Greening Out Your Closet

Story Planted on July 3, 2008

By: Morgan Olsen

100% organic cotton skirt From UnderTheCanopy.com $59.99

When you look at all the cotton, wool, rayon and spandex in your closet you probably aren’t thinking about the environmental damage that these fabrics have done to be made into the garments you wear daily. And it’s not just your clothing; it’s your pillowcases and sheets, your baby’s diapers and those plush towels you use every morning. For hundreds of years the production of cotton has been a worldwide market that requires pesticides, insecticides, synthetic fertilizers and harmful dye products. These cotton products impact our air, water and land.

This 100% organic cotton jersey men’s tee can be found at OrganicStyle.com $42.95

Traditional cotton plants have been grown with toxic chemicals to yield larger crops and keep bugs and animals away. However, neither of these qualities is worth the permanent damage on the earth. Farmers and environmentalists have found new ways to do the same things with less impact. The harmful residue that runs off these plants pollutes not only bodies of water, but also animals that drink and live in the water. The USDA estimates that in 2000 the U.S. used 84 million pounds of pesticides on cotton crop.

Besides the environment, wearing clothes and using household products that contain harmful dyes and other chemicals can be hard on your skin and on your health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, half of the pesticides that are used on cotton plants are suspected or known human carcinogens. Cotton workers who work in fields that have recently been sprayed are especially in danger. Organic cotton insures safety in their jobs as well.

This yellow Madeline jacket from Under the Canopy is made of 100% organic linen. $79.99

Fortunately, there is a safe alternative for your everyday cotton needs. Organic cotton can be found everywhere from Target to high end boutiques. Organic cotton is grown with little or no toxic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers. Even designers who haven’t gone completely organic have started to incorporate organic cotton into a blend that is more eco friendly. According to the Organic Trade Association the trend is growing. From 2002 to 2003 the organic fiber sales for the U.S. grew by 22.7 percent. Two other popular environmentally safe materials are bamboo and hemp. However, organic cotton is by far the most popular in the U.S.

This Babysoy onesie is made of 50% soybean fiber and 50% cotton

With the ever growing trend, it is not hard to find organic cotton products. Unless you are looking for designer duds, organic cotton products will not cost you much more than you are used to paying today. Most farmers who grow organically can sell their crop for less because they aren’t spending as much on chemicals.

100% organic cotton towels from JCPenny for $9.99 each

Be smart. Read the inside label to determine how much of the materials is actually organic cotton. Some organic cotton “blends” may actually only have minuscule amounts of certified organic cotton in them. This is just one small change you can make in your own life and it will have a greater impact on the planet. Encouraging organic cotton products will help other producers and designers make the switch to this safer material.