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For consumers who are looking for organic clothing information, buying organic clothing is the only "natural" choice. The clothing industry is a $7 trillion industry worldwide. It has been plagued with accusations of worker exploitation, child labour and environmental pollution. As a result, sales of organic clothing have been growing at a rate of at least 11% per year. Today, it is possible to be well dressed and environmentally conscious.

 

How does buying organic clothing accomplish this? The benefits of choosing organic cotton over commercially grown cotton are clear; pesticide reduction and environmental responsibility. Sales of organic cotton clothing are expected to top $3 billion by the year 2010. It is the second highest pesticide-laden crop in the world. Thousands of deaths per year are attributed to the use of pesticides in cotton growing. Making a single t-shirt from regular cotton requires 1/3 of a pound of pesticides. In West Central Africa, cotton provides employment for approximately 10 million people, and it is their only cash crop. Change may come slowly for cotton growers, however. Organic cotton costs about twice as much to produce because it is labour-intensive and it can produce a lower yield. But instead of pesticides, ladybugs are used to control pests, and manure is used instead of fertilizer.

Organic wool clothing and yarn provide the most natural environment for the sheep and the sheep growers, not to mention the lack of pesticide residues and synthetic chemicals next to the skin. Commercially grown wool is laden with chemicals. Sheep are first treated with pesticides to kill parasites; the fleece is cleaned with petroleum-based detergents. Then the dyes used are high in toxic heavy metal content. Finally, the runoff from these processes pollutes our streams, and workers exposed to these chemicals may suffer neurological damage. New Mexico is the U.S.'s largest producer of certified organic wool, representing about 80% of North American organic wool production.

 

Silk, a natural fibre harvested from the cocoon of the silkworm, is a smart choice for organic clothing. The mulberry tree is the silkworm’s primary food source. The major concerns with silk production are labour exploitation and the harm cause by using synthetic dyes. A better choice is dye-free raw silk, and silk which has been treated with natural, plant-based dyes.

 

Hemp is the newest star in the war against pesticides. A naturally insect-resistant plant, it can yield three times the amount of fibre as cotton, with virtually no need for pesticide use. It is, however, still illegal in the U.S. It is currently grown in many countries throughout the world and is imported to the U.S

What about synthetic clothing?

 

Clothing made from synthetic fabrics takes a toll environmentally. Polyester, for example, is made from petroleum, is not biodegradable, and its manufacture pollutes the environment. One exception is Tencel, which is made from wood pulp. It is biodegradable and its chemical by-products are recyclable.