When choosing organic clothing and textiles, it helps to reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides, and in turn, protect the health and the planet. It is easy to understand the hazards of such clothing on our skin, which is the largest organ of our body.
2. CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• HISTORY
• IMPORTANCE OF BEING ORGANIC
• CRITERIA FOR BEING ORGANIC
• PROCESSES
• TOWARDS THE GREENER PLANET
• ADVANTAGES
• TOXICITY PROFILE
• DISADVANTAGES
• TOP TEN REASONS TO GO ORGANIC
• APPLICATIONS
• QUALITY STANDARDS
• DESIGNERS
• TOP BRANDS
• MARKET SCENARIO
• MAJOR PLAYERS
• CONCLUSION
3. INTRODUCTION
• Biodiversity!
• The aftermath of ENDOSULFAN.
• UN „s(United Nations) global ban
• Gwalior Rayons Factory : Sulphuric acid, the pH of the water
to below 4.0 and the fishes will die of acidamia causing
bicarbonate loss in the body fluid.
• Chemicals in action
• Polluting soil and water systems, clean water supplies, health
and biodiversity.
• Presence in clothing and textiles, through which people are
exposed to toxic chemicals with known health risks.
4. INTRODUCTION
• The effort to be environmentally responsible
• Less harmful to the environment than non-organic.
• COPENHAGEN, Climate Change Summit, Denmark
• What is Organic Clothing?
• Made from organically produced material implying produced
through agricultural practices that do not make use of
pesticides and other toxins. Organic clothing is the one that
has been produced in a way that is less harmful to the
environment than non-organic.
• Right from the farm through the manufacturing
• Without exposure to any harsh chemicals.
• Demand for organic products.
5. INTRODUCTION
• How to identify?
• For an item to be organic, it must be grown and processed
without the use of synthetic or artificial fertilizers, hormones,
medications or chemicals.
• Health and the planet
• Organic Clothing helps to reduce the use of toxic and
persistent pesticides, and in turn, protect the health and the
planet.
• Hazards of clothing on our skin, the largest organ of human
body
• Certified Organic
• Grown according to strict uniform standards
• Verified by independent state or private organizations.
• Inspections of farm fields and processing facilities,
• Detailed record keeping
• Periodic testing of soil and water to ensure that growers and
handlers are meeting the standards which have been set.
6. HISTORY
• Natural organic sources
• For most of the human family's time on this planet clothing
was derived from natural sources such as animal skins and
hides.
• Invention of internal-combustion engine.
• Nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides
• Revolution in farming
• The organic movement
• England,1920s, voice against these farming trends.
• After World War II, large-scale irrigation, fertilization, and the
use of pesticides became common practice.
• Launch of the era of widespread pesticide use. Ammonium
nitrate, DDT.
• Green Revolution ,1944. Sustainable agriculture , 1950
• IFOAM : The International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements , 1972 France.
7. IMPORTANCE OF BEING ORGANIC
• Carbon dioxide, CO2
• A cotton t-shirt blended with polyester can release
approximately one quarter of its weight in air pollutants and
ten times its weight in carbon dioxide.
• The difference of being organic
• Each organic fiber t-shirt we buy eliminates the use of 150
grams of agricultural chemicals. It takes approximately one
pound of chemicals to grow three pounds of conventional
cotton, while organic cotton is grown chemical free.
• Biodegradable
• Biodegradation or Biotic degradation or Biotic decomposition
is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria or other
biological means
• A stronger next generation
• Growing popularity of organic children‟s clothing, bedding,
baby food, and personal care products.
8. CRITERIA FOR BEING ORGANIC
• According to GOTS, key criteria for processing and
manufacturing include.
• At all stages through the processing organic fibre products
must be separated from conventional fibre products and must
to be clearly identified.
• All chemical inputs (e.g. dyes, auxiliaries and process
chemicals) must be evaluated and meeting basic requirements
on toxicity and biodegradability/eliminability.
• Prohibition of critical inputs such as toxic heavy metals,
formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, functional nano particles,
genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their enzymes.
• The use of synthetic sizing agents is restricted; knitting and
weaving oils must not contain heavy metals.
