| Organic implies food and other items derived from raw | | | | cotton, wool and Tencel for manufacture of clothing, |
| materials that are wild-crafted or organically grown. | | | | blankets, carpeting, fiberfill and other home furnishings. |
| The processes used minimize damage to the | | | | Woven hemp can be traced back 10,000 years |
| environment and improve the quality of life for the | | | | making it one of the oldest textiles known to man. The |
| workers and animals involved. | | | | fabric for the first flag of the United States of America |
| Following is an overview of the growing variety of | | | | was hemp, as were the covers for the wagons that |
| organic materials being used in the clothing & | | | | dared to venture west, attesting to its strength and |
| fashion industries to assist us in making healthier | | | | durability. It resists UV light and is mold resistant. Its |
| choices for ourselves, our families, and the earth. | | | | texture is compared most closely to linen. For the |
| Additionally, we have included a summary of the dye | | | | record, industrial hemp has no drug value. Hemp is |
| processes most widely used by eco-friendly | | | | grown organically, needs no irrigation, is insect resistant |
| manufacturers. | | | | and is harvested and processed without machinery. It |
| Natural color clothing is the healthiest and most | | | | produces up to 3 times more fiber per acre than |
| eco-friendly. These include color-grown cottons | | | | cotton. Woven hemp is breathable and may be |
| (brown, blue, purple, green) and natural color wools and | | | | produced on its own as a fabric or combined with |
| alpaca. No dyes are used and the fabric maintains a | | | | other fibers as a blend. |
| consistent color. | | | | Ingeo fibers offer a viable sustainable solution to |
| Clay-dyeing uses an age old technique of grinding | | | | synthetics. As a fabric, Ingeo's luxurious feel contradicts |
| minerals and irons found within earthen clay, blending | | | | its durability and easy maintenance. A derivative of |
| with water then soaking natural color cotton to the | | | | fermented corn, an annually renewable resource, Ingeo |
| desired hue. After several washings, a slight color | | | | fibers require about half of the energy needed in the |
| change may be expected. | | | | production of synthetic polyester and release fifty |
| Low-impact fiber-reactive dyes remain the most | | | | percent fewer greenhouse gasses during the |
| widely used in the organic manufacturing industry | | | | production process. From raw material through to the |
| because of their color diversity. The colors are bright, | | | | end product, the manufacture of Ingeo fibers |
| rich, and colorfast. Low-impact fiber-reactive dyes are | | | | integrates environmental responsibility with excellent |
| considered an eco-friendly pigment because they | | | | product performance and comfort. This extraordinary |
| contain no formaldehyde or heavy metals (ie. bright | | | | product delivers comparable performance |
| turquoise and bright yellow typically require heavy | | | | characteristics to the easy care synthetic polyester |
| metals to achieve their brightness) and create less | | | | fibers we have come to love in a variety of clothing |
| waste water runoff than modern dyeing methods. | | | | and home accessories. |
| Seventy percent or more of the dye actually adheres | | | | Linen is derived from the flax plant, and like hemp, its |
| to the fiber during the dye process. Waste water is | | | | use dates back thousands of years. Linen is absorbent |
| filtered multiple times and is returned to the water | | | | and breathable which gives it excellent wicking qualities. |
| system cleaner than it was originally. But, the actual | | | | Organically grown linen drapes beautifully and |
| dyes are almost always found to be made from | | | | compliments many fabrics as a blend, giving |
| synthetic petrochemicals. As the industry grows, | | | | eco-friendly designers yet another fabric to further |
| however, one may anticipate development of a true | | | | verify that the new "green" is style, quality, and |
| non-toxic pigment to rival the low-impact dyes | | | | performance. |
| currently available. | | | | Soy fabric is made using a by-product of the process |
| Organic cotton, inherently soft to the touch, is grown | | | | used to make tofu. Because of its high protein count, it |
| without chemical fertilizers or pesticides; requires | | | | is receptive to natural dyes, has an amazingly soft |
| minimal processing and possesses no chemical | | | | cashmere quality, is lightweight, breathable and super |
| finishes. This growing method improves soil quality; | | | | comfortable to wear. What more can we say? |
| supports biodiversity and our fragile ecosystems. | | | | Tencel is made from wood pulp cellulose. It offers a |
| Organically grown cotton yields are high and the | | | | soft, silky hand, has super absorbency qualities, is as |
| chemical-free working environment promotes health | | | | strong as any synthetic, enjoys the coolness of linen |
| and wellbeing. | | | | and is as warm as wool! The most naturally hygienic |
| Bamboo fabric is extremely durable which belies its | | | | fiber, Tencel prevents the growth of bacteria. Through |
| luxurious delicate sheen and soft rayon-like drape. It | | | | manipulation of the fibers during processing, a variety |
| retains its antibacterial qualities, killing odor-causing | | | | of looks from denim to suede can be accomplished. |
| bacteria that live on human skin. It has excellent | | | | Wool is considered organic when the wool is |
| insulating properties and is highly absorbent and | | | | harvested without harm to its source. Guidelines to |
| breathable, wicking moisture away from the skin while | | | | insure this include the prevention of overgrazing |
| keeping the wearer cooler in summer and warmer in | | | | through limiting the number of animals per acre. No |
| winter. Bamboo, a highly renewable resource, is a fast | | | | synthetic pesticides may be used on grazing lands, |
| growing grass, ready for harvest within 5 years. It is | | | | feed is organic, and antibiotic use is regulated. Raw |
| naturally resistant to pests making it relatively easy to | | | | and untreated, wool has scales that cause shrinkage |
| grow without the use of chemicals. | | | | and make it feel itchy and coarse to the hand. To |
| EcoSpun is a polyester fiber made entirely from | | | | improve these qualities, organic wool is slow-washed |
| recycled plastic bottles! EcoSpun fleece is warm, | | | | to reduce shrinkage and produce a wonderfully soft |
| durable, lightweight, weather resistant and soft to the | | | | texture. |
| touch. It is often blended with other fibers such as | | | | |