Organic Cotton Clothing

What is Organic Cotton?

Organic cotton is simply cotton that is grown without the use of pesticides or chemicals. If chemicals haven’t been used on the land for three years, the cotton grown there can be certified as organic.

There are third party agencies that certify that no synthetic substances are used in the growing or harvesting of the cotton. Some states have certification agencies as well.

Organic cotton is a good choice because the pesticide burden is high when growing conventional cotton. As with other kinds of organic agriculture, growing cotton organically starts with a focus on improving the soil so that it can support healthy plants without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Weeds and insects are controlled through non-chemical means.

Organic cotton production is growing in the United States and around the world. About 6,000 tons of organic cotton fiber are produced annually, which amounts to well under one percent of the world’s cotton production. Turkey, the United States and India grow the most organic cotton. Texas, Arizona and California produce the most within the United States.

Organic Cotton Clothing Facts

Organic cotton has the same fiber strength and length as conventionally grown cotton, which means there should be no quality issues when it comes to choosing organic cotton clothing.

Some clothing can be purchased with a blend of conventionally grown cotton and organic cotton. These blended products are beneficial to the planet and cost little more than products made with all conventionally grown cotton.

If you want to buy 100 percent organic cotton clothing, expect to pay 20 percent to 50 percent more for the product.

You can care for organic cotton clothing in the same way you would regular cotton clothing. It is durable, long-lasting and holds dye well.

Buying Organic Clothing

It can still be somewhat difficult to find organic cotton clothing in stores, but the popularity of the product is growing. It is likely that such clothing will become more widely available as people begin to pay more attention to the way their purchases affect the environment.

Still, there are already many places online where you can buy organic clothing, usually made from cotton, bamboo or hemp. Here are some websites to check out:

• Cottonfield USA
• Mama’s Earth
• Green Home
• Faerie’s Dance
• Lotus Organics
• Off Your Back Shirts
• Live Life Organics
• Onno Textiles
• Blue Canoe
• Two Owls
• Under the Canopy
• The Oko Box

Organic and Free Trade

In addition to the environmental benefits of buying organic cotton clothing, many retailers also use free trade practices to make production of their clothing better for workers as well as the planet.

Free trade companies ensure that people who work growing, harvesting and milling the cotton, as well as those who produce the clothing, are paid a living wage. They do not work in sweatshops or use child labor.

Sometimes free trade clothing is also made in union shops to ensure better treatment of the workers, but that is not always the case. If you ever wonder what a company means by “fair trade” on its labels, visit the company’s website for more information.