5 Reasons Why You Should Make the Switch to Organic Clothing

While trendy clothes go to the extremes to make you look stylish, they rarely feel comfortable when you have sensitive skin. 

Fast fashion has long been a means for people to express their individuality and creativity. The availability of a wide range of textile materials to experiment with, along with the plethora of new fashion trends, has completely altered how people consume clothing, but is this change for the better?

In a report made by Roadrunner Smarter Recycling, the volume of clothing Americans throw away every year has doubled in the last 20 years. The amount of textile waste that ended up in most landfills increased from 7 million tons to 14 million tons. 

"When consumers throw away clothing in the garbage, not only does it waste money and resources, but it can take 200+ years for the materials to decompose in a landfill," said Roadrunner. 

Since there are numerous steps involved in recycling textile materials, some people may find it easiest to simply dispose of them in landfills. Unfortunately, this "throwaway culture" brought on by the fast-fashion industry, which changes trends every six months, has made clothing one of the planet's biggest causes of environmental issues.

Luckily, organic clothing exists—a better and healthier alternative to fast-fashion clothes that work best for you rather than just look good on you. 

WHAT IS ORGANIC CLOTHING? 

According to Good On You, organic clothing refers to "clothes and accessories made from materials that have been produced with specific organic agricultural standards." In simplest terms, they are clothes that “have not been exposed to radiation, genetically modified, or treated with artificial or chemical pesticides.”

"These standards mean that no harmful chemicals were used in production. If we take the example of the increasingly popular organic cotton, this can include everything from manual weed removal over herbicides to not using GMO seeds," said the blog. 

WHY MAKE THE SWITCH?

By purchasing clothing items made from materials or brands that have received the GOTS certification, you can ensure that what you wear remains free of harmful chemicals and pollutants, from harvest to factory to closet.

At Cottonique, we believe that people should make an eco-conscious choice to wear clothes made with sustainable fabrics that help to protect our planet's resources and our health. 

As we celebrate Organic Awareness Month this September, catch up with the rest of the world in recognizing the various benefits of choosing organic, not only for your fruit and vegetables but also for your clothing.

Here are the 5 reasons why we think you should switch to organic clothing. 

1. THEY PROTECT THE SKIN 

People with skin allergies and sensitivities can feel comfortable and safe wearing organic clothing made from materials like organic cotton, silk, wool, and others because they are made without chemicals or pesticides. 

Styling website Mikado Personal Styling echoed the same, saying that wearing organic clothes "protects your skin, the largest organ in your body, from absorbing the chemicals usually found in conventional clothes."

"This is especially important if you have sensitive skin. Moreover, non-organic textiles can weaken your immune system and sometimes even cause irritation," said Mikado. 

2. THEY ADHERE TO SAFETY STANDARDS 

Since brands follow much stricter and more rigid manufacturing standards, you can be sure that wearing organic clothing is safe. Most of them subscribe to very high ethical standards like Fairtrade Cotton, Better Cotton Initiative, FLO International, and other global certifications that promote organic cotton like GOTS.

GOTS is a globally-recognized and trusted certification that ensures adherence to the highest environmental and social standards throughout the manufacturing process. 

With GOTS certification, you can be sure that the fabric you choose complies with the strictest environmental requirements all the way through the textile supply chain. Moreover, it guarantees that workers who produce the fabric are treated with respect and given fair wages. 

3. THEY DON’T HAVE MICROPLASTICS 

Microplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern brought about by the production and consumption of non-organic or synthetic fabrics made from petroleum-based materials. 

Wearing synthetic materials like acrylic, nylon, and polyester causes pollution because they shed microplastic fibers that usually go down the drain. In contrast, organic fibers biodegrade in ocean water. 

According to Mikado, when we wash our clothes or they get “dumped” into a water stream, all those materials find their way to the bottom of the ocean. "By purchasing natural organic clothes, you can help keep these microplastics away from the trash and out of our environment," it said.

4. THEY ARE FREE OF CHEMICALS

When choosing organic clothing, you can be sure that your garments are not toxic to your skin or to those who had a hand in making them. For example, unlike its organic counterpart, conventional clothing "uses 16%-25% more pesticides and herbicides than any other crop." 

According to an article, conventional cotton is the most pesticide dependent crop in the world, responsible for over 11% of global pesticide use each year. "Unfortunately, all of those chemicals run off the fields and into surrounding waterways and natural habitats, harming the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breath," said Grammar NYC.

5. THEY SAVE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

When you purchase clothing made of organic materials, you consider more than just your comfort. Additionally, you make a small contribution to the preservation of natural resources like water. For instance, compared to conventional cotton, organic cotton clothing reduces water pollution by five times because it is not grown without harmful chemicals. 

Mikado also explained that the production of various synthetic fabrics "requires fossil fuels, tons of water, harsh chemicals, and other harmful elements." 

"This results in more carbon dioxide emissions, high water consumption, and pollution of air, soil, and water. Opting to commit to organic clothes can improve our planet’s health," they reported. 

WHAT TO WEAR?

At Cottonique, we always take environmental responsibility into account when creating our 100% organic cotton, allergy-free clothing. Since pesticides and other chemicals, which are frequently used to create our textiles, are just one illustration of how the fashion industry has a significant negative impact on the environment, we think everyone should be concerned with the environmental impact of their clothing choices.

If you're looking for safer clothing pieces that allow people with skin allergies and sensitivities to live easily without the use of synthetics, check out our allergy-free clothing made with 100% organic cotton. 

Our processes remain environmentally friendly to develop allergy-free clothes that are safe for people with skin allergies and sensitive skin. In all of our collections, we only use organic cotton that is 100% chemical-free and GOTS certified. We also reduce our ecological footprint in our production processes through reductions in water, energy, chemical use, and other nature-friendly methods. 

TAKEAWAY: Knowing the nature and biodegradability of the clothes you're wearing is crucial to preventing clothes from becoming a disposable commodity. To prevent further damage to our planet, we must make a collective effort to make the switch to organic clothing. No matter how insignificant and small it may seem, it will undoubtedly benefit our future and the generations to come.

DISCLAIMER: The information presented on Cottonique is not, and will never be, intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content materials found on this site, from text, treatments, outcomes, charts, graphics, photographs, and study findings, are created and published for general informational purposes only. It should not, in any way, be construed as a standard of care to be followed by a user of the website. 

Thus, readers are encouraged to verify any information obtained from this website with other accurate references and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with their physician. As Cottonique strives to help those with allergies live with better days, the hypoallergenic apparel brand encourages everyone to always seek the advice of their physician or other qualified health providers with any questions they may have regarding a medical condition.