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Organic Baby Fashion
It may at first seem a strange concept, but organic baby clothes are more than just a faddish concept. They are good for your baby, good for the environment and often are better for the producers of the raw material.
The first choice you may make when choosing baby clothes may be between artificial man-made fibres and a “natural” alternative. Often this decision is made on an instinct that man-made is simply not as good as natural. This instinct has its basis in the fact that the synthetic materials that many of the clothes we wear are made of are made of petrochemicals. The production of which is very polluting to the environment.
What are Organic baby clothes
Organic baby clothes are baby clothes that have been made with natural materials that have been produced with a minimum damage to the environment and a minimum use of chemicals. The chemicals this concept refers to are those used at every stage of the process from the growing of the raw material such as cotton and wool, to the dyeing and the processing of the fabric to create the finished garment.
Why buy organic baby clothes?
Many of the baby clothes we buy today are made of man-made materials such as polyester and nylon. Both of which are made of petrochemicals. Not only is this a diminishing resource, but is damaging to the environment due to the polluting nature of the materials used. More energy is used in its manufacture which contributes to global warming as does the release of chemicals such as nitrous oxide.
Even natural fibres have their problems if they are not organic. Viscose for example, despite being made from wood pulp is treated with toxic chemicals in its processing.
Conventional cotton uses more artificial pesticides than almost any other crop in the world, polluting land, water tables and causing illness amongst workers. The pesticides affect local ecosystems by killing animals and plants. In addition cotton is notorious for the amount of water it uses and is often grown in very unsuitable geographic locations.
Wool processing utilizes toxic chemicals, for example in the sheep dipping process and also in the dyes and bleaches.
Organic cotton is grown without using chemical insecticides or pesticides. As well as being far more beneficial for the environment, organic cotton is often bought directly from the farmer or a local cooperative. This means that the farmer gets more income from the crop and the farming is far more sustainable as the land is not damaged by over use of chemicals. Additionally organic cotton garments also tend to use natural dyes, which produce a more subtle pigment and look more natural. This means no synthetic bleaches and chemical dyes which in turn reduces the potential for causing allergies with your baby’s sensitive new skin.
Organic wool
Organic wool, which is often available as organic cashmere baby clothes, is becoming increasingly available. The farming practices used are sustainable and adhere to organic farming practices. As well as using no fertilizers on the land, the sheep are fed a completely natural diet and toxic sheep dips, which are derived from WW2 nerve gases, are not allowed. Natural dyes made from vegetables, roots and plants are often used to colour the organic wool without the need for chemical fixing agents
Written by: Clinton Porter
Cow Says Moo – designer and organic baby clothes
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