Anyway, I thought it would be a funny play on words for the organic items I'm going to be working on soon. One reason for this post today is to introduce what I have learned about organic fabrics. I think we sometimes jump on the bandwagon when we start hearing a buzz about something and I am one of those people who refuses to get on that wagon until I have done my research.
So, this is what I know. I have always used natural fabrics for Little Bitsys, cotton, hemp, linen. I just like them better and it seems like babies and kids should wear things that are natural. Organic as defined by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB):
"Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony."
So organic natural cotton uses sustainable growing methods and a great website to look at which will give you tons of easy to read informatino is the Sustainable Cotton Project. The Care What you Wear Campaign lists these reasons for going organic:
TEN GOOD REASONS TO JOIN THE ORGANIC APPAREL CAMPAIGN
1:: The bottom line.
Large retailers are profitably incorporating organic cotton into their garment - either with one hundred percent substitution or by blending with conventional fibers.
2:: Proven business models
Associated Students in Chico, California, and Patagonia in Ventura, California, are just two examples of companies who have pioneered the organic cotton market and are sharing their experience with the Sustainable Cotton Project.
3:: Consumer preference
Market analysts report that consumers expect corporate responsibility as a matter of basic business practices. Organic cotton is a great way to implement it.
4:: Forthcoming regulations
Possible bans on the most toxic agricultural chemicals, as well as potential regulations about labeling on genetically engineered products, point to the need to develop sustainable, practical solutions for cotton.
5:: Quality product differentiation
Most consumers who care about the environment also care about quality; organic cotton fibers provide the opportunity for market differentiation, particularly among companies with a high quality brand image.
6:: Motivate youth and students
Campuses who have made the switch to organic cotton report that students are inspired, motivated and energized by the challenge.
7:: Environmental Leadership
Companies and campuses taking positions of environmental leadership are gaining market advantages.
8:: A Cleaner Approach
Each T-shirt made from one hundred percent organic cotton saves one-third of a pound of synthetic fertilizers and farm chemicals.
9:: An Industry Movement
The apparel industry stands poised to voluntarily raise its standards for materials by beginning to incorporate organic fibers into mainstream products.
10:: The farmers' daughters
Our farming and manufacturing methods can no longer compromise the environment we pass on to our children and grandchildren.
This is a lot to process. I strongly recommend everyone do some research about this industry.
Now, my philosophy is that it is hard to change the world all at once but every little bit we do personally helps. I cannot and will not stress out over not always buying organic, it is expensive and sometimes just can't be found. But here and there still helps I think.
The items I'll be working on will start with blanks from American Apparel's organic line, which have been certified . I will also use organic fabrics for applique from Near Sea Naturals, which offers a huge variety of organic fabrics and products.
DYES
This was the hardest subject to find information about. I use Procion MX dyes for cellulose fiber (cotton, linen, hemp, flax, etc.). This dye is permanent only after fixing it using soda ash. Soda ash (aka sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda) is used in glass making, and used in detergents to soften the water. For dyeing, it changes the pH so the dye reacts with the fiber, making a permanent connection that holds the dye to the fiber. It can be found naturally in the environment. Using it at home in small quantities is probably not harmful to the environment but large quanities are controlled and cleaned before releasing. The dyes themselves do not seem to pose a threat to the environment when released, though they contain heavy amounts of metals so industrial dyeing is controlled.
What about natural dyes? Well, in my research of natural dyes, the mordants used to bond these to fiber are much more dangerous to use and the effort is more time-consuming so I have decided to just NOT dye any of the organic pieces for now. It is possible to use natural mordants, but the effort is larger for someone like myself who is doing small batches at home. Nobody would be able to afford what I make if I had to throw in more labor to my products. Unfortunately. If you have any conflicting information, I am certainly not an expert, feel free to comment.
The thread, my labels and some other tiny amounts of fabric I might use will not be organic but all in all, I think the percentage will be about 95% organic.
This was not a real exciting post, eh? And no photos! OK, I'll throw one in just to be interesting. This is an original watercolor painting my grandmother made in 1960 in her travels through Europe. I just love this.
