why organic?

Cotton is the world's most popular fabric and the roughest on the environment to grow. Cotton accounts for about 25% of all pesticide use. It has been estimated that 50 million pounds of pesticides are used in a year just on U.S. cotton fields. Each t-shirt made requires about ¼ pound of harmful chemicals. These chemicals deplete farmland of nutrients and pollute watersheds that, in turn, pollute rivers and streams.

Organic cotton is produced without synthetic fertilizers, harmful pesticides, harsh chemical bleaches or dyes and is allergy-free. Using natural fertilizers, crop rotation, beneficial insects like ladybugs, organic cotton requires less irrigation, builds strong soil and promotes a healthier environment for farm workers and consumers.

What does organic cotton mean for your baby?

  1. Feels softer because it isn’t roughed up by harsh chemicals used in farming and processing
  2. Smells cleaner because it isn’t finished with formaldehyde
  3. Eases allergies with absence of chemicals and increased breathability
  4. Shows them you care about their health, the planet and future generations
Learn more at www.ota.com/organic/mt/organic_cotton.html.

Hemp

Hemp is the stalk of a plant and has no hallucinogenic properties. Marijuana refers to the flowers of a plant in the same family. Hemp is easy to grow, needs no pesticides or herbicides, can be harvested in about 100 days and does not require the harsh chlorine bleaching that cotton does. On top of that, hemp fibers are stronger, more durable, rot resistant and more comfortable than cotton. That’s why, for centuries, hemp was used for many industrial and commercial uses all over the world. Unfortunately, hemp’s similarities to marijuana have made it a banned substance for U.S. farmers. Some of that tide is turning but slowly.

Imagine a fabric that is strong, holds its shape (so no stretching), gets softer with age, takes color like no other fabric, stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter and you’ve got hemp. With its antibacterial properties, it won’t hold onto unpleasant odors either.

Imagine your child’s comfort with clothes made from hemp.

Hemp Factoids

  • Can produce 250 times more fiber than cotton
  • Produces more per acre than any other fiber source
  • Needs no pesticides, fungicides or herbicides
  • Leaves soil in excellent condition for future crops
  • Preserves topsoil and discourages runoff
  • Does not exhaust the soil
  • Blends easily with other fibers for beauty and style
Learn more at www.thehia.org/hempfacts.htm.

Bamboo

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and is almost as strong as steel. Resistant to drought and drowning, this amazing grass offers one of nature’s softest and healthiest fabrics. It is naturally anti-microbial. This makes it ideal for babies’ tender skin and for those sensitive to allergens. Like hemp, bamboo takes up little space and requires no pesticides or fertilizers to grow. Amazingly, bamboo never needs to be replanted!

The fibers of bamboo are naturally porous, so they absorb moisture and wick it away from the skin. This keeps you cooler and drier and resists odors that other fabrics would acquire. Though it may look and drape like silk, bamboo is machine-washable and resists wrinkling naturally. Superior absorbency means that bamboo diapers trump cotton ones AND they’re less bulky.

Learn more at www.bamboofabricstore.com.