| The word "organic" has experienced a meteoric rise | | | | conventionally grown cotton crops. Many of these |
| in status in the last decade as more and more people | | | | pesticides and insecticides are toxins that were |
| have become aware about where their products | | | | developed during World War II as biological weapons |
| come from and how they are produced. Products | | | | these workers have no protection against coming in |
| such as organic foods, organic bedding, and of course | | | | contact with them. Organic farms do not use these |
| organic clothing have shot up in the consciousness of | | | | poisons which create a better working environment |
| consumers but the word does conjure a sense of | | | | which, unfortunately, is a luxury for those working on |
| "granola" or a sense of rough fabrics that only are | | | | conventional farms. We are not talking about a small |
| used to make clothes that look like burlap sacks. | | | | does of pesticides either. Cotton crops account for |
| Advances in technology and methods used by | | | | roughly 2.4 percent of all cultivated land in the world |
| organic farmers and companies who aim to produce | | | | however they also use about 25 percent of the |
| products with little to no ill-effects on the | | | | world's pesticides and 10 percent of the world's |
| environment have greatly pushed sustainable fabrics | | | | insecticides every year. This is staggering amount of |
| as viable options for soft, durable, and fashionable | | | | toxins are what farmers have to face each and |
| options for children. | | | | every day but it can be completely preventable by |
| The question that many parents ask themselves is | | | | supporting organic farming methods. |
| "Why should I switch to clothing made from | | | | This completely imbalanced ratio also affects your |
| organically grown fibers versus conventionally grown | | | | child as your child's sensitive and delicately porous skin |
| fibers." This is a basic question that needs to be | | | | is in contact with these pesticides. Johnson & |
| answered. There are many benefits to having your | | | | Johnson states, "A baby's skin is thinner, more fragile |
| children's clothing made from organic fibers but the | | | | and less oily than an adult's. A baby's skin also |
| main benefits are four-fold: | | | | produces less melanin, the substance that helps |
| 1. It is better for the environment | | | | protect against sunburn. It's less resistant to bacteria |
| 2. It is better for the farmers and workers on | | | | and harmful substances in the environment, especially |
| organic farms | | | | if it's irritated. Babies also sweat less efficiently than |
| 3. It is better for your health and your child's health | | | | the rest of us, so it's harder for them to maintain |
| 4. It is cheaper in the long run | | | | their inner body temperature." This means that your |
| Since cotton is the most commonly used crop in the | | | | children are more susceptible skin allergies than adults |
| production of clothes, we'll use it as our example. | | | | and more prone to pesticide related health issues. |
| Organic cotton is grown on farms using methods that | | | | In the long run, clothes made from organic fibers are |
| have a low impact on our environment. In fact, | | | | cheaper than it's counterparts made from |
| according to the Organic Trade Association, "Organic | | | | conventionally grown cotton. The reason is due to |
| production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, | | | | the abusive process conventionally grown cotton |
| reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and | | | | takes. Conventionally produced cotton material |
| fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture." All | | | | typically lasts about 10-20 washing cycles before it |
| this means that the shirt your put on your child came | | | | starts to wear away. Compare this to an organic |
| from cotton crops from farms that make a | | | | cotton material which lasts for about 100 washes or |
| conscious effort to do as little harm to the | | | | more before it begins to erode. As mentioned, |
| environment as possible. Plus, it is not easy getting an | | | | conventionally produced cotton goes through |
| organic certification since "all cotton sold as organic in | | | | tremendous abuse such as scouring, bleaching, dying, |
| the United States must meet strict federal | | | | and formaldehyde spray all before it is even shipped |
| regulations covering how the cotton is grown." You | | | | to be cut for patterns for products. The difference is |
| are getting what you paid for when you make a | | | | felt in your wallet but it is also felt by your child as |
| purchase. | | | | her favorite blanket can last a lot longer and his |
| There are not a lot of regulations that protect | | | | favorite t-shirt do not have be thrown away before |
| farmers and those who work on farms from the | | | | he is ready to give it up. |
| pesticides and insecticides that are used on | | | | |