About Organic Fabrics
ORGANIC COTTON- “FROM FIELD TO FASHION”
Organic cotton is cotton grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment while growing of conventional cotton uses harmful chemicals and pesticides which disturbs our ecosystem. Organic production systems replenishes and maintains soil fertility, reduces the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and builds biologically diverse agriculture.
Textile industry has proved to be one of the largest polluters of our ecology. Around a quarter of the world’s insecticides and 10% of the pesticides are used in growing conventional cotton. Astonishingly, nearly 8000 chemicals are used to turn raw material into clothes, towels, beddings and items that we use on our skin everyday. Extensive use of chemicals is causing poisoning of thousands of workers involved, often resulting in deformity and deaths. WHO has confirmed that 9 of the most common pesticides used in agriculture are known cause of Cancer.
On the other hand, raw materials for Organic Cotton have no prohibited agro chemicals and the production of textile articles are without pre-treatment like bleaching, synthetic dyeing/ printing. Even the packing materials used are eco friendly. These are all checked and certified by recognized agencies at each stage, starting from the farm till the final product and its packaging.
END USE OF ORGANIC COTTON
• Personal care items – sanitary products, make-up removal pads, cotton puffs and ear swabs.
• Home Furnishing- towels, bathrobes, sheets, blankets, bedding, quilts
• Children’s Products –Toys, Diapers
• Apparel- Children, Ladies & Men
Silk’n Fab is a GOTS certified unit for all types of organic fabrics.
The process involved in certifying this cotton is as follows
1. Farm / Crop Certification- Certifying Bodies takes care of this through field certifiers who are always part of farm groups, preferably cooperatives.
2. Gin Cotton Certification- Crop Produce are large sized hence transactions of sale of organic gin cotton are certified in form of transaction certificates by certifying bodies
3. Spinning/ Weaving Certification- Spinning/weaving are to be conducted in segregated environment so as not to mix conventional or pesticides contaminated cotton. Hence separate areas are earmarked for such work & further a transaction certificates are issued for traceability of organic process.
4. Processing- Washing/ dyeing is only allowed using low impact/low salt dyes which are tested /certified by the certifying bodies.
5. Packing – Use of only PVC free packing material are permitted
6. Fair Trade- Certification includes the compliance of stringent internationally established labor standards. It also ensures that all in the Organic chain are guaranteed a fair price.
ADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC COTTON
• Organically grown cotton introduces fewer toxins into the eco system
• It replenishes & maintains soil fertility.
• Organic fabrics benefits the users as it is free of harmful allergy causing chemicals.
• Farmers live in a safer and healthy environment in the absence of harmful insecticides and pesticides.