• Bleaches must be based on oxygen (no chlorine bleaching)
9. CRITERIA FOR BEING ORGANIC
• According to GOTS, key criteria for processing and
manufacturing include.
• Discharge printing methods using aromatic solvents and
plastisol printing methods using phthalates and PVC
are prohibited.
• Restrictions for accessories (e.g. no PVC, nickel or
chrome permitted, any polyester must be post-consumer
recycled from 2014 onwards)
• All operators must have an environmental policy
including target goals and procedures to minimise waste
and discharges.
• Wet processing units must keep full records of the use of
chemicals, energy, water consumption and waste water
treatment, including the disposal of sludge. The waste
water from all wet processing units must be treated in a
functional waste water treatment plant.
10. CRITERIA FOR BEING ORGANIC
• According to GOTS, key criteria for processing and
manufacturing include.
• Packaging material must not contain PVC. From 1st
January 2014 onwards any paper or cardboard used in
packaging material, hang tags, swing tags etc. must be
post-consumer recycled or certified according to FSC or
PEFC.
• Technical quality parameters must be met (s.a. rubbing,
perspiration, light and washing fastness and shrinkage
values)
• Raw materials, intermediates, final textile products as
well as accessories must meet stringent limits regarding
unwanted residues.
• Minimum social criteria based on the key norms of the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) must be met
by all processors.
11. PROCESSES IN ORGANIC CLOTHING
• Processes in Conventional Clothing
• All stages of the conventional garment manufacturing process,
except for the spinning process, rely upon a blizzard of
synthetic chemicals, many of which are toxic.
• Polyvinyl alcohol is often used as a sizing to make the yarn
weaveable. Harsh chlorine is used to bleach and whiten.
Fabric is scoured, cleaned and de-pigmented with sodium
hydroxide, heavy metal salts and cerium compounds in
preparation for dying. Dyes often contain heavy metal
impurities, chrome mordant and formaldehyde-fixing agents.
Some Azo-based dyes (Azo dye group III A1 and A2) shed
carcinogenic aryl amines.
• Finishing is the last step of the manufacturing process and it
is here that the last remnants of the natural fibers are paved
over with harsh chemicals. A urea-formaldehyde product is
frequently applied to cotton fabrics to reduce shrinkage and
wrinkling.
13. ORGANIC DYES
• LOGWOOD: Referred to as Natural Black #1, logwood requires a
mordant to develop the color and to fix the organic dye. With a tin
mordant, logwood gives hues in the reddish violet to the purple
range. With an alum mordant, it gives purple to blue-purple
colors. With chrome, it gives blue toned charcoal hue.
• HEMATINE: As mentioned above, hematine is produced from
logwood and therefore is also referred to as Natural Black #1.
There are several grades of hematine, but all are used to dye
natural fibers. Hematine‟s most specific use is for the dying of silk
to be used in medical sutures.
• WALNUT CRYSTALS: Naturally brown in color, walnut crystals
are produced from peat. Its chemical name is Natural Brown #12
and walnut crystals are used in dying various natural fibers and
paper.
• FUSTIC: Commonly called Natural Yellow #11, fustic is used for
dying many natural fibers, and is commonly used for dying
leather.
14. ORGANIC DYES
• BRAZILWOOD: Brazilwood generates an earthy red tone that
can be readily used for dying leather and other natural fibers.
Generally called Natural Red #24.
• MADDER: Madder‟s leafy tops sprawl untidily over the ground
and their clusters of tiny yellow-green flowers are insignificant.
• HARITAKi: It is green in the natural colour and it cures all
diseases.
• CUTCH, CUTECHU: The dyestuff known as cutch or catechu is
an extract usually made from the heartwood of Acacia catechu. It
yields orange-brown dyes.
• INDIGO: It produces an extensive range of beautiful blue shades
has made it the most successful dye plant ever known.
• TURMERIC: It is the source of the familiar yellow color of many
Asian curry dishes.
• POMEGRANATE: The edible pomegranate fruit yields a ocher-
yellow dye and the skins are rich in tannin, which improves
colorfastness.
