Materials

Cotton and Organic Cotton

We all know cotton - it’s everywhere! Cotton is a crop and it’s used to make towels, bed sheets, t-shirts, jeans and lots more. Shops love to shout about cotton being ‘natural’, and while cotton (often called ‘white gold’ due to its global worth) certainly comes from the soil, the way it is grown is anything but natural. Here’s the thing.

‘Organic’ cotton looks and feels just like the regular cotton you know. It’s just as soft and it wears just as well. But there’s one big difference between organic cotton and regular cotton. Organic cotton is grown using age-old and natural farming methods that promote biodiversity and respect the environment, wildlife and people. Regular cotton on the other hand is grown using pesticides. Pesticides are insecticides (bug killers), herbicides (weed killers), and fungicides (fungus killers) and they are highly toxic. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies 50% of pesticides as ‘hazardous’ – hardly encouraging! 16,000 people die each year from pesticide poisoning – usually the workers in developing countries that we never hear about. Pesticides pollute soil and water, poison wildlife and can leave chemical residue on the cotton things you buy – and it does not wash out. But nobody tells you that stuff.

Organic cotton is simple. It’s just beautiful, soft cotton that is made the old way - a way that respects people, planet and wildlife. When you choose organic cotton you are supporting a way of life that is environmentally and socially responsible. No poisoned workers, no polluted soil or water, no poisoned wildlife, and no unseen chemical residue on your clothes. Sometimes it costs a little more, but we think you’ll agree, it’s worth it.

Simple ideas are often the best, no?

Bamboo

Bamboo is rather special. It is the fastest growing plant in the world, growing to its maximum height in just 3 months and reaching maturity in 3-4 years. It grows naturally without the need for any pesticides or fertilizers and, unlike cotton which is a very thirsty crop, bamboo requires very little water to grow.

Bamboo is actually a grass, so once it is cut it regenerates very quickly without the need for replanting. An acre of bamboo can produce 10 times more than an acre of cotton. So you can see that bamboo is very sustainable. But how is it to wear? Bamboo clothing is extremely soft and silky. It’s very light and comfortable to wear next to your skin. Very absorbent, it wicks away moisture, which then quickly evaporates from the bamboo, keeping skin drier and more comfortable. Bamboo is both very breathable, great for keeping cool in the heat, and also thermo-regulating, meaning it keeps the wearer warm in the cold.

While the growth and cultivation of bamboo are certainly eco-friendly, the manufacturing process that turns the plant material into a finished product is not. Although alternative methods are being developed, the process most used involves the use of strong chemicals. And certification of the entire process for producing bamboo is not yet clear and controlled in the same way as it is for organic cotton.

Hemp

Hemp is the ‘real deal’ of sustainable fabrics! It grows very quickly, without the use of pesticides and without the need for the large amounts of water, making it very environmentally friendly. Unlike some plants that deplete the soil of some of the natural, vital nutrients, hemp actually revitalizes the soil. It also grows abundantly, with the same piece of land producing 250% more fiber than cotton. Yep, hemp’s good for the planet, but what about making stuff from it?

Hemp is perfect for making clothing. Its softness and breathability makes it very comfortable to wear, and it mixes well with other fabrics such as cotton and silk. It is also extremely strong and durable, much more so than cotton, so it keeps its shape really well and lasts for a long time. And hemp has excellent insulating properties that make it very warm. Hemp is now being embraced by clothing designers and brands worldwide. Its strength and durability mean that it is also great for making other things like bags and accessories.

Alpaca wool

Alpaca wool is one of the rarest natural fibers in the world and is used to produce luxurious clothing. The fiber comes from the alpaca, an animal similar to the llama that is typically bred in the Andes of southern Peru. Alpaca wool comes in many natural colours and is well known for its excellent quality. Warmer than sheep’s wool, and without a prickly feel, alpaca has a softer feel often described as silky. And it is also hypo-allergenic.

Fair Trade

Fair Trade (2 words)

Respect, inclusion and optimis.

Fair Trade is the organized global social movement that works, through trading partnerships, for greater equity in international trade. Through dialogue, transparency and respect, Fair Trade contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to and securing the rights of marginalized workers in developing countries.

Fair Trade recognizes the need for greater justice in the world; it recognizes the need for a change in the conventional rules and practices of trade; and it demonstrates that a successful business can also put people first. Fair Trade is about more than just trading though. It’s about a world-view that recognizes that everyone deserves opportunities; that the environment must be protected; and that respect for everyone is the necessary starting point.

Fairtrade (1 word)

Certifying products.

We all know this logo. It’s the logo of FLO - Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International. FLO is made up of 23 different organizations from around the world and 20 of these organizations are what they call ‘labeling initiatives’. When we see this logo on a product, it tells us that 1 of the 20 labeling initiatives has certified that the product has met the internationally agreed Fairtrade standards, giving a better deal to that product’s producers. Here’s the thing to remember. The FLO logo does not tell us that the entire producer’s business practices have met these Fairtrade standards. It only certifies the specific products marked with the logo.

While other marks aim to ‘protect the environment’ or ‘enable companies to trace their coffee’, the focus of FLO is on helping farmers and workers improve the quality of their lives and take more control over their futures. Their mission is to: connect disadvantaged producers with consumers; promote fairer trading conditions and empower producers to combat poverty; strengthen their position in world markets and take more control over their lives.

World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)

Certifying organizations.

