Choosing organic cotton clothing lines is an important part of sustainable fashion.
These brands are not only better for your health, but they are also good for the environment!
The following article will give you a list of 21 cotton companies that produce high-quality and environmentally friendly cotton products.
What is Organic Clothing?
Before taking you through why cotton clothing is important within the fashion industry, let’s just go through what organic clothing actually is.
If something is organic, then it is made of organic materials.
In the case of clothing, this means that it was produced without using any harmful pesticides or chemicals that have a negative impact on the environment.
Organic clothing is also better for the environment as a whole because it doesn’t release any hazardous toxins into the air or soil.
For this reason, it is better not only for the environment but also for the health of the people creating the garments.
In addition to cotton, the materials you can expect to find in high-quality organic clothing include silk and wool.
Both of these materials are commonly found in organic cotton clothing lines, including the brands we’ll take you through in this post.
Why is cotton clothing important?
In order to answer this question, let’s put the environmental impact of fast fashion into perspective.
As of 2021, the fashion industry accounts for roughly 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This makes it the second-highest global polluter, second only to the oil industry.
For the production of cotton alone, this accounts for roughly half a million gallons of chemicals being used every year!
When cotton is harvested, it often releases dangerous chemicals into the soil that can pollute nearby waterways. These chemicals can eventually find their way back into our water systems.
Many clothing brands create large amounts of air pollution in textile manufacturing plants due to the use of bleaches during dyeing processes.
Some cotton garments are dyed with up to 2 gallons (10 liters) per garment!
These chemicals can cause health problems in those who are exposed to them, including cancer and respiratory issues.
For this reason, it’s important to support organic cotton, which is grown without using any harmful pesticides or chemicals.
Organic cotton clothing is made using sustainable methods, such as low-impact dyes and natural bleaches.
This helps to reduce the environmental impact of the cotton garment industry as a whole.
Is organic cotton better quality?
There is a common misconception that organic cotton is of a lesser quality than non-organic cotton.
However, this is not always the case.
Some cotton farmers choose to grow organic cotton because it is a higher quality crop.
Organic cotton is also less likely to fade and shrink over time. In addition, it is softer and more breathable than non-organic cotton.
This is because it is grown without using any harsh chemicals or pesticides.
You can expect organic cotton clothing to be of a higher quality than non-organic cotton clothing.
What is GOTS Certified Organic Cotton?
The best way to ensure you’re getting high-quality organic cotton clothing is to look for the GOTS Certification label.
The ‘GOTS’ in GOTS Certified Organic Cotton stands for Global Organic Textile Standard.
It is the highest global standard for organic textiles.
Organic cotton fashion brands you’ll feel good about
Now that we’ve covered what organic clothing is and why the use of sustainable materials in fashion is so important, we will take you through the global brands leading the way in this field.
The brands below work with fair trade certified factories, which means the workers in these factories are paid a fair wage and work in safe conditions.
Many of the brands also use sustainable methods for dyeing and printing their fabrics, helping to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry as a whole.
Patagonia
Patagonia is a sustainable clothing company known for its eco-friendly and sustainable approach to the fashion industry.
This brand manufactures organic cotton tees, jackets, and more.
Its line of GOTS Certified Organic Cotton products include men’s and women’s t-shirts as well as vests, pants, hats, and more.
Patagonia is a leader in the field of sustainability. The company has been a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition since its inception in 2009.
This coalition is made up of over 170 brands, retailers, and fair trade certified factories working together to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
Previously, the company has also pledged to donate 100% of its Black Friday profits to environmental groups.
Pact
PACT is an organic clothing brand that offers sustainable, organic cotton clothing.
The company is committed to using organic cotton in all of its products, which means they don’t use any harmful pesticides or toxic chemicals during the cotton’s growth process.
This helps reduce the environmental impact of cotton production and ensures that you’re getting high-quality cotton garments.
PACT uses low-impact dyes and natural bleaches to create eco-friendly clothes for men, women, and children.
