We have all heard about the benefits of Organic Cotton from an environmental and sustainability point of view...
To start with we want to set the scene and give some background on regular Cotton production.
Cotton has been used to make clothing for at least 7000 years and is now one of the largest natural fibres to be used in the garment industry. Today, cotton is grown in over 85 countries, and uses 2.5% of the world's arable land.
According to Cotton Inc, 60% of women's clothing contains cotton and 75% of men's.
Cotton has earned a nickname of the ‘dirtiest crop’. It requires heavy amounts of pesticides 80% of which are considered moderately to highly hazardous by the World Health Organisation.
Only 13% of the World's cotton is grown sustainably
Our skin is the largest organ of the human body. We try to look after it the best we can; we use sun creams to avoid UV damage, we moisturise to avoid dryness and reduce signs of aging etc.
Though, what if we told you that your clothing could be damaging your skin AND your health?
Your skin absorbs what it is exposed to; including the clothing you are wearing day-to-day. Who knew?!
When wearing regular cotton, those harsh chemicals and toxic dyes do not disappear once the clothing is made. In fact, they get dirtier. These toxins get absorbed via our skin and enter the body.
A recent Rodale Wellness article refers to studies linking agricultural pesticide and plastic usage as potentially triggering food allergies, obesity and even Alzheimers. Note, this is not just from eating foods that contain these harmful toxins, this is also from wearing the material against your skin.
Due to the Organic Cotton being grown without toxic pesticides and insecticides, your skin will not be exposed to these chemicals when wearing Organic clothing.
Organic Cotton is hypoallergenic which means it is far less likely to cause a reaction or irritation to the skin. This makes it the perfect choice for those of us with sensitive skin.
The individual fibres from the plant are longer than regular cotton as they have not been damaged, this gives the Organic clothing a softer, comfier feel. It is also a breathable fabric, so is still comfortable in warm weather as it doesn’t trap heat and allows moisture to evaporate. This means it retains odor less than synthetics and other materials and...here's a bonus... you can wash it less! Strong yet soft.
Organic Cotton is one of the best materials for our skin. Why not introduce it into your wardrobe and give your skin a treat!
Image: Pinterest
The utmost care was taken in creating this post, but we still encourage seeking out other verifiable sources and exercising good judgment.
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