Several clothing brands all over the country are now making clothes out of organic and/or recycled materials -- everything from bamboo to hemp.
Organic cotton does not contain petroleum- based chemical fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides or chemical pesticides. It uses drip irrigation and is harvested by hand in places with plentiful open land such as Turkey, India and Africa. Non-organic cotton uses 25 percent of agricultural pesticides. This can cause water pollution and, for farmers, chronic illness.
Slowly, bamboo is starting to make a name for itself in the fashion world as well. The “silk-like” fabric is hypoallergenic, a natural antibacterial and sustainable. Unlike other natural fibers, bamboo stalks reach mature height in about 60 days, whereas trees can take up to 25 years or more. One of bamboo’s many features is a natural UV protection, keeping wearers safe against the sun’s harmful rays.
Hemp is also added to the list of “green” clothing products. Hemp does not need fertilizer to grow and uses a very low amount of water. It renews the soil every new growth cycle and is refurbished two or three times a year. Hemp is three times stronger than cotton too.
One does not have to search far to find clothes that fall under these conditions. Eco-friendly clothes can be found even at popular clothing stores or “green”-based clothing companies. A few that are all natural include Green Tee Clothing Co., Autonomy Project, Inc., Bamboosa and Earth-Wear Organic Cotton. Join the recycling movement, not only with plastic bottles but with your clothes too!