15. ADVANTAGE OVER NON ORGANIC CLOTHES
• Non-Alergic
• Eco Friendly
• Durability
• Sustainability
• Less soil and water contamination
• Increase soil fertility and biodiversity
• Fewer health hazards for farmers, manufacturers, and
consumers
• Contribution to the mitigation of climate change by avoiding
energy intensive mineral fertilizers which, therefore, minimizes
the emission of the green house gas N20 from fields and increases
soil organic matter contents
• Increased income for farmers due to organic premiums and
reduced input costs
• Reduced vulnerability of farmers‟ livelihoods:
16. TOXICITY PROFILE OF ORGANIC CLOTHING
• The reality
• Most of the toxicity occurs in wet processing
• The current processing standards for organic materials.
• The conventional textile production process uses
approximately 8000 chemicals throughout the process to
produce a final textile product.
17. DISADVANTAGES OVER NON ORGANIC CLOTHES
• Non availability of natural resources
• Deforestation and urbanization are major factors for the
scarcity
• Troubles in cultivating the resources without the
application of the pesticides
• Natural substitutes for the fertilizers have to come in place for
a rich harvest.
• Less number of producers in the market
• There are not much manufacturers focused on Organic
Clothing compared to the non-organic clothing. It is in its
emerging form.
• Price concerns
• Organic products are comparatively high than non-organic. It‟s
not economic to replace the low cost chemicals/pesticides with
natural substances. The reason why it is costly is, the dyes and
yarns used in making organic cloths are costlier.
18. TOWARDS A GREENER PLANET
• Energy and Environment
• Organic systems use 50% less energy. A study by Canadian
scientists has found that diversified organic farm systems cut
energy use by up to one-half. The research compared energy
use on high-input conventional farms with reduced input
conservation farming systems and organic systems.
• It found that total energy use was highest on the farms using
high levels of inputs such as nitrogen fertiliser and pesticides,
while energy use was 50% lower under organic management.
• The Organic Exchange is a non-profit business organization
focused on creating environmental and social benefits through
the expansion of organic agriculture. The first project focuses
on transitioning 10% of the world‟s supply and demand of
cotton to organic cotton within 10 years.
19. TOP 10 GOOD REASONS TO GO ORGANIC
• Organic products meet stringent standards
• Protect future generations
• Organic farms respect our water resources
• Organic farmers build healthy soil
• Organic farmers work in harmony with nature
• Organic producers are leaders in innovative research
• Organic producers strive to preserve diversity
• Organic farming helps rural communinties healthy
20. APPLICATIONS
• Organic Baby’s wear, Yoga wear
• Yoga wear- Organic clothes for exercise. It is a well known fact
that organic clothes are comfortable, absorb moisture, and draw
heat away from your body. Thus, opting for 100% organic clothes
while going for the exercise could sooth you and nature as well.
• Baby clothes - Organic baby clothing has becoming a lot more
well-known these days. We have seen an extensive use of organic
baby clothing. This is due to the fact that babies are more
sensitive as compared to grownups
22. APPLICATIONS
• Herb infused organic clothing
• Each strand of yarn is infused with hand-picked natural
ingredients such as pomegranate seeds, turmeric, lemon, basil,
etc. Infused herbs could exhale into skin, making feel
refreshed, rejuvenated, and jovial.
• Home furnishings
• Toys & Stationary items
• Note cards
• Personal care items
23. QUALITY STANDARDS
• Standards set by govt., set by non-profit organizations
• GOTS : GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARDS
Maintaining the integrity of organic fibres from farm gate to
final product, the Global Organic Textile Standards are the
most recognised international benchmark by which organic
textiles standards are assessed.
• IFOAM
INTL. FEDERATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MOVEMENTS
iFOAM is an international agricultural umbrella organization
for the world‟s organic certification bodies. It currently unites
more than 750 member organizations across 108 countries.
• OTA : ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION
Founded 20 years ago and touting 1500 business members, the
OTA is working to expand its influence from agriculture and
foods into organic textiles and body care products. The OTA
invested five years developing “The American Organic
Standards for Fiber Processing” standard and it is still
undergoing modification and revision.
