Green Living Stores

Though not widespread in the Western world, clothing made from bamboo fabric has become a common item in various cultures and as a more organic option to cotton and other fabrics which can contain chemicals.  Organic clothes have increased their following in recent years, with environmental awareness as a hot topic.  Bamboo is cultivated and grown through natural processes, and most bamboo fabrics are guaranteed to contain no chemicals or toxins.  In addition, bamboo fabrics are durable, breathe very well, and absorb sweat and water like no other fabric. 

Bamboo clothing is not in wide distribution throughout the Western world, but it is available in clothing of all sizes, shapes, and styles in specialty stores or online.

With the onslaught of green products, organic foods and buzz words like sustainability and efficiency, it’s easy to ignore the facts behind the sensationalism. The movement has lost a little meaning in the adoption of this trendy slang, but the fact of the matter remains the same: organic is better, for you and the environment. And it’s still true when it comes to your clothing.

Organic clothing is produced from crops that are grown organically, such as organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown without pesticides, and comes from plants that haven’t been genetically modified. It comes with a potpourri of benefits: the environmental impact is significantly lessened, as are a host of side effects. Cotton production accounts for approximately 25 percent of the world’s insecticide uses, and 10 percent of its pesticide. Seven of the top 15 used are listed by the EPA as “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens. Not only do those chemicals lead to pollution of the air and water, they can cause the growers and workers tending the cotton to fall ill, and residual chemicals in the cotton can irritate the skin.

Recent expeditions by the United States space program haven’t detected any green men on Mars, but there are definitely many of them on Earth.  Most of the men I know—green ones and otherwise—would love organic T-shirts. 

I don’t know any men that don’t have a bunch of T-shirts (I’d wear them every day myself if I could!), and these eco-friendly designs are fantastic for men or women, with striking depictions of the animal world, Mother Earth, karma, the teachings of Gandhi, or my personal favorite—“Make Pizza, Not War”.

The Urban Tee is a classic design that dresses up or down according to your sartorial needs.  Add 100% organic cotton to the mix and you have both style and eco design to dress yourself in total comfort.  www.NaturalOrganicClothes has a selection of Tee Shirts in Organic Cotton, Soy, and Hemp from the casual to the dressy to fill your closet with clothing that contributes to the support of the environment and your personal needs.

Eco friendly clothing represents a return to safe and sustainable practices. Organic cotton is grown with natural fertilizers and is free from toxic chemicals.

Organic farmers rely on crop rotation to replenish and maintain soil fertility. Mechanical cultivation and botanical or biological means are used to control pests and weeds.
 
A field must be pesticide-free for at least three years to be certified organic, and the cotton must be processed according to international organic standards. 

The standards also set strict guidelines for transportation and storage to avoid cross-contamination. In the U.S., cotton labelled as organic has to be certified by an independent agency recognized by the USDA’s National Organic Program.

As pests develop resistance, farmers desperate to keep up yields often resort to more and more applications of expensive pesticides. The chemical treadmill leaves them heavily in debt, and caught in a vicious circle. Facing barren, devastated fields and contaminated water, many small farmers have been forced to abandon their livelihood altogether.

Organic cotton and organic clothing, on the other hand, is not only safer and healthier for farmers, but also encourages just economic systems in the supply chain. It provides an economically viable and socially acceptable alternative to large-scale farming and dependence on subsidies.

My dad is one of those guys who has worn the same clothes since the 1970’s. For Father’s Day this year, I’m getting him some new clothes. Rather than play into the corporate black hole of buying sweatshop-manufactured wares, I’m buying him some fair trade clothing.

Not only will he FINALLY get some new clothes, but they will be made with ethics.

A friend of mine asked me about the merits of vegan clothing and wondered what the problem with wearing wool was.  “They get shaved in the summer,” he said.  “If anything, you’re being humane.”  Except for the fact that when sheep begin molting, they seldom follow schedules of wool production; in fact, most sheep die due to exposure to extreme heat and cold.  This misconception that wool production is “humane” is just an old wives’ tale.

Rather than change the thermostat or use a bulky sweater to add warmth in your home and travels try layering with a comfortable soft hoody.  You can now dress in one-hundred percent organic cotton hoody that has the benefit of fibers that use your natural body heat to keep you warm without adding bulk to your dress choices.  This same light covering can easily be rolled up and packed away in a bag or back pack for easy storage and transportation therefore reducing space and weight requirements as you travel.   The combination of economy and comfort will certainly become a necessary part of being a green consumer as you make clothing choices that keep you healthy and stylish as you reduce your environmental footprint.  Green living in your choice of clothing is a positive choice for your personal lifestyle and good stewardship of your environment.

My younger sister is an environmentally and politically conscious young lady.  She is a longtime vegan and I really celebrate her strong convictions.  I also know that because she lives in a small town, she has difficulty finding fair trade and organic clothes.  I’m certain she’s been wearing the same clothes for the last year and a half.

I was surfing the web and I found this great stylish track-inspired jacket for her.  Best of all, it’s an organic coat, so it fits my sister’s clothing requirements.  I’m getting ready to send it out to her, but there isn’t a doubt in my mind that she’ll love it – not only because it’s a great jacket, but also because no chemicals had been used in the process of production.