Organic clothing is a subject worth learning about. Just like food, clothing affects us intimately in different ways:
1. Through our personal well-being and health
2. Through the effects on our environment and well-being of workers
Our skin being the largest organ is entrusted with protecting us from dangers of the outside world. Clothes become the protector of the skin in turn but there are problems with that. 70% of clothes sold now are "synthetic". What that means, is that it is derived straight from crude oil, with the aid of heavy chemicals, just like making plastic. The resulting textiles offer no ventilation and no cooling, so with body heat and moisture, skin becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Any toxins sweated out become re-introduced and re-absorbed again.
It is only the last 60 years that chemistry got so much involved in our clothes. Historically clothes were made of natural textiles, mostly plant based - cotton, hemp, linen or animal source like wool or silk. Many of the natural fibers have been around for hundreds of thousands years. Our bodies become friends with them. Each textile has unique qualities and offer usually good ventilation, allowing for regulation of skin temperature.
"Organic clothing", akin to organic food - means clothes that are made from fibers grown to specific organic standards, like Global Organic Textile Standards. Most common is organic cotton and there is a good reason to support organic cotton. Conventional (non-organic) cotton depends heavily on pesticide and insecticide, up to 25% of world use just for cotton. These chemicals cause headaches, fatigue, nausea but also cancers, neurological disorders and birth defects.
Textile manufacturing employs also a slew of harmful chemicals. As shown in series of extensive reports commissioned by Greenpeace, many garments contain NPEs (nonylphenol ethoxylates). The insidious effect of that chemical is mistaken by the body as hormone, like estrogen and causes hormonal havoc. Even fish exposed to NPEs become part male, part female.
The toxic chemicals in our lives have already seeped into our sofas, carpets and many other products. Children sleep in flame retardant soaked pajamas. We are in true toxic overload. There are solutions though. Our bodies can handle a lot of problems, just care needs to be taken what you put in it and on it. Ironically organic clothing is more about what's NOT on the textiles, than what is. NO nasty sprays, no pesticides, no formaldehyde. Each of us might be sensitive to different item, so to stay safe, take one step at the time with basics layers that are next to your skin. Look for comfort, ventilation and simplicity and look for organic designation of the textile
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