Why organic cotton clothing is better...

Today, we hear many major food producers pitching their "organic alternative" products. Several years ago, the organic food section in one of our local grocery stores used to be a small little display section with some assorted products. Now it is a full aisle loaded with products to choose from. The health benefits of organic food are apparent. After all, who wants to ingest chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers and preservatives. It's scary to read the food labels.

Organic clothing has a different benefit compared to organic foods. While organic foods are certainly better for your health, the largest benefit of organic clothing is for our planet. The reduction in the use of chemicals and pesticides to grow the cotton are the main reason for choosing organic. The average cotton shirt is made with pounds and pounds of chemicals, growing cotton without that is much better for the planet.

I have not seen any hard research into the amount of residual chemicals left in the cotton after the finished garment has been laundered. New garments are loaded with "stuff" left over from the manufacturing and should never be worn for more than just trying them on. All the dyes, colors and anti-bug treatments needed for import are still left in the garment, waiting for your skin to absorb them.

Over the past years there has been a rise in skin conditions. Some are being attributed to the different chemicals used to make clothing. One parent who was shopping on our pajama site, littlejammies.com, was looking for organic cotton pajamas for her autistic child. She had read an article (I tried looking but could not find it) about a suspected link between the chemicals in clothing and the rise in autism. We have been looking for a good pajama manufacturer and keep asking them, but so far none have stepped up and started to use organic cottons.

My own take on it is that organic cotton is better for the planet and is possibly better for us. I think that washing before wearing is very wise. Once washed, it makes sense that most of the nasty stuff would be gone. If someone has links to research papers that show more information, I'd love to read them and post links here.