The Organic Cotton Buzz.

The Organic Cotton buzz has been going on for quite some time now. A lot of people are interested and most of the people who ask for it barely know what it is. So I decided to do a little research and see whats behind 'Organic'.
The cotton industry is one of the biggest users of fertilizers and pesticides (more than 25% of the world, using only 3% of farmland!). One pound of pesticides and fertilizers are used to produce cotton that would make just 3 T-Shirts! So you can see how this would impact the environment.
Organic farming focuses on use of alternate methods for pest and weed control, soil enrichment, and other processing. Certification bodies like Control Union (SKAL) certify that the products are produced without the use of chemicals and fertilizers, by organic methods. They extend that certification further to the end products produced as well (eg. products dyed with organic dyes, because synthetic dyes are harmful chemicals too). This ensures that the consumer gets the benefits of using these products. Organic cotton is produced in various countries including Pakistan but the largest producer is Turkey. Please check this wonderful guide for more information including benefits, comparison with conventional cotton and other useful stuff.
Organic cotton is also blended with other fibers including Bamboo and conventional cotton.
And its not just about benefiting the environment, Organic products have a lot of direct benefits for us as well.
This detailed guide provides extensive information. Do go through it when you have free time :-)
And then there is Transitional Cotton and Green Cotton too! It is all about reducing the impact of harmful chemicals to the environment. We has a really big footprint on this planet and we need to re-evaluate our impact. "Organic" is not just a label or a certification, it is an idea and a vision, and a fast growing one too. Big Brands like Nike have already caught on and started converting to Organic products. Smaller ones are likely to follow. In the near future, expect a good proportion of your wardrobe to be Organic :-)