So, you’re looking to buy organic clothing and create a healthier, non-toxic, planet-friendly wardrobe?

But… you’re not quite sure what “organic” means in the fashion world?

It’s OK, you’re not the only one and you’ve come to the right place.

Organic clothing, once the reserve of hippies and uncontacted tribes, has burst into the mainstream in recent years.

But in a world of greenwashing where you can slap a “eco” label on just about anything, is “organic” just another meaningless trend?

Firstly, I’m proud of you for caring enough to search the internet for the truth about organic clothing. 

Secondly, I can confirm that organic clothing can be legit. 

But it can also be misleading and, in some cases, plain fraudulent.

 

What is Organic Clothing?

The word “organic” in organic clothing refers to how the fabric has been produced — from the farming methods to the manufacturing processes.

Let’s use cotton as an example as it’s one of the most common natural fabrics used in clothing.

Cotton is grown on bushes or shrubs, which are planted and cared for by cotton farmers.

This requires the use of seeds, soil, compost, mulch, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. 

All of these inputs can either be organic (natural) or synthetic.

Organic cotton is grown using organic inputs and farming methods, including non-GMO seeds, organic compost, natural fertilizers, and bio-pesticides.

For cotton to be legally sold as “organic”, it must be grown on a farm that’s certified to the local government’s organic standard, which can vary between countries.

Once cotton is harvested and leaves the farm, it undergoes intensive processing before it’s made into clothing, which includes cleaning, bleaching, scouring, dyeing, weaving, finishing, and manufacturing.

This involves the use of chemicals and dyes that can also be organic or synthetic. Unfortunately, this part of the process is largely unregulated. 

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the best standard we have for independent certification of the entire supply chain.

Under this standard, a finished item of clothing can be labeled “organic” if 95% of the fibers used in its production are organically grown.

 

What are the Most Common Organic Clothing Fabrics?

The most common natural fibers used in organic clothing are:

• Cotton: Grown on shrubs and bushes
• Linen: Made from the stems of flax plants
• Hemp: Made from the stalk of low-THC cannabis plants
• Wool: Shorn from sheep, usually in the Spring
• Silk: Made from the cocoons spun by the larvae of the silk moth 

There are other natural fibers used in clothing production, such as bamboo, modal and rayon, that undergo intensive chemical processing, making organic certification impossible.

 

Why Choose Organic Clothing?

Health Reasons

Reduced Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

You’re wearing your clothing over your body’s largest organ — your skin — so you’re doing your health a favor by going organic. Some of the synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers used in farming were previously used as nerve agents in chemical weapons of war and are designed to kill insects and organic life in the soil. Not to mention all of the nasty chemicals used in the production process of non-organic clothing, like PFAs, phthalates, flame retardants, and synthetic dyes that are known to cause cancer and disrupt your hormones. You’re better off without that stuff anywhere near your skin.

Health of Farmers and Workers

By buying organic, you’re also contributing to the health of organic farmers and their workers who don’t have to expose themselves to the harmful chemicals used in modern agriculture. There are limited incentives for farmers to switch to organic practices so your support goes a long way.

 

Environmental Reasons

Sustainable Farming Practices

Organic farming methods promote soil health, water conservation, and biodiversity, which makes it a more sustainable choice for consumers.

Reduced Pollution

Synthetic chemicals used in farming don’t only pollute the natural plants and fibers used in clothing, they also pollute the surrounding environment. Organic farming reduces toxic runoff into waterways and protects local ecosystems.

Lower Carbon Footprint

While not a requirement for certification, organic farming often relies on renewable energy sources and reduces carbon emissions compared to conventional farming. This is more climate-friendly and better for the planet.

 

Social Reasons

Fair Trade Practices

Many organic clothing brands also adhere to fair trade principles, ensuring better wages and working conditions for farmers and workers. Social conditions are actually part of the Global Organic Textile Standard certification, but not all organic clothing brands adhere to this standard.

Animal Welfare

With organic fabrics like wool and silk, the animals involved are treated more humanely without the use of hormones, antibiotics, and other potentially harmful inputs and practices.

 

Quality and Comfort

Feel Good Fabrics

Wearing organic clothing not only feels good for your conscience, well-made organic clothing feels really good on your body. The natural, toxin-free fibers are soft, breathable, and comfortable. Often, legitimate organic clothing brands put more care and attention into the production of their garments than low cost, fast fashion brands. You can feel the quality difference.

 

Market Impact

Supporting Ethical Business Practices

Supporting organic farmers and businesses with your dollars encourages the fashion industry to adopt more sustainable and ethical practices. Without market demand, there’s little incentive for the industry to move in this direction. Every dollar you spend on organic clothing is a vote for all of the health, environmental, social and quality benefits above.

 

Is ‘Organic’ Clothing Legit?

Yes and no.

There absolutely are legitimate organic clothing brands (see some of our favorites here).

But there’s also a lot of greenwashing and “fabric fraud” in the fashion industry. 

One of the major issues with organic clothing is it can be hard to trace the raw fibers from the farm all the way through the supply chain.

So while fabrics may be organically grown, it’s possible they can be mixed with non-organic materials and processed with toxic chemicals and dyes.

Loose regulation, third-party inspections, and unverifiable documentation means regular cotton can be passed off as organic cotton.

There have been cases of high-profile brands being exposed for fabric fraud — saying their clothing was organic when it wasn’t.

And there are other cases where brands use GOTS-certified fabrics, but have them printed or processed in non-certified factories.

So how do you know if organic clothing is legit?

Price is one indicator. If your favorite fast fashion brand is selling an organic t-shirt for the price of a McDonald’s combo, you may want to dig a little deeper.

Good quality, legitimate organic clothing comes at a premium.

Also, brands that are truly committed to organic principles tend to be more transparent about where they source their cotton and who their suppliers and manufacturers are.

Most of them will be Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified. While that’s not 100% foolproof, it’s the best standard we have.

There are also independent media outlets, like Wholeternative, that investigate, rate, and review brands, according to ethical standards. Good On You and Ethical Consumer are a couple we like a lot.

One other thing, if you see large, multinational, fast fashion brands selling “organic” clothing, you have every right to be skeptical. 

Even if some of the cotton in their collections is organically grown, this is probably offset by the majority of the cotton and other fabrics in the collections that aren’t. 

That’s not to say to write-off big brands. They should be recognised for every step they take in the right direction. 

However, if you’re looking to buy legitimate organic clothing, smaller, boutique brands with heart are the way to go.

How to Identify Organic Clothing