GOTS Fabric – A Beautiful Eco-friendly Choice!

GOTS Fabric – one step closer to living an organic, eco-friendly, and socially conscious life!

 GUEST POST BY: Melanie RG. She is a teacher, a scientist, and a seamstress who encourages her two children to get dirty exploring the garden while observing all the wonders of Nature. Follow her adventures in sewing, organic gardening, and homeschooling at theseedsof3.wordpress.com, download her free eBook – 7 Simple, Natural, Eco-Friendly Ways to Remove Unwanted Chemicals from Your Home, Medicine Cabinet, & Closet, and browse her handmade plush toys, baby items, baby clothing, and children’s clothing made with 100% GOTS certified organic fabric at www.handmadebytheseedsof3.com.

 

 

When I was young I worried about things most others my age did not. I worried the humpback whales would become extinct, all the trees in the rainforests would be cut down, and we would run out of fresh drinking water. Each week, I would save up my allowance, and instead of buying candy, magazines, or movie tickets like my friends, I adopted a humpback whale named Merlin, donated to the World Wildlife Federation, and I brought my lunch to school every day in a canvas sack that said “Today, I am Saving a Tree.”

Now that I am an adult, I purposely live each day consciously thinking about my impact on the planet and her precious natural resources. And, as a mother, I try to teach my children to always respect the Earth and the people who inhabit her.

When I decided to pursue my dream of opening a sewing shop, I wanted my products and my business to reflect my decision to live an organic, eco-friendly, socially conscious life. When it was time to choose a fabric source the obvious winner was Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton.

The GOTS label is the industry leader in setting the bar for organic fiber certification, but it doesn’t stop there. The GOTS label also includes requirements for ecological and social responsibility, in addition to the most involved quality assurance criteria on the market.

Some organic labels only mandate as little as 5% organic fiber content, but GOTS insists on a minimum of 95% organic fibers grown using internationally recognized organic farming methods.  I am assured that when I cut into GOTS fabric it has the highest organic fiber content available on the market.

While it is very important to me that the cotton fibers are grown without the use of pesticides, it is equally important that the dyes and chemicals used to create the wonderful patterns and colors on the fabric are not harmful to the planet or to my body. The skin is the largest organ on the human body, and any residual pesticides or chemicals in the fabric can be absorbed during wear. I am adamant about using only natural, chemical free beauty products so I do not expose my skin to harmful chemicals. I don’t want to absorb them through my clothing either.

GOTS goes beyond organic certification to ensure that once the fibers are harvested they are not soaked in toxic chemicals or harmful dyes.  They insist on the use of low impact, reactive dyes, which are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and require less water for processing.

All chemicals used must be non-toxic and biodegradable. This means no toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, chlorine bleaching, or phthalates are allowed anywhere in the fabric production.  The GOTS label also requires mandatory waste water treatments systems, meaning an extra level of assurance that there is no contamination of natural resources.  And, once the fabric is processed, any packaging material used must be recyclable.

Every step in the production of the fabric must be GOTS certified for the end product to carry the label.  The GOTS label stands for more than just upholding the highest standard of organic farming methods. It strives to ensure that the product from the first step of production to the last is organic, environmentally friendly, and conservation conscious.

The environmental impact of fabric production is very important to me, but not at the expense of the people making the fabric. I do my best every day to treat the planet respectfully, and I want to treat my fellow human beings respectfully too. Many fabric manufacturers employ child labor, or have inhumane working conditions. It is extremely important for me not to support any manufacturer that cannot treat its workers with respect.

The GOTS label, in addition to high organic, environmental, and quality assurance criteria, also carries strict social criteria. This meansno child labor, excessive working hours, discrimination, low wages, or inhumane working conditions are allowed. Living wages and regular employment are provided, and working conditions must be safe and hygienic.

When I use GOTS fabrics, I know I am heeding my decision to live an organic, eco-friendly, socially conscious life. The GOTS label means not only that I am getting a superior quality organic textile, but am also supporting a global movement where protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and upholding acceptable social criteria are just as important as growing the cotton plants organically.

For more information on the GOTS label, visit www.global-standard.org