Fiber Files: Organic Cotton
Posted on July 01 2021
History:
Although not the earliest textile used by man, cotton has always been acknowledged as an exceedingly beautiful and comfortable fabric.
Throughout its four-thousand-year history cotton has always been grown organically. Archeologists have found evidence of people weaving cotton in South Asia, India, Central and South America. The oldest cotton fabric was found in Peru, from about 6000 BCE.
Cotton was considered a luxury which was grown, harvested, ginned, spun and woven only by hand until the late 18th century. Sir Richard Arkwright's water-powered spinning machine was invented in 1765 and Eli Whitney's cotton gin in 1793, making cotton textiles more affordable and accessible to the masses.
Healthy for People and the Planet:
Organic cotton is more eco-friendly. Organic cotton is grown using 91% less water and without any chemicals. 80% of organic cotton crops are grown as a rotation crop to prevent disease, rainfed not irrigated, do not waste precious water resources, and therefore uses less energy. This method promotes healthier working conditions for farmers and farm workers.
Non-organic cotton is not eco-friendly; and it’s growing and harvesting methods are one of the most harmful in the world. Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and chemical fertilizers are applied to the cotton plant throughout the growing cycle. It takes 2,700 liters of water to produce just one non-organic cotton t-shirt. Non-organic cotton is grown as a single crop which is more susceptible to disease, requiring pesticides/insecticides, also depleting the soil of nutrients, and leaving the soil incapable of retaining water.
Buying Organic Cotton Clothing:
Currently, organic cotton makes up approximately 0.93 percent of global cotton. However, quantities are growing year after year due to market demand because of consumers like you! Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the harmful effects of conventionally grown cotton, and are making thoughtful sustainable buying choices from fashion to home textiles.
We value our thoughtful T Shirt Atelier customers like you! Together, we do our part to minimize the impact fashion has on our environment. We work hard to provide important information for purchasing decisions, partnering and supporting other small businesses in order to provide you with sustainable and ethically made clothing choices.
Support small businesses using organic cotton and which manufacture thoughtful and beautiful organic cotton apparel!
Sources:
-https://www.organic-center.org
-https://organiccottonplus.com
-https://www.theprojectgarments.com/blogs/news/organic-cotton
-https://ota.com/advocacy/organic-standards/fiber-and-textiles/get-facts-about-organic-cotton
-https://www.soilassociation.org
-http://www.aboutorganiccotton.org
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_cotton
-http://www.athomenaturally.com