They also offer an extensive range of styles including basics like t-shirts, jeans, skirts, dresses, and more!
PACT is dedicated to creating sustainable fashion with high-quality materials at affordable prices.
People Tree
People Tree is a clothing company that utilises organic cotton in its products. All garments from People Tree are GOTS Certified organic cotton.
The company ensures organic cotton is grown without using any harmful pesticides or chemicals. Furthermore, the materials used for dyeing and printing the organic cotton fabric are sustainable.
The fabrics are dyed using low-impact dyes and natural bleaches, which help reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry as a whole.
People Tree also offers organic/natural fabrics such as linen, silk, and wool.
Everlane
Everlane is a clothing company that prides itself on being transparent with its customers.
This means that the company is open about where its products are made, how much they cost to make, and the markup.
In addition to organic cotton, Everlane also uses recycled materials in its products.
The company manufactures a range of clothing for both men and women, including basics like t-shirts, jeans, and dresses.
Everlane also offers a range of sustainable materials like Tencel, which is made from sustainably harvested wood pulp.
All of Everlane’s products are ethically made in factories that meet high standards for worker safety and pay.
Ardent
Ardent is an organic cotton fashion brand founded in 2014.
All of Ardent’s products are made from organic cotton and use low-impact dyes.
The company is dedicated to creating sustainable fashion and offers a range of clothing for men, women, and children.
Ardent also uses natural fabrics like bamboo and linen in some of its garments.
Like many organic cotton fashion brands, Ardent uses organic and recycled materials in all of its products.
Alternative Apparel
Alternative Apparel is a clothing company that makes affordable organic clothing.
The company works with fair trade cotton farmers across the world to grow organic cotton while being conscious of the environmental impacts that this has.
All of Alternative Apparel’s organic cotton is GOTS certified organic cotton and isn’t grown using harmful pesticides or toxic chemicals.
In addition, the company uses low-impact dyes and natural bleaches for all its organic cotton products.
Alternative Apparel also offers organic/natural fabrics such as linen, silk, and wool.
In addition to organic cotton, it also uses recycled materials in its products.
The company manufactures a range of clothing for both men and women, including basics like t-shirts, jeans, and dresses.
Beaumont Organic
Beaumont Organic is a cotton clothing line that has been recognised as one of the best manufacturers for high-quality, sustainable fashion.
The company achieves this by using recycled materials and organic cotton in its products.
Beaumont Organic is committed to ethical manufacturing practices and factory inspection, which helps ensure it meets high standards for worker safety and pay.
This is part of the company’s dedication to creating sustainable fashion with high-quality materials at affordable prices.
Komodo
Komodo is an organic cotton brand based in Los Angeles.
The company works with GOTS Certified growers to ensure all of its products are made from the highest quality organic cotton.
All Komodo garments are 100% certified fair trade and manufactured within ethical guidelines, which means they’re sustainable fashion.
Komodo offers a range of clothing for men, women, and children.
It also uses recycled materials in its products.
This is part of the company’s dedication to creating sustainable fashion with high-quality materials at affordable prices.
Organic Basics
Organic Basics is a Danish company that makes sustainable basics for men and women.
The company is committed to using recycled materials in all of its products.
Organic Basics also uses GOTS Certified organic cotton, which is grown without harmful pesticides or chemicals.
In addition, the company manufactures all of its products within ethical guidelines, ensuring safe and fair working conditions for all of its workers.
This means they’re sustainable fashion essentials, offering stylish basics that will last you a long time and are good for the planet.
Indigenous Designs
Indigenous Designs is a recycled cotton fashion brand that makes affordable organic clothing for men and women.
The company works with GOTS Certified organic cotton growers to produce high-quality sustainable clothing.
In addition, Indigenous Designs uses recycled materials in all of its products while ensuring worker safety across the supply chain.
This means they’re a producer of sustainable fashion essentials, offering stylish basics that will last you a long time and are good for the planet.
