Organic natural clothing such as bamboo, organic cotton, and hemp are fast becoming the clothing of choice for the environmentally conscious person. Cotton has long been considered by consumers to be the most natural, healthy fabric and they have made it the most popular clothing material. What people are learning now is that the cultivation involves 25% of the world's pesticide use, more than any other crop. Most of these are insecticides, but fungicide is another fraction of the total. In many cases, these poisonous chemicals are applied by spraying from the air, which means they can be carried and spread by the wind and breathed by people living nearby. As an aid in harvesting, herbicides are used to defoliate the plants, making picking easier. Producing a textile from the plants involves more chemicals in the process of bleaching, sizing, dying, straightening, shrink reduction, stain and odor resistance, fireproofing, mothproofing, and static- and wrinkle-reduction. Some of these chemicals are applied with heat, thus bonding them to the cotton fibers. One thing is clear though: organically produced cotton has few of the issues of conventional cotton.

Organic Cotton

     Organically grown cotton is not treated with pesticides, herbicides or petroleum based fertilizers, nor does it use genetically engineered seed. Living soil is the basis of the organic farm: free of toxic chemicals for at least three years and enriched by compost and other organic matter. The concept is simple: vigorous plants resist insects, weeds and diseases better than those under stress due to repeated chemical applications.

Bamboo:

The great thing about bamboo clothing is that, not only is it soft and comfortable, but it also has some great environmental benefits. Bamboo clothing is said to be softer than cotton, with a texture more like that of silk or cashmere. Some environmental facts about growing bamboo plants are:

·       Bamboo plants can grow successfully without any fertilizers or pesticides.

·       Bamboo doesn’t require a lot of water to grow.

·       Bamboo plants release lots of oxygen into the air.

·       Bamboo is a very earth friendly plant. It can reduce soil erosion and desertification. It can actually improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas.

Bamboo clothing really is a comfortable and environmentally friendly choice!

Hemp:

     As a plant, hemp is very easy to grow and maintain, making it a great source of fiber for making rope and fabric.  Hemp clothing offers us many advantages because not only is it Eco-friendly, but it also is amazingly strong yet soft at the same time, making it very comfortable to wear against the skin. Hemp’s ability to stretch and give provides great comfort, breath-ability and flexibility. Other great qualities of Hemp fabrics include absorption and mildew resistant benefits, and Hemp garments can also be worn with comfort year round. A breathable fiber in the summer, Hemp will still keep you warm in the winter.

     If you are looking for Organic & Natural Apparel, you can find them at ecolochi.net. This Green shopping mall has all the green products you may need in one place. Ecolochi’s goal is to have a place for the eco-conscious person to shop and find all things “GREEN” in one place. Not everyone realizes that when you go green, you benefit more than just the environment. Using Solar, Green, or Earth Friendly products is a way to protect your home, your family and decrease your footprint on the environment.

Roland Kemler

Copyright 6/28/09