Did you know that there are several types of cotton? Yes, yes, this is no joke. There's conventional cotton and organic cotton. But don't worry, we were a little confused at first too. That's why we're going to explain the difference between the two, so that you can see things a little more clearly.
Organic cotton in ethical fashion
First things first. When we talk about organic, we tend to associate organic farming with the agri-food sector. However, the notion of organic is also increasingly used in the textile industry. In fact, the concept of eco-responsible, organically grown clothing seems to be becoming more and more widespread among large and small retailers alike.
That's the mission we've set ourselves at Maison FT. If you didn't already know, we offer a range of 100% organic cotton ready-to-wear. And 100% incredible. Well, we're sure about the material, but we're working on the finish!
Let's get back to business. The textile industry is known for its heavy use of cotton. Cotton is one of the most widely distributed natural fibers in the world, with excellent resistance and weaving properties.
You'd think that because it's called " natural ", the manufacture of this natural fiber would be environmentally friendly and non-polluting. But beware. The fiber may be natural, but the manufacturing and transformation process is extremely polluting and environmentally damaging.
What's the difference between a conventional cotton garment and one made from organic cotton?
Conventional cotton
To grow conventional cotton, almost 10 times more chemicals are used than to grow vegetables. Then there's the water consumption, which turns out to be enormous. To help you visualize, a conventional cotton T-shirt requires approximately 2,700 liters of water, equivalent to 60 - 70 showers.
In addition to polluting our planet, chemical fertilizers are harmful to our bodies. Cotton bleaching and dyeing are carried out using toxic products such as extremely toxic heavy metals, which are hazardous to the skin and health of the workers who transform it.
This process is also problematic because it is carcinogenic, and can disrupt the role of the reproductive organs, leading not only to fertility problems but also to skin inflammation, eczema, heartburn, sore throats and many other serious symptoms.
As well as destroying the insect life around the crop, the pesticides used contaminate the water and can be a source of problems for the farmer and those who handle them. To give you an idea of the use of pesticides, 3% of the planet's land is devoted to growing cotton. This 3% requires 25% of the world's pesticide production. So it's fair to say that for a small plot of land growing cotton, pesticide use is enormous.
This type of cotton, known as conventional cotton, is the most common and widely used in the textile industry, as its low purchase price attracts consumers.
Organic cotton
When it comes to organic cotton, I think it's important to remember what organically grown means. It's an eco-responsible material that has been manufactured using materials that contain no pesticides, synthetic chemical fertilizers or GMOs in their cultivation or breeding.
Organic cotton can be defined in this way. It doesn't require the use of pesticides or GMOs, and is manufactured and processed with as few chemicals and heavy metals as possible.
Cultivated land is respected and maintained more gently. It respects the environment, is more sustainable and implements eco-responsible production.
Organic cotton is grown using natural compost, which oxygenates the soil and preserves its richness, while water consumption is halved compared with conventional cotton.
All the substances used are non-toxic and natural. In addition, organic cotton is softer, more supple and more hypoallergenic, because the seeds used are guaranteed GMO-free from the moment they are sown, and after harvesting, they are bleached with hydrogen peroxide rather than chlorine or carcinogens.
From a labor point of view, growing organic cotton improves workers' working conditions, their health and their surroundings.
The aim is therefore to move towards more responsible manufacturing and production, less dangerous for our planet but also for workers and consumers.
What's more, it requires slightly less water than conventional cotton. Yes, soil with fewer chemicals retains more water , because chemicals need water to be properly diluted.
Admittedly, organic cotton consumes about the same amount of water during processing as conventional cotton, but the difference is clear when it comes to cultivation. In the end, organic cotton consumes less water than conventional cotton.
However, the cultivation of organic cotton remains much more costly for retailers in the short term than conventional cotton. Fortunately, more and more major brands and young designers are focusing on the long term and recyclable materials. It's bound to take time, and not everyone will get on board, but we're sure of one thing: organic has a bright future ahead of it!
In short, organic cotton is the future of clothing. Of course, we can't be too radical and change an entire ecosystem overnight. But we think it's important to be aware of the major issues of our time and to propose alternative solutions. And we're happy to be part of this more responsible world in our own small way.
For the more visual among us, we've put together a little chart summarizing the notable differences between organic and conventional cotton:
"Through this article, we hope that you now have a more complete and detailed view of cotton and its production process, and that it can help you in your choice of products.
But being informed and aware of the consequences of transforming this fiber is already an important step forward, and then we'll let you decide what suits you best! So it's up to you!"
Want to know more about the environmental and ethical impact of conventional materials? We've written an article dedicated to this subject:
Conventional materials: ethical and environmental impact
Discover our range of organic cotton garments? Please visit our organic clothing collection !
Louise, Editor
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