Archive for the 'Organic' Category
Who would ever imagine that the best pajamas can come from the bamboo plant? These are pajamas made from bamboo fiber that has a long list of advantageous qualities. Bamboo fabric is light and strong. It has excellent wicking properties. It also has some antibacterial and antifungal properties.
All these qualities are carried over to the finished product. Bamboo pajamas, beddings or towels will certainly retain these characteristics. Using bamboo fabric in any form of apparel has other advantages. There is no worry about their biodegradability. We can be sure that we will not run out of materials. All we have to do is keep planting bamboo grass.
You may already know that organic cotton baby clothing is a healthy fabric choice for your baby. But other than having a personal style preference, how do you decide between the growing number of organic clothing lines coming into the market place?
Read what the manufacturer’s label says about the clothes.
The clothing label should say 100% certified organic cotton. If you are buying online, these words should be on the website in the “about us” section or in the product description.
Some products will say natural or organic on the packaging, but when you look at the tag it says 100% cotton (not organic). In some cases the cotton is blended with a synthetic fabric such as polyester. Polyester is not organic.
The 100% organic label means the cotton was grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers and using sustainable farming practices. The clothing item itself will also be free of toxic fabric finishes containing formaldehyde and dioxins.
Examine the fabric of the clothing.
The fabric of organic cotton baby clothing should be thicker, more flexible and softer than traditional cotton. The clothing will also wash better and last longer.
Organic clothing will probably not be stark white, unless it has undergone some type of bleaching process. Cotton can grow naturally in many colors, including white, yellow, green, brown, pink and even mauve. However, organic white cotton has a vanilla, or yellowish tinge to it.
Organic cotton clothing can also be dyed safely. The dyes should be low impact or herbal (plant-based).
Prints and screens on t-shirts and body suits should be made with inks free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The chlorine-based chemicals can react with the other chemicals used in the manufacturing process and create dioxins and other toxic compounds. Water-based inks and pigments are a safer alternative.
Buttons and snaps should be made with pvc-free and nickel free materials.
Look out for cute sayings like “all natural” and “organic baby.” This doesn’t mean the garment is organic. You have to read the tag.
If you still can’t decide, look at how the company demonstrates its commitment to a healthy planet for our children.
Organic cotton is not just healthier for your baby but it’s also good for long-term health of the soil and our planet. In addition to maintaining organic certifications, established companies are able to spend the dollars to join and support associations that hold them more accountable to the principles of organic farming. Examples include the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and IFOAM.
Fair Trade Certification ensures that the workers and farmers who produce the cotton, or sew the clothes supplied to them are given fair wages and good working conditions. In other words instead of getting goods from a sweat shop their company is helping to boost the economy in a developing nation in Africa, Asian or Latin America.
Another way organic baby clothing companies can stand out is by supporting charitable or social causes that promote the health of children and the environment.
There was a time when bamboo was just for stir-frying and panda feed. Now the Chinese grass is used for everything from hardwood flooring to baby clothes.
Made from the pulp of bamboo which is separated into thin fibers that is spun into yards or woven into cloth, bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial as well as chemical and allergen free since it does not require any pesticides or herbicides. As soft as silk and with a similar drape, bamboo fabric is also super absorbent, wicking away moisture from the skin and keeping its wearer cool in the summer and warm in the winter, making it one of the most comfortable fabrics around.
But bamboo clothing doesn’t just feel great on your skin, it’s also a great choice for the environment. Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources our planet has to offer. Growing up to one foot every 24 hours, it yields 50 times as much fiber per acre as cotton and produces up to 40% more oxygen than a typical hardwood forest.
Increasing in popularity at a rapid pace, organic baby clothes are quickly becoming the choice of eco-minded parents. Why?
One of the foremost crops grown for use in clothing production is cotton, but because cotton is not a food crop, pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals used on it are not regulated. In fact, 7 of the 15 pesticides that are regularly used have been labeled as potential or known carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency. Then during the process of converting raw cotton into clothing, chemicals are added to the product. For example, when cotton is spun into yard it receives a polyvinyl alcohol coating which makes it easier to weave the fabric together. Then to create finished goods, fabrics are whitened with chlorine bleach, colored with toxic dyes and finished with formaldehyde.
Organic cotton, on the other hand, is grown without pesticides and spun without chemicals, resulting in pure, natural and more breathable products for sensitive skin. Organic baby clothes are soft, thick and luxurious due to their natural fiber composition and are even sturdier and longer lasting than thinner conventional cotton clothes, which become worn out more quickly from wear and washing. If you’re a new parent, start your baby off right from the very beginning with high-quality organic baby clothes.
Swaddling is the age-old practice of snugly wrapping your baby in a blanket for security and warmth. Itâs great for calming newborns because it approximates the secure environment of the womb. It can also help babies sleep longer because it calms their natural startle reflex. You can find swaddling blankets or wraps that are flat and need to be wrapped manually, easy Velcro wraps, or stretchy body socks that can slide over babiesâ bodies.
Organic baby wraps and swaddling blankets are best for babies because the fabric is softer and more durable than conventional fabric. Also, you can be sure with organic wraps that your baby is not exposed to harmful pesticides and dyes. You can also be sure that the production of your babyâs wrap did not hurt the environment. Start your baby off right with safe, Earth-friendly comfort.
If youâre looking for the perfect gift for the mother of a new baby girl, look no further than Baberoo organic cotton socks. These socks have different colored designs on them so it looks like baby is wearing sweet Mary Jane shoes. Theyâre the hottest socks around, and any little girl would be proud to wear them. Plus, theyâre organic and soft for babiesâ tender feet.
Organic baby socks are made without pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. Toxic chemicals that are used for processing conventional cotton can leave residue on the finished product, which can then irritate babiesâ sensitive skin. Baberoo uses only the cleanest and purest materials, so baby is comforted with warm feet that arenât irritated by harmful chemicals. Be sure to pick up a set for your next baby shower or for that special momâs due date!
As our most important investment, children deserve the best we can provide. Young children cannot control their surroundings â the people they meet, the foods they eat, the images they see on TV â so itâs important for caring parents to make the most informed decisions possible. These decisions extend into the realm of clothing, as well. Believe it or not, certain materials could prove harmful to your baby.
From the time they are planted, some cotton crops are practically drenched with pesticides. These crops are manufactured into linens that could cause health problems. Chlorine bleach is a popular whitening agent, and remnants of the stuff could cling to cotton products even after they reach the marketplace. Organic baby clothes are fashioned from 100 percent organic cotton, which is never treated with bleach or touched by pesticides. The difference could mean your babyâs health and happiness.