber. It can absorb up to 30 percent of its weight in water and still feel dry. This makes it a safer fabric for your family, and one that helps regulate the environment around your body. In dry weather, it releases moisture, and in humid weather it helps wick moisture away from your body.
• Silk fabric will probably be imported, so look for natural dyes and processing practices that spare the lives of the silkworms. Also look for a statement that the silk has no added weighting. Weighting is the process of incorporating chemical compounds into the fabric to make it heavier.
• Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics on the planet. In fact, about 35 percent of the pesticides used in the world today are used in the cultivation of cotton. Just moving to more organic practices in the production of this one crop would have enormous ramifications in making global agriculture more ecologically responsible.
• Linen has three times the strength of cotton and contains a wax that gives it a natural sheen.
• Bamboo grows quickly and creates a natural root mat that makes it an ideal sustainable crop. It is also resistant to most pests and other destructive agents. In fabric form, bamboo is hypoallergenic and lightweight.
• Most organic fibers take natural dyes well and look attractive in their natural, undyed state too.

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