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Organic clothing materials

Cotton Clothing

Cotton is almost exclusively grown using the most intensive methods and accounts for a staggering one third of world pesticide use. More than this, chemicals have to be used to scour off the fibres waxy outer layer to allow dye retention, raw cotton is bleached white with chemicals like chlorine, and cotton crops can be genetically engineered to resist the bollworm pest. Conventionally produced it's a nasty product!

A small proportion of the world's cotton crop is 'organic', meaning it is free of chemicals and pesticides, or 'green' which generally means that no chemical finishes have been used. Unbleached cotton may have been grown with pesticides so this label means little else.

Bamboo Clothing

Bamboo clothing will become a 'must have' item because of it's remarkable natural characteristics: it’s as soft as cashmere, naturally wicks moisture, is naturally antibacterial, is highly breathable, stays cooler in heat, warmer in the cold and is the most environmentally friendly raw material on earth, even when compared with organic cotton. These qualities combine to offer a new level of luxury and comfort, in a sustainable and ethical way. In Paris, Le Monde is calling it "A Textile Revolution". Find out more about bamboo clothing.

Hemp

A once vital crop that has fallen into disfavour, with the final nail in the coffin being driven in by the anti-drug lobby. Now making a comeback due to its remarkable nature, outgrowing weeds so no pesticides are needed, and being highly resistant to pests, its high yields make it the crop to watch in the future. Politicians should note that crops grown for fibre contain virtually none of the active substances that have made marijuana so popular.

Linen

Having been pushed into the background by synthetic fibres Linen is now starting to reclaim a tradition going back to Roman times. The fibre flax plant grows more quickly than cotton and needs less chemical weed control. It produces a strong, dirt resistant fabric that is exceptionally cool in summer.

Eco-fleece

It takes 25 plastic 2 litre bottles, a cunning reclamation process and hey presto you get a rather natty fleece pullover. Not exactly organic but it sure beats stuffing more plastic into a landfill.

Find organic clothing reatilers in the UK.