4/27/12

Organic cotton is a great choice with kids clothing

In the past, organic clothing usually wasn't very fashionable and organic kids clothing didn't really exist. In the seventies shapeless tunics, burlap-like fabric and tie-dye coloring were the main options. Organic and alternative fibers have come a long way since then.





Increased environmental concerns worldwide have not escaped the notice of the fashion industry, which has really been fast incorporating organic materials into kids clothing designs as well as adults.

Organic Cotton is the healthier choice. Traditional cotton is by far the most commonly utilized fabric in kid's clothing and adult's clothing in the world, constituting a larger than $320 billion global market. Unfortunately producers use liberal amounts of insecticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers to grow the cotton. Analysts estimate that cotton crops use about one quarter of all the agricultural insecticides applied globally every year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 7 of the top 15 pesticides used on U.S. cotton crops are potential or known human carcinogens.

Many consumers swap to organic products out of concern for the environment. Some consider ethical elements like animal rights and fair labor practices when making purchases for kids clothes. However, others are simply drawn to the quality of organic and sustainable fabrics. Shoppers are catching on to the organic clothing trend. In 2007, sales of organic women's clothing grew more than 30 percent. Organic infant's, kid's clothes and diaper sales grew more than 25 percent and sales of men's clothes grew by 15 percent.

Why Wear Organic Clothing? There are around 15 million acres of conventional cotton grown in the United States alone with about three and half pounds of cotton produced per acre. Fifty-five million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on those 15 million acres, ranking cotton third behind corn and soybeans in pesticide dependence. Worldwide, cotton is also a pesticide-heavy crop, using approximately 25 percent of the world's insecticides and 10 percent of the world's pesticides. In comparison, there are approximately 10 thousand acres of certified organic cotton planted in the United States in 2008. Wool production also requires high levels of insecticides and antibiotics to safeguard animals from pests and disease.

Synthetic and chemical pesticides and fertilizers are associated with some sobering statistics. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers seven of the top 15 pesticides employed on cotton in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" to lead to cancer in humans [source: EPA 2005].

The World Health Organization estimates that pesticides poison at least three million people each and every year, with 200,000 people dying from pesticide poisoning annually. Organic agricultural methods help minimize our exposure to toxins like pesticides and insecticides. Organic farming also uses 45 percent less energy than conventional farming.

Given such problems, choosing organically grown alternatives may be one of the greatest things parents could do for their kids and environment. Kids Clothes Designers Offer Organic clothing like TJ kids clothing which are making waves in fashion circles with their cutting edge clothing designs made from materials like organic cotton, grown without harmful synthetic chemicals


Sponsored by http://calgaryorganic.com/

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