Are You a Fashion Victim? 10 Healthy Reasons to Avoid Toxic Fashion & Wear Organic

Have you ever heard the term “There’s more to that, than meets the eye”?
There are valid reasons why that statement often holds true.
From what we eat, to what we wear, looks can be deceiving.
Today, more and more people are realizing the benefits of choosing to their reduce toxic
exposure by eating organic foods as much as possible.
When you eat organic you’re:
• Keeping pesticides out of your body
• Helping to support smaller farmers
• Helping improve the environment by supporting environmentally friendly farming practices
• Ensuring you’re getting the most nutrients from your food
• Supporting the organic movement–every contribution helps increase awareness and improve
the planet.
But, your organic mindset and lifestyle doesn’t have to stop at food.
You should embrace organic clothing, cosmetics and personal care products, bedding
and home goods too.

“Every organic step you take and habit

you embrace supports your health,

environmental health

and a better planet.”

Ready to take your organic lifestyle to the next level?

Is Organic Clothing Right For You?

Organic clothing is a choice.
Just like eating fruits and vegetables every day is a choice.
Sure, you may know it’s better for you but the decision is still yours.
That said, there are certain people who may reap significant benefits from
the decision to buy/wear organic clothing.
They include people who:
• Have chemical sensitivities
• Have asthma or respiratory difficulties
• Have babies or young children
• Have a compromised immune function
• Want to save money (and still look great)
• Want to support a sustainable environment
• Want to support healthy farming practices for farm workers
• Want to maintain a balanced ecosystem
Does any of this relate to you, your family or what you stand for?

Why Buy Organic Clothing?

In fashion, as in life, looks can be deceiving!
You eat organic food because you want to keep your body free from harsh chemicals.

“These chemicals include pesticides, insecticides 

and chemical fertilizers.

These chemicals have been shown to cause cancer,

immune dysfunction, neurological disorders,

allergies and much more.

Guess what…

…those same chemicals are found on your clothing.

This results in chemicals on your skin,

in your water, in the foods you eat

and in the air you breathe.”

And regular every day cotton is one of the biggest contaminants.
In fact, more than 25% of all pesticides used in the world are involved with the
growth of cotton.
Annually, it equals to about 50 million pounds of chemicals each year.
This results in chemicals on your skin, in your water, in the foods you eat and in the air
you breathe.

Organic cotton is better for you because it isn’t grown using pesticides, insecticides or
chemical fertilizers.
Additionally, the treatment of clothing and the clothing manufacturing process is much cleaner with
organic policies and procedures.
No harsh dyes or chemicals are used to turn harvested cotton into a sweater, jeans, socks or a beautiful
evening gown.
There are many health benefits to buying organic clothing.
So far, we’ve mainly talked about organic cotton however, organic clothing is made from more
than just cotton.
Other fabrics include organic bamboo, hemp, soy, wool, silk and tencel(made from
wood pulp).
Like cotton they must all meet regulations set by the Organic Trade Association , GOTS and other organic
certification agencies.
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognized as the world’s leading processing standard for
textiles made from organic fibers.

“Organic clothing is a huge step toward preventing

death from pesticide poisoning.

According to the Pesticide Action Network of America,

PANNA, the World Health Organization estimates that

pesticides poison at least 3 million people every year.

200,000 of those people die

as a result of pesticide poisoning.”

10 Health Benefits of Buying Organic Clothing

#1. No Harmful Chemicals

No harmful chemicals are sprayed on organic cotton crops.
This means there are fewer chemical pollutants in the air we breathe.

# 2. Your Children Are Not Exposed to Toxins

A report by the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry indicates
that children exposed to methyl parathion, an insecticide, suffer memory loss
and emotional swings.

#3. Safer for Kids

When you buy organic clothing for your children they don’t absorb chemical residue
into their skin.
Children’s skin is more porous and sensitive than an adult’s.

