First of all, let's determine what "organic" really means. There are many different standards out there, and like organic food, some of the standards tend to get fudged.
For Psyched Life® Activewear, I wanted a more scrupulous standard. After meticulous research I chose the gold standard in organic clothing, the Global Organic Textile Standard (or GOTS).
GOTS is recognized as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers (click here for more info). The environmental standards they hold manufacturers to are just about as eco-friendly as you can get, and the social-responsibility requirements mean no child labor or crap wages.
We can’t have an eco-friendly world if some people are being exploited. GOTS strives for transparent and reliable standards that begin with the seeds; continue through the farming, harvesting, spinning, weaving and sowing; and end with you, the one who will be enjoying the final product. To provide credible assurance for the integrity of GOTS certified textiles, "on-site inspection and certification of processors, manufacturers and traders is performed by independent specially accredited bodies."
Every step of the way, your new favorite pair of jeans had a minimal impact on the environment and provided a living wage.
But seriously, why go organic?
Why go organic? That's a good question. I'm going to be honest, I don't own much organic clothing. The majority of my clothing come from thrift stores. "What!?" you might say, but they have some great deals and it's just another way to "reduce, reuse, recycle."
With food, the benefits of going organic are fairly obvious. I was never a fan of ingesting pesticides and insecticides. The benefits of wearing organic clothes on the other hand is a little less obvious, after all, you don't eat your clothing. The reality however, of the staggering amount of toxic chemicals required to produce one pair of jeans, is horrifying.
The details are available from many reliable sources (just Google it), and listing the facts here would only have so much of an effect. Yes, it sucks that toxic chemicals used to grow cotton make it into drinking water and into the ocean and are causing very unfortunate health hazards around the world, but that is not something we see every day. It’s not something the large majority of us are affected by at all.
It's human nature to insulate ourselves from the pain and suffering of people we don't know. But this is not a side of human nature we can indulge or tolerate in ourselves. As compassionate, ethical, conscious consumers, we care about the lives of the people who make our clothing, and we want to vote for a better world with every dollar we spend.
After the research I have done, it is crystal-clear to me that people (all people) need to start the shift toward sustainable living. Clothing is a good start. Organic clothing lasts longer and is more durable. I believe it pays off in the end. Everyone needs clothing, and why not pay a little more to cast your vote for a better future?
PART II: Coming soon
Check out my IndieGoGo Campaign for 24.7 Jeans! Made from organic cotton, perfect for every adventure: Click Here.