24. QUALITY STANDARDS
• SOIL ASSOCIATION ORGANIC STANDARD
The Soil Association in the U.K. developed organic textile standards in
2003 that were closely based on criteria established by the International
Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).
• “ORGANIC GUARENTEE" comes in the form of organic certification.
Independent Organic Certifiers, who represent the consumers, audit
producers regularly to verify that the organic standards are complied
with. BioGro is New Zealand‟s leading organic certification agency.
BioGro is one of 15 IFOAM Accredited Certifiers
• USDA- UNITED STATED DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The USDA National Organic Standard Seal not only shows your
ongoing commitment to a healthy planet but assures consumers and
buyers that your product meets stringent USDA organic certification
requirements, thus will make your product more marketable and
profitable.
25. QUALITY STANDARDS
• MTS- MARKET TRANSFORMATION TO SUSTAINABILITY working
The „Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS)‟ has
developed the Unified Sustainable Textile Standard which attempts to
establish standards that address what MTS calls the triple bottom line
of economic, environmental and social performance for all aspects of the
supply chain – from the acquisition of raw materials and natural
resources through manufacturing to shipping and transportation of the
finished garments and textiles.
• The MTS Unified Sustainable Textile Standard examines
garment sustainability in five areas of sustainability:
• 1. Safe for Public Health & Environment,
• 2. Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency,
• 3. Material, Biobased or Recycled,
• 4. Facility or Company Based,
• 5. Reclamation, Sustainable Reuse & End of Life Management.
26. QUALITY STANDARDS
For each of these five areas of sustainability, the sustainable
impact of the garment is monitored across 12 categories:
• Global Warming,
• Acidification,
• Ozone Depletion,
• Eutrophication,
• Photochemical Smog,
• Human Health,
• Ecological Toxicity,
• Fossil Fuel Depletion,
• Habitat Alteration,
• Criteria Air Pollutants,
• Water Intake,
• Solid and Hazardous Waste.
27. DESIGNERS
• Indian Designers
• Digvijay Singh,
• Joyjit Talukdar,
• Anita Dongre,
• Rahul Misra,
• James Ferraira,
• Aneeth Arora,
• Jason and Anshu.
• International Designers
• Eviana Hartman
• Miguel Adrover
• Clodagh
29. MARKET SCENARIO
The clothing industry is a $7 trillion industry worldwide. It has been
plagued with accusations of worker exploitation, child labor and
environmental pollution. As a result, sales of organic clothing have been
growing at a rate of at least 11% per year. Today, it is possible to be well
dressed and environmentally conscious.
GROWTH IN 2010
• Sales of organic products fell 5.9% to £1.73 billion in 2010 with the
rate of decline slowing significantly throughout the year, according to
2011 Organic Market Report. The UK retail market for organic
textiles (including fully certified and products containing some fibre
that was grown organically) grew 7.8% in 2010.
• The shoppers spend more than £33 million a week on all things
organic, and that 86% of households now buy organic products. Dairy
products and fresh fruit and vegetables are the most popular
categories, accounting for 30.5% and 23.2% of sales respectively.
Multiple retail accounted for 72.3% of the organic market in 2010.
30. MARKET SCENARIO
WHEN THE MARKET WAS HIT BY RECESSION
• Sales grow 35% for certified organic textile businesses: New research
by Soil Association Certification reveals that the turnover of their
organic textile licensees grew a whopping 35% in 2010, reaching
£12million and defying the recession
OUTLOOK FOR 2011.
• The outlook for 2011 is cautiously optimistic. Despite fragile
consumer confidence in the wider economy, the report shows positive
signs of resilience and recovery for the organic sector overall. The
biggest success stories were sales of organic beef (up 18%), organic
baby food (up 10.3%) and organic textiles (up 7.8%).
• Although sales through multiple retailers fell by 7.7%, to £1.25
billion, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer anticipate modest growth for
2011, while Tesco, Sainsbury‟s, Morrisons and the Co-operative
predict level sales year on year.
