Just like lots of other people I used not to bother with the whole organic clothes thing. To be completely honest I did not even know there WAS such a thing as organic fabric. Food - yes, but clothes? Most of us think that cotton by definition means healthy, natural, wholesome. What I did not know is that there is a lot more to the picture then this. So for all of you who still wonder what on earth is organic cotton and why is it so much better for us and our planet, here is the scoop.

Over the last century humans have developed a very long list of chemicals to help us combat the pests that can destroy the crops. These chemicals are so strong that not only they kill the pests, but they can also kill animals and seriously harm people too. Moreover, it pollutes our air, water and soil. Conventional cotton growing also makes thousands of acres too barren or contaminated for further farming. Now imagine this: one third of all chemicals in the world used in modern agriculture is applied to cotton plant. That's a whole lot of chemicals that go and stay (!) in the clothes we wear, air we breathe, water we drink.
Organic cotton growers, on the other hand, use natural pest control (simply said, good bugs eating bad bugs). They depend on healthy, living soil to produce strong plants resistant to pests and disease. Only natural methods such as manure and composting used to maintain seeds and soil fertility. To prevent weeds, trap water or lure pests and bring beneficial insects to the fields - special plants are seeded between rows. Organic cotton farming requires less water for irrigation. Lots of weeding is done by hand. But it does not stop here. The fabric manufacturing itself has to be eco friendly too. Organic cotton is naturally more breathable, softer and thicker than conventional cotton and stays like that even after many washes. Only the lowest impact chemical dyes or vegetable dyes are used for organic fabric dye process. As a result of all this hard work, we can enjoy super soft yet durable cotton that does not harm us or our planet!
So be good to yourself and the Earth, consider organically grown cotton for your clothes.

It takes about 1/3 of a pound of pesticides and herbicides to grow enough conventional cotton for just one T-shirt! Many of which are known human cancirogens - acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin. By choosing organically grown cotton we protect ourselves, our planet and our children's future from all these chemicals. Support Pesticide Action Network - Advancing Alternatives to Perticides Worldwide. PAN has earned Charity's Navigator's highest 4-star rating, which means your donations will go directly to help eradicate the most toxic pesticides on the planet. For every donation of $50 or more you will receive a beautiful organic cotton shopping tote. Additionally you will receive PAN North America magazine three times a year.