Hooray! Spring is almost here! There’s no better way to get into the spring season than with organic clothing for work and play. Organic cotton clothing is soft to the touch, plus, has none of the harsh dyes, or chemicals found in conventional cotton clothing. Also, organic cotton clothing is long lasting and breathable. You will feel the difference immediately. Sure, organic cotton may be a bit more expensive, but the cost is well worth it.  Your skin is vital - the largest organ that your body has. It only makes sense to treat it to the safest and most natural fabric available. 100% organic cotton clothes look great and have far less of an environmental impact too!

Though it’s not difficult to find great organic apparel, there are certain things to take into consideration when shopping around. In truth, there can be some rather deceptive practices that some manufacturers can use to lure customers to buy so-called “organic” items. With organic clothing, be on the lookout for tags that say things like “made from organic cotton”. If the product does not explicitly state the amount of organic cotton - i.e. 100% Organic Cotton, or 80%, 75% etc, you might not be getting the organic clothing you expect.

It’s like those popular food labels that state “made with whole wheat flour”. What does that mean exactly? Some manufacturers will mix a small portion of whole wheat flour (perhaps 10% or less), with lots of enriched white flour. That means tons of refined carbohydrates, which your body does not need. Many popular breakfast cereal brands claim to be good sources of certain vitamins and minerals, yet are packed with lots and lots of refined sugar, corn syrup, and or artificial colors and sweeteners. Ugh! How healthy is that???

Many major label food brands want to stand by the idea that theirs has been the “family staple” for generations. Some of these so-called staples haven’t changed much in the last fifty years! Today, we are more informed of the negative aspects of products with high amounts of sugar, salt, carbohydrates, etc. In short, we know that it is the time for drastic changes in food marketing and development.

The simple truth is that some manufacturers still simply “dress up” products, rather than improve anything at all. Call it the “natural foods bandwagon” if you will. Yes, it seems every manufacturer wants to be a part of that, but some do at the least expense possible.  The most obvious way food producers do this is by simply changing the packaging to resemble some healthy alternative. While the product might look like a good, healthy option at a glance, flip over the box and carefully read the ingredient/nutritional information. That’s often a whole other story!  The same might apply with organic clothing too. Besides inaccurate tags, there could be some hidden truths behind the product – deplorable labor conditions where human rights might be at stake. Find out where the clothing was assembled, plus, where the fabrics originated. If the tag shows the manufacturer name, do a little research into the company.

While the informed shopper knows better, it takes practice to get into the habit of reading product labels. Those who do read the labels can have peace of mind.

Until next time….

In a time when environmental responsibility can seem like more of a marketing catchphrase than a substantive production ethic, Onno Textiles is an example of a company that is doing it right. Located in Boulder, Colorado, Onno produces "socially responsible t-shirts" for individual, wholesale and private label sales. These shirts are produced from sustainable fibers (organic cotton, bamboo and hemp) using socially responsible manufacturing, meaning Onno is invested in the product throughout the entire process from seed to store. They even buy carbon offsets to account for the environmental costs of shipping products.

Beyond investing in production, Onno makes an effort to inform their customers through their website, www.onnotextiles.com. The unique qualities and benefits of each material are showcased in an irreverent and refreshingly honest manner. Concerned about the effects of caustic soda used to process bamboo? So are they and they don't mind telling you so. They’re also strong advocates for legalizing industrial hemp farming in the United States. Their website is chock full of information about the raw materials they use, how they are turned into t-shirts and why you should care.

Perhaps most impressive is the fact that Onno didn't start out as an eco-oriented business. According to their website, they have transitioned to their current model, "in order to feel energized and passionate about our products." Onno Textiles clothes are economically, environmentally and socially conscious, adding up to a product that feels great to a customer’s skin, wallet and conscience.

There has never been a better time to switch over to organic clothing because there has never been a time where the environment needed us as much as it does now. The world has a view of organic clothing being somewhat outdated. We picture Woodstock, tie-dye, and oversized sweaters as being part of the organic movement, without ever looking into the facts. The fact of the matter is that organic clothing is becoming extremely popular because it’s not only made out of renewable and eco-friendly fabrics, but it’s also extremely trendy and stylish.

Organic clothing is made out of natural products, which cut down on the amount of waste that is put into the air and water when it is produced. Most people probably do not realize how harmful synthetic materials are for the environment, but they truly do a lot of damage. None of the plants that are used to make this organic clothing are treated with chemicals either, which means that they are better for your skin as well. Anything that falls into the organic category must pass a number of tests in order to be considered as such. This means that you know exactly what you are getting when you purchase organic clothing.

When chemicals are used to treat our clothing, we’re automatically exposing ourselves to things to which we were not meant to be exposed. This can lead to significant health problems in the future, so it is definitely something that is worth looking into. One reason that people often question the production of organic clothing is that it is often associated with hemp production. It all depends on what the plant is being grown for and when hemp is grown for clothing production, it is one of the most useful existing plants.

Our carbon footprints, in general, are getting out of control, so something must be done in order to slow this process down. Buying organic clothing might seem like a small thing to do for the environment, but its impact can be long lasting. The damage that our clothing is doing to the environment is major, as the factories that create these clothes are constantly pumping pollution into our air and water. In addition, cultivating things like cotton and then using synthetic material requires much more power than simply using organic materials. In the end, there are countless reasons as to why it’s a good idea to start wearing organic clothing. The choice is up to you, but doing your part for the environment has never been this easy.