Traditional Cotton

Cotton is the most widely-used fabric in the world. It’s versatile, durable, light, and cheap. But this seemingly perfect material is actually far from perfect. In fact, the process of growing cotton and making it into clothing or textiles is extremely wasteful and dangerous. Hundreds of gallons of water are needed for just a pound of finished cotton. Harsh pesticides and fertilizers from cotton farms get into water supplies and onto peoples’ skin, causing death and all sorts of health issues. Not to mention the actual harvesting of cotton, which is mostly done by migrant workers in the United States and children in cotton fields overseas, almost all of whom live in and work in poor conditions.

The Cotton Process:

1. The cotton is cultivated, picked, packaged, and shipped to a ginning mill.

2. The cotton is then combed,cleaned, dried, fed, processed, and shipped to a spinning mill.

3. The cotton is then blended, spun,and shipped to manufacturer/printer.

4. The cotton is then dyed, knit, washed, and stitched together to make the garment. If there is a design, it is printed on the garment.

5. Any pockets are added, tags and labels are attached, and the garment is packaged and shipped to stores.

So, what’s all the hype about organic cotton? Click here to find out.