The WFTO is a global authority on Fair Trade and a global representative body of 450 members committed to 100% Fair Trade. Operating in 75 countries over the 5 regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North American and Pacific Rim, the WFTO is the only global network whose members represent the Fair Trade chain from production to sale. The goal of the WFTO is to enable small producers to improve their livelihoods and communities through sustainable Fair Trade. Fundamentally, the WFTO is a global community of pioneering and passionate change-makers, responsible for the development of the sustainable Fair Trade economy, for the good of us all. The WFTO logo is used to brand organizations that are committed to 100% Fair Trade.

Certification

Certification

Certification is the process of testing the production methods of a product to ensure that it meets a set of clearly defined internationally agreed standards. The process of certifying is very important as it lets the consumer know that the claims being made by a producer about their product or business are reliable. Certification testing is carried out by a third party and they are always independent, qualified and authorized.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

GOTS is the leading global standard for certifying cotton that has been produced according to strict ecological and social criteria covering the entire textile supply chain. Textile products carrying the GOTS ‘organic’ label must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic fibers. A textile product carrying the GOTS ‘made with organic’ label must contain a minimum of 70% certified organic fibers.

Organic and other words

Organic

Organic refers to a specific method of farming that grows crops without the use of pesticides – pesticides are insecticides (bug killers), herbicides (weed killers), and fungicides (fungus killers) – which are made from highly toxic chemicals. Organic farming uses age-old, natural farming methods that promote biodiversity and respect the environment, wildlife and people. There are a number of certification marks to look out for which guarantee a product has been made to the high standards adhered to in organic farming and production.

Sustainable / Sustainability

When we talk about ‘sustainable’ in terms of the things we make, and consequently the things we buy, we are talking about producing those things in a way that has a minimal impact on the environment and its resources.

Hemp for example is rather sustainable for all the reasons described above. It grows easily and abundantly without taking a lot from the planet. Hemp actually revitalizes the soil. Regular cotton on the other hand is absolutely not sustainable. It is grown using toxic chemical pesticides that poison and pollute the environment (and wildlife and people) and so of course we cannot continue doing this. The impact on the environment is simply too great.

Sustainability is about only taking what the planet can replenish.

Sustainable consumption

Sustainable consumption is about how much we consume and about the choices we make when choosing the things we buy. A sustainable product is a product that has been made in a way that treads more gently on the planet and on those we share it with. The good news is that sustainably made products are increasingly available and often they’re really well designed and made to a very high standard.

Obvious examples of the sustainable or unsustainable choices facing us today are plastic shopping bags and plastic bottled water. Both of these are designed to be disposable. They have a short life-span and both cause enormous environmental damage even if we don’t hear about it. The plastic in the bottles also leaches chemicals that damage health – which we don’t hear much about. And much of it is actually tap water - wonder why that isn’t publicized! Reusable drinking bottles (preferably made from high quality stainless steel) are a fantastic alternative that will last for years. Really it’s about changing our behavior. What we see as convenient for us is often extremely inconvenient and damaging to the planet. Reusable shopping bags are a simple alternative to plastic shopping bags. Did you know that plastic shopping bags were first introduced in the US in 1977? Before that we all used reusable bags. Some ‘progress’ isn’t quite what it claims to be.

Sustainability is about more than just bags and bottles, although these alone are a serious problem. Sustainability is about how we see the world. It’s about everyone and everything – it’s about the health of the planet, the health of wildlife and the health of people, including ourselves.

Recycled

The term ‘recycled’ is about the processing of used materials (waste) in to new products. This reduces waste of potentially useful materials, reduces the use of the planet’s natural resources, and reduces the environmental damage caused by burning waste (incineration) or hiding it in the ground (land-filling). A product made from this process is said to be ‘recycled’.

Upcycled

The term ‘upcycled’ is when the new product produced through the recycling process is of greater use, value or quality than the products it was made from.

Downcycled

The term ‘downcycled’ is when the new product produced through the recycling process is of less use, value or quality than the products it was made from.

Pesticides

Pesticides are insecticides (bug killers); herbicides (weed killers); and fungicides (fungus killers) made from toxic chemicals. They are sprayed extensively on cotton crops. These chemicals are so dangerous that the World Health Organization classifies 50% of those used globally as ‘hazardous’. Over 16,000 people die every year from pesticide poisoning and many more are hospitalized. They kill wildlife unnecessarily and pollute soil and water-ways. Residues of these pesticides can remain on clothing. They cannot be removed by washing and let’s just say they are not healthy to have next to our skin. We don’t like pesticides! Organic cotton does not use pesticides. We only sell organic cotton.

Payments

Privacy Policy

Delivery

Returns

FAQs

Site map

Press

About us

Our Purpose

Our packaging materials

Supporting good causes

3 reasons to shop here

Stuff We Love

People

Ideas

Good Causes

Books

Films

Contact & Feedback

Crazy numbers!

People

Websites

Blogs

Films

Books

Free e-books

Asquith London

Baggu Baggu

Be Love

Braintree

Engel

Elvis and Kresse

Feuerwear

Green Baby

Green Eyed Monster

Holstee

Kite Kids

Living Crafts

Miksani

Pants to Poverty

Velo-Re

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Organic baby clothes

Organic kids' clothes

Organic women's clothes

Organic men's clothes

All products

Organic cotton

Bamboo

Hemp

Alpaca wool

Fair Trade

WFTO

Certification

Organic