#4. Fewer Allergic Reactions

Many people suffer from rashes and other skin conditions.
Much of the problem is the clothing they wear.
Harsh chemicals including formaldehyde and ammonia are used to treat cotton and
cotton fabrics.
Organic clothing doesn’t contain the harmful chemicals or dyes that can irritate skin.

#5. Avoid Formaldehyde

Reducing exposure to probable carcinogens is big deal for me.
Many items of cotton clothing are treated with formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is used to help make owning your clothing easier.
It helps prevent significant wrinkling and helps extend the life of the clothing.
(It’s the same reason they use it for embalming. The tissue lasts longer.)
However, formaldehyde is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
Wearing non-organic clothing then exposes you to a probable cause of cancer.

# 6. Avoid Toxic Pesticides & Herbicides

Many pesticides and herbicides have been shown to cause:
• Cancer
• Immune System Suppression
• Nervous System Disorders
• Reproductive Damage
• Hormone Disruption
You don’t experience these same risks when you buy and wear organic clothing.

# 7. Avoid Harmful Heavy Metals

Ammonia, petroleum products and even heavy metals are used during the clothing
creation process.
Heavy metals have been shown to cause cancer, nerve damage and death.
When non- organic clothing is treated with these chemicals they end up in your ground
water, air and soil.
They also end up on your skin.
Organic clothing reduces your exposure to these chemicals.

#8. Avoid Petroleum based Products

The majority of synthetic fabrics, including polyester and nylon, are made from products
derived from petroleum.
Like all petroleum-based products, clothing made from these fibers releases toxic
fumes through a process known as off-gassing.
You breathe them in on a daily basis.
When you buy organic clothing fewer chemicals are released into the atmosphere.
Fewer chemicals and toxic fumes end up in your lungs.
According to the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia, these fumes contribute
to allergies, chemical sensitivities, cancers and other illnesses, particularly in young children.

#9. Prevent Death from Pesticide Poisoning

Organic clothing is a huge step toward preventing death from pesticide poisoning.
According to the Pesticide Action Network of America, PANNA, the World Health Organization
estimates that pesticides poison at least three million people every year.
200,000 of those people die as a result of pesticide poisoning.
We still don’t know the full extent of the health risks, off gassing, toxins in your water and
on your skin may present.
However, scientists do know that the dangers to your health are very real.

#10. Less Chemical Runoff

Organic farming methods mean less chemical runoff.
This results in fewer pollutants in our soil and drinking water.

Why Be a Victim of Toxic Fabrics?

Buying organic clothing is much better for your health and the health of your loved ones.
In addition to receiving immediate benefit by reducing your exposure to toxins, you also reduce
the exposure for future generations.
When buying organic clothing the only way to really be sure you’re purchasing a truly
organic product is to lookon the label.
What is it made of? Who certified it organic?
According to the online retailer, Gaiam.com,

“If want to buy organic clothing and natural textile products

that don’t come with asterisks, look a little beyond the word “organic.”

Look for the GOTS logo or a combination of the agricultural and textile

certifications listed above.

Not all GOTS certified textile makers put the symbol on their labels or tags,

so if you don’t see it, ask the company whose brand name is on the label.

Look for terms like “low-impact dyes,” “low eco-impact manufacturing,”

“no chemical finishes,” “clay dyes” or “fiber-reactive dyes,” all more

eco-friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum-based

dyes and synthetic finishes.”

They also suggest reading the company’s website or asking a customer service rep
about the dyes and finishes they use, and how the company monitors what happens
to its fabrics and clothing after the fibers are harvested.
(Note: There is also some controversy about the environmental impact of organic cotton production.
That will be discussed further in another article in this series.)
All of the above leads to the realization that there is “a lot more to looking good than
meets the eye”!
Wouldn’t you agree!
But, you don’t have to sit idly by and be a victim of toxic fabrics.
Awareness is the first step to avoidance and prevention.
Stay tuned for more upcoming posts on this topic.
What are you doing to reduce your exposure to toxins in fabrics? Share your thoughts with us.
 
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