Not only is there a real difference in comfort and softness between a standard cotton T and an organically produced cotton T, there are huge differences in the resources used in their production. On average, it takes about a pound of chemicals to grow cotton contained in a standard cotton T and jeans. Standard cotton production may not go away overnight, but buying organic cotton helps support farms who engage in the socially responsible practice of pesticide-free production. The chemicals used on cotton crops have been linked to ground water, surface water and drinking water contamination around the globe. Change starts with us as consumers and producers.

Considered a grass, bamboo is capable of growing over three feet in a 24-hour period making it one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Compared to trees of similar size, bamboo also consumes five times the amount of CO2 and emits 35% more oxygen. Growing bamboo improves soil quality and helps rebuild eroded soil. The extensive root system of bamboo holds soil together, prevents soil erosion and retains water in the water shed. It does not require replanting after harvest because its vast root network continually sprouts new shoots by pulling in sunlight and converting green house gasses. This happens naturally without pesticides or fertilizers and without the use of tractors or other petroleum using machinery.

 

Because of the smooth, round structure of its fiber, bamboo clothing has an amazing soft feel and a gentle drape. Bamboo rayon is not perfect. The bottom line is green and never blanket white. We believe that bamboo rayon provides more good than bad for the environment and continually proves to be renewable and sustainable when compared with other available fabrics.

Recycled PET is one of the most exciting eco-conscious fabric choices available on the market today.  The fabric starts out as used plastic containers in the recycle bin. The PET products are sorted out, crushed, pressed into bales, shredded and then refined into PET flakes. The recycled flakes are identical to newly produced PET flakes in their chemical composition, but they do have a few extremely important differences. It takes two-thirds less energy to manufacture products made out of recycled plastic, 90% less water and 50% less certain chemicals.

 

At first glance, making clothing out of plastic bottles instead of bamboo or organic cotton may not seem very eco-friendly, but consider this- The United States consumed over 5.6 billion pounds of PET plastic containers in 2007. Choosin to buy garments made of recycled PET over more resource-intensive fabrics (synthetics or otherwise) is one way to help reduce this imposing mountain of plastic in our world. Flexible, weather-resistant and long lasting, PET fabrics can also be surprisingly soft and supple, while maintaining favorable insulation properties.