31. MARKET SCENARIO
THE INDIAN RETAIL SCENARIO
• The concept of organic clothing is new to India; it gained popularity
with the launch of designer Anita Dongre‟s label 'Grassroot', the eco-
friendly clothing line showcased at Wills India Fashion Week.
• Madura garments recently launched its new organic range for its
brand Van Husen.
• Sports brands like Nike and Timberland, have started using organic
fabrics, to some extent, in their sportswear. Also, designers like
Katherine Hamnett and Stella McCartney use organic cotton in their
designer outfits. Levis is about to launch its organic line for male and
female denims called Levis- Eco in India, which is already present in
the US market.
• Bangalore based Zeme Organics and Ludhiana based UV&W are also
retailing organic clothes through their exclusive brand outlets as well
as multi-brand outlets, across India.
• The domestic market for organic clothing opened in November 2008
when recession had a comparatively stable front. That was the best
time to have a fresh approach towards a novel idea.
32. MAJOR PLAYERS
ORGANIC CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS
• Prizma Tekstil - Certified organic cotton garments production for
private labels by order.
• Decent Exposures- Intimate garments pants, tees, nightshirts, Only
some items are made of organic cotton
• Natural High Lifestyle - A california lifestyle brand featuring
clothing and accessories, designed in sustainable natural fabrics.
• Onno Textiles - Onno Textiles manufactures hemp, bamboo and
organic cotton t-shirts.
• Zeme Organics - Zeme Organics Pvt.Ltd sells eco friendly organic
cotton clothes.
• Nixxi - Nixxi's aesthetic is fusing contrasts: structural lines with
casually draped silhouettes; soft knits with textured wovens; simple
refined classics with edgy contemporary cuts.
• Katrinelli - 100 % organic cotton products. The dyeing, pressing, and
stitching processes are performed exclusively in Germany. GOTS
certified.
33. MAJOR PLAYERS
ORGANIC CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS
• Aravore- The Aravore range is made from fairly traded organic cotton
and organic merino wool. Beautifully made and incredibly soft, each
item has its own particular charm and identity. Soft, dreamy colors,
simple shapes and extraordinary detailing have become Aravore‟s
trademark.
• EcoZuzu- An eco-hip Californian brand with an eco-celebrity
following. Ecozuzu clothing is all about being cool, comfy and
conscious. An ideal mix of style and edge.
• ParKo Textiles - Supplier of certified organic cotton clothing for
women, men and children. Natural, organic cotton, yarns, fabrics and
garments.
• Natural Fashion - Natural Fashion is a family owned and operated
organic textiles manufacturer. We specialize in custom clothing in
large orders composed of organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and soy.
• Organics for Kids - Organics for Kids - Beautiful clothes for babies
and young children made exclusively from organic textiles
34. MAJOR PLAYERS
ORGANIC OUTLETS IN BANGALORE
• ZEME ORGANICS
#1025, Ground Floor, 13th Main, 3rd Cross,
Indiranagar, Bangalore -560008 Karantaka.
• PARI’S M2B
No 1029/41, 27A Main, 100 ft Ring Road,
9th blk, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560 069. Tel: 22452258
• MOTHER EARTH
Intermediate Ring Raod,
Domlur( OPP IBM), Bangalore
• MOMING
73, 2nd Cross, 2nd Main,1st Block,
Koramangala, Bangalore -560034,Tel: 41666614
• STUDIO MOM
475, 13th Main,3rd Block ,
Koramangala. Bangalore -560034. Tel: 25536640
35. CONCLUSION
• Organic clothes were marked as uncomfortable and unappealing till
recently, but now they are becoming a part of the fashion scene.
Many designers are coming out with eco-friendly attire, which will
add to their success. The style range is lesser than that of normal
cotton clothes but its catching up as new designs and merchandise
are being developed to keep pace with the rising demand for
organic clothing.
• Quality has a vital role than how apparel looks or functions, which
also includes the way it affects the living environment, the planet
and the quality of human life. This means working with such type of
materials and processes that minimize the negative impact on
environment and thereby relieve the overburdened planet. The
awareness among consumers grows which is beyond any doubt that
there is a promising future for organic clothing.
