DAY OF DESIGN

Life is too short to wear low quality / boring clothes

Winter

Why Organic Cotton

From Patagonia

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Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming. All cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal regulations covering how the cotton is grown.
Although, there are no USDA (US Dept of Agriculture) approved studies demonstrating that organic cotton has any health benefits over conventional cotton, organic cotton is being widely embraced by holistic practitioners (such as naturopaths), especially for those suffering or recovering from illness.

More demonstrable is organic cotton's ability to be worn by people with chemical sensitivities, who are unable to wear conventional cotton because they have allergic reactions to the dyes and chemical traces it contains. This is especially important for babies and children because they have more sensitive skin and are more sensitive to chemicals (www.lung.ca).

Finally, another important quality of 100% cotton, is that cotton absorbs moisture and stays dry. In other words, it breathes (as opposed to nylon or other synthetic fibers which can cause perspiration). This quality makes cotton products more comfortable than synthetics
Environmentally, conventional cotton farming takes a huge toll on our planet.

Here are some startling facts:
• Conventional cotton is responsible for 25% of the insecticides used worldwide
• Some of the most toxic pesticides are used on cotton, and these enter our food chain through foods containing cottonseed oil
• To make one t-shirt, 1/3 of a pound of pesticides and other chemicals are used

Choosing organic cotton helps to support organic farmers and gives motivation to conventional farmers who are trying to convert to organic practices. Spreading the word to friends and family also helps to raise global awareness about the benefits of choosing organic cotton. Hopefully, over time, this can reduce the number of chemicals consumed by conventional cotton farming and help contribute to a healthier planet.

Why is organic cotton of higher quality?

The answer lies in how organic cotton is produced. Conventional cotton growers use harvesting machines to harvest the cotton. With the use of these machines, the seeds and oil in the seeds are mixed with the cotton. Harsh chemical cleansers are then used to clean the cotton and remove the oil and seeds. In addition, conventional cotton uses dyes that sometimes contain heavy metals.

Our organic cotton growers hand pick the cotton so it is much cleaner.

The cotton is washed in hot water and vegetable-based soaps when collected. This removes microbial factors, cleans and disinfects the raw material before it is turned into the materials sent to us.

In addition, when dying the product, only low impact environmental dyes or natural colorants such as clay are used.

The other benefit of hand picking and no chemical use is that the cotton fiber is much stronger; the fiber is not weakened by the chemical cleansers or dyes.
You might’ve noticed organic cotton products always seem to be a lot more expensive. That’s not without reason or because anyone’s trying to rip you off - put simply, growing organic cotton just costs more, much more, as organic cotton fields yield around 40% less than conventional cotton. To get a better harvest or yield rate, cotton farmers need to invest more on soil fertility, protecting biodiversity and preserving the environment. The risk factor for the farms being ruined by pests is much higher, due to the lack of chemicals, which also makes this type of farming a higher financial risk.
Due to its nature, organic cotton farming requires a much higher level of skill compared to traditional cotton farming - the farms need to be rotated throughout the year with other organic crops to keep the soil in optimal health.
On top of all this, 99% of the demand in the world is for conventional cotton - meaning consumers are paying for non-organic far more frequently than organic, meaning the supply can’t economically sustain itself until the demand increases. This starts with every consumer’s choice to buy organic vs. non-organic, and support the growth of the organic cotton industry.

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