Many people choose eco clothing because they either want to do something for the environment or because they suffer from allergies which are aggravated by modern materials. Much of today’s clothing is mass produced in the developing world often at detrimental effects on labourers and us. By making a conscious decision to wear eco clothing you are not just helping the environment but also labourers in developing countries.
Eco clothing is made from chemical free cotton. Only organic fertilizers such as manure and plant-based pesticides are used in the production of cotton. Organic cotton is almost identical to conventional cotton except that the conventional cotton may have been produced using genetically modified organisms and pesticides of which the farmer and his family may have been exposed to. Cotton is the second highest pesticide leaden crop in the world and contains some dangerous chemicals. These chemicals have caused 20,000 deaths each year from accidental pesticide poisoning.
Eco clothing is required to have a certificate proving that the material is organically created and this is regulated by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement. If a t-shirt is marked as organic or a form of eco clothing you know that it is created with organic cotton but you need to ensure that the fibre processing is ecologically safe as well.
Most eco clothing is made from cotton, bamboo and hemp. All suppliers of eco clothing source the products from firms who promise their workers decent conditions under which they work and a fair wages, some of these clothing may be marked with the Fair Trade label. Eco clothing is usually dyed using plant extracts with no added chemicals involved. Some products that are termed as eco clothing may be recycled; you can purchase fleeces that may have been recycled from former soda bottles.
Many parents of young children choose to buy them a range of eco clothing and linen. It is thought that the pesticides used in the creation of conventional clothing can affect children’s growth while they are young or during pregnancy. Today you can buy most products that have been created organically from mattresses to children’s toys. Unfortunately the majority of eco clothing is still highly priced and difficult to find in the shopping mall from traditional stores although some are recognising that eco clothing is better than conventional clothing. You can even now buy eco wedding dresses.