No Nasties
No Nasties is an Australian organic cotton fashion brand that makes stylish and sustainable clothing for men, women, and children.
The company was founded in 2013 with a commitment to making organic cotton fashion that was stylish, affordable, and good for the environment.
All of No Nasties’ products are made from GOTS Certified organic cotton and recycled materials.
In addition, the company manufactures all of its products within ethical guidelines, ensuring safe and fair working conditions for all of its workers.
Organic Cotton FAQs
Understandably, there are many questions surrounding organic cotton and its use to make items adhering to sustainable fashion.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, with answers to help you understand more about it.
What is organic clothing made of?
Organic clothing is made from a number of organic materials, including cotton, wool, and hemp.
Organic cotton is made from cotton that has been grown without the use of pesticides or harmful chemicals.
This makes it a more sustainable choice for clothing than conventionally grown cotton.
Who produces the most organic cotton?
The country producing the most organic cotton used to make organic clothes is India.
It is also the country that consumes the most cotton in general, using 20% of all produced worldwide.
Other large-scale cotton-producing countries include the United States, China, and Pakistan.
Is 100% organic cotton good?
Yes, 100% organic cotton is often considered the best option due to its high quality.
However, some companies combine recycled materials with organic cotton to make their products more affordable and sustainable.
When this happens, the product can (sometimes) no longer be considered 100% sustainable.
What is bad about organic cotton?
There is no one answer to this question, as the environmental impact of organic cotton depends on a number of factors.
However, some people argue that organic cotton is not always more sustainable than conventionally grown cotton, as it can require more land and water to produce.
Furthermore, organic cotton does not always have a smaller carbon footprint than conventionally grown cotton.
Is all organic cotton GOTS?
No, not all organic cotton is GOTS certified.
GOTS certification ensures that the cotton is sourced in ethical ways and is recycled or recycled upcycled.
It also ensures fair working conditions for workers throughout the supply chain.
Not all organic clothing that you purchase will meet the global organic textile standard, so be sure to look for this when purchasing from any sustainable clothing brand.
What does recycled cotton mean?
Conventionally grown cotton uses large quantities of fertilizers and pesticides to grow, which can create harmful air pollution during harvesting and farming.
This makes recycled cotton an environmentally friendly option that also saves on resources while reducing pollution.
Why choose recycled materials?
How you choose to spend your clothing budget should be about more than just price; it should take other factors into account as well, including sustainability.
Recycled materials are not only environmentally friendly, but they help to reduce the amount of waste produced by the fashion industry.
Buying recycled materials sends a message to brands and retailers that you care about sustainability and want them to produce more sustainable products.
Is organic cotton hypoallergenic?
Organic cotton is a natural fiber, so it is hypoallergenic.
This means that it doesn’t cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to certain materials.
What is the difference between recycled cotton and recycled polyester?
The main difference lies in what they are made from.
Recycled cotton comes from recycled clothing, while recycled polyester uses recycled plastic bottles to create a new material called PET.
In general, organic cotton is considered more sustainable than recycled materials due to its lower environmental impact.
Organic Cotton 101: Summarising What We’ve Covered
We’ve covered a lot in this post, so let’s recap on some of the key points.
- Organic cotton is made from cotton that has been grown without the use of harmful pesticides or chemicals. It is better for the environment than materials used in fast-fashion.
- 100% organic cotton is often considered the best option due to its high quality.
- The GOTS certification ensures that the cotton is sourced in ethical ways and meets the highest quality and ethical standards.
- Buying organically sends a message to brands and retailers that you care about sustainability and want them to produce more sustainable products.
- There are dozens of brands producing with organic cotton farming companies. You now have the option to purchase recycled fabrics and other forms of clothing responsibly.
We hope this post has been useful and that you now feel confident in your ability to make more sustainable fashion choices!
If you have enjoyed reading this, please share it with your friends and family, as well as on social media.
Be sure to check out the brands in this article via the links provided and continue to shop sustainably!
