Have you ever thought about how your shirt was made, how long it took to make and all the tiny fibers that it takes to make up your entire shirt? Well when you put thought and research into it you will find it takes a large amount of water, energy and labor to develop textiles that make up garments. 15 million tons of used textile waste is generated in the United States each year. One of the leading textiles that the United States creates is cotton.
As many of us know, the fashion world is one of the biggest polluting industry causing an obscene amount of energy and waste from all aspects of the supply chain. As a consumer it is important to understand how your clothing is made and the fibers that go into the garments you have hanging in your closet. One of the most common fibers that clothing is made out of is cotton. Many people believe that since cotton is a natural fiber it is automatically more sustainable than other fibers. However, that is far from the truth. Cotton is grown with a vast amount of pesticides and genetically modified processes to make the best cotton that harms the environment. From the farming of the cotton to the manufacturing and processing it takes 10,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton. To reduce the amount of pollution and waste caused by conventional cotton it is important to be shopping and buying products made from 100% organic cotton. What is organic cotton? Organic cotton is cotton that is grown in a more sustainable way by not using genetically modified seeds or pesticides. There are many technologies that go into processing the cotton that are more sustainable. These technologies include using less water, less heating and less waste of agriculture. These technologies allow for the cotton to be used by itself and not mixed with man-made fibers that cause the cotton to not be recyclable or biodegradable. To learn more about the technologies and organic cotton view cottonworks.com. This is an educational company working to educate and bring awareness to sustainable cotton. https://www.cottonworks.com/topics/sustainability/cotton-sustainability/ How do you know if your clothing is made from organic cotton? If you are wondering if the clothing you have sitting in your closet is made with organic cotton there are a few ways to check. First is to look on the tag if it is made from 100% organic cotton it will state that. If it doesn't, check the other ingredients if there are man-made textiles like polyester blend or spandex most likely your shirt is not sustainable. Polyester and spandex are man-made fibers that are very damaging to the planet and build up the waste in the fashion industry. 100% organic cotton can bring the same comfort that spandex and polyester do. It may be more expensive but the lasting quality is worth it. Another way to check to see if your clothing is made from organic cotton is by a simple google search. Look up the company you bought it from and research where they manufacture, are they fast fashion, what is the price of the garment. If the garment is on the pricier side and not from a fast fashion company, made in the United States, odds are the shirt is more sustainable than others in the market. Places to shop that sell 100% organic cotton clothing:
To learn more about how these companies are working to build a more sustainable fashion industry visit this link: https://goodonyou.eco/know-your-product-a-quick-guide-to-organic-cotton/ It can be daunting to think deep about the meaning of the clothing you wear everyday but, your favorite shirt or the shirt you’ve never worn had a huge impact on the environment that you never thought twice about. Switching out your basic pieces for ones made with sustainable cotton will drastically reduce your carbon footprint. The price may be scary as well but the quality will last a lifetime, even when you are done with the garment. About the Author: I am a senior at Washington State University studying fashion merchandising and communications. As an individual who is entering a very polluted industry I want to have an impact on creating a more sustainable world and lowering the pollution in merchandising. There are so many small and affordable steps to create a more sustainable lifestyle. I am passionate about the outdoors and I want the beauty of nature to remain beautiful. -Mallory Dickman Strive Urban team member References: https://goodonyou.eco/know-your-product-a-quick-guide-to-organic-cotton/ https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/clothing/cotton-farming-water-consumption/story https://www.cottonworks.com/topics/
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