Organic:
Organic textiles are grown in controlled settings with no pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals. Only natural fertilizers are used and the soil and water are monitored. If a fiber is “certified organic” its growing conditions have been monitored and certified by an agency from one of the several organic trade associations worldwide.
Eco Fibers:
Eco fibers are fibers that do not require the use of any pesticides or chemicals to grow. They are naturally resistant to mould and mildew and are disease free. Hemp, linen, bamboo and coir are eco-friendly fibers.
There are also eco fibers created from the end product of other processes, generally from food wastes. Such fibers are produced from soy, coconut, milk, corn and chitin (crab shell). For example, soy fiber is made from the hulls of soybeans used to make tofu and other soy products.
Why Eco and Organic fabric?
- Social responsibility: We all need to do our part to keep our planet clean. Chemicals and pesticides invade drinking water and groundwater, polluting its fish and even reaching human consumption. Organic and eco fibers grow without any pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
- Biodegradable: Eco and organic fabric biodegrade naturally over time. Synthetic fibers eventually become waste and let off harmful toxins when they degrade.
- Touch: Many people are allergic or dislike wearing synthetic textiles. Eco fabrics have all the properties of the new synthetic breathable fibers with added softness and drape. They feel better against the skin.
- Absorption: Not only do its chemicals reach into our groundwater, conventional clothing is worn next to our most porous organ- our skin. If nicotine, birth control medication and other drugs are absorbed through patches on our skin, how can we assume that we do not absorb the chemicals in our clothing? Organic and eco-fibers are natural and do not contain irritating chemicals. Many of them are also considered hypoallergenic and naturally anti-bacterial.
- Popularity: Organic foods have been around for awhile and it is a
natural evolution that organic and eco friendly fabrics will also gain popularity.
Eco and Organic fabrics once considered an alternative are now entering into
the mainstream.
Hemp:
Hemp is a cellulose fiber and it is one of the longest and strongest fibers. It has been used for thousand of years by woman/mankind.
As opposed to cotton, hemp is one of the most environmentally friendly fibers in the world, requiring no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers and very little water. Cotton requires a lot of water and pesticides. Half of the agricultural chemicals used in the U.S. crops are applied to cotton. Hemp does not exhaust the soil and enables sustainability by leaving the soil in excellent condition for any succeeding crops.
Hemp is an extremely durable fabric, and it has eight times the strength of
cotton. Hemp outwears cotton and other natural fabrics. Hemp is also more
insulating, absorbent and improves with washing and wearing. It reveals a
new surface becoming softer with every wash. It is also UV resistant, highly
breathable, fast drying, hypoallergenic and non-irritating to skin.
Bamboo:
Bamboo is nature’s most sustainable resource. It is grown without pesticides or chemicals, it is 100% biodegradable and is naturally regenerative. Bamboo is a fast growing plant with shoots averaging 24 to 36 inches or more in a 24 hour period.
Bamboo fabric is naturally anti-microbial, hypoallergenic and thermal regulating.
It is also resistant to mould. After multiple washings, over 70% of the bacteria
cultured on bamboo textiles are destroyed by the fiber. Bamboo breathes and
wicks moisture away due to its porous nature. Bamboo also has an excellent
drape and a silky-cashmere feel.
Organic Cotton:
Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics in the world. It has traditionally been grown with mass use of pesticides, chemicals, and water. The chemicals used in conventional cotton production are some of the most harmful known to woman/man. Every year new chemicals are created to spray on cotton crops as insects that invade the cotton plants become immune to the current chemicals used.
Organic cotton is cotton that has been grown for at least three years without chemical pesticides and defoliants. Fertilizers that are used include compost, manure, naturally derived mineral and plant fertilizers and crop rotation. Insect controls involve the use of beneficial insects and natural pesticides certified for organic crops. Organic cotton is also processed without oils, chemicals, and pesticides. It does require a great deal of water to grow.
Organic cotton feels softer, smells cleaner, and is less likely to trigger allergies. The sustainable farming practices used to grow organic cotton do not pollute groundwater, surface water, soil, or air. In fact, soil quality is actually improved by the production of organic cotton. Organic cotton is safer for farmers, for you, and for the environment.