When mixing art and love, Blue Fish Clothing considers the health of all, creating inspired pieces using organic cotton and natural fiber. A Blue Fish purchase is not only a gift to yourself, but a gift to the planet and society. Handmade and primarily sourced in the US, our customers invest in garments that serve the global soul. What is it that makes buying Blue Fish’s organic cotton, as opposed to conventional sources, so crucially important? These three reasons say it all:
1 Organic Cotton is more comfortable and healthier for YOU.
Conventional cotton products have been reported to cause allergic reactions, eczema and cancer. Organically-grown cotton is far more healthy and comfortable. Farmed and processed without the use of harsh chemicals, organic cotton is considered to be gentler on the skin. In fact, the high quality and comfort of organic cotton is exactly why the organic cotton industry is growing so rapidly. (1) Once you’ve enjoyed the incredibly luxurious softness of our organic cotton clothing, it’s all you will want next to your skin!
2. It’s better for the environment.
As with all organically-grown products, organic cotton farms use sustainable, agronomic processes that support the delicate balance of our shared ecological system. Conventional systems use input-heavy methods such as irrigation, genetic modification and pesticides, causing soil degradation and reduced biological diversity. In Central Asia, Lake Aral, the fourth largest lake in the world was drained to irrigate conventional cotton farms. Organic practices, on the other hand, select natural strains of cotton that work with the natural environment, thereby requiring less chemical support and limited resources. (2)
3. Organic Cotton is MUCH better for the people involved in production.
Conventional cotton has drastic social, economic and health risks for workers that farm and manufacture this plant and the product it produces. Of course, since conventional practices use toxic chemicals throughout the process of growing, processing and dyeing cotton, workers have suffered from a number of adverse side effects, but this is just one facet of the conventional cotton industry’s neglect.
The negative socioeconomic impacts on cotton laborers go even deeper. The monoculture farming and genetically modified seed used require an inordinately high use of chemicals and pesticides. These inputs are expensive for the farmer, dramatically diminishing his or her return on the crop. As a result, poverty has risen in communities where cotton farming is a primary means of earning a living. (2, 3) Due to these impacts, about 250,000 cotton farmers have committed suicide in India since the introduction of GMO cotton (3). Furthermore, conventional textile processing plants are known for problems like low wages, long working hours, discrimination and forced child labor. In “White Gold”, the Environmental Justice Foundation reports on the billion-dollar cotton industry its abuse of the country of Uzbekistan through environmental degradation and breaches of human rights (4). Although the certification of organic cotton does not directly address these issues, Organic practices are associated with smaller, more well-intentioned farms and institutions, reducing the control of corporations responsible for maltreatment.
Blue Fish was created to bring artful style and vibrancy to the lives of women everywhere. We continue to ensure that the integrity of this original motive is maintained – from cotton seed to Cafe Tee, Striped Light Weight Cotton Tee, Lightweight BF Legging or Summer Short Sleeve Studio Tee! We are proud to announce that Consumers Against Toxic Apparel (CATA), an organization that connects conscious consumers with sustainable fashion, is displaying Blue Fish outfits as a shining example of organic cotton styles in their Sustainable Wellness Home – a home located in Eureka Springs, AR dedicated to sustainable living and filled with organic products. In July, Blue Fish will also be showcased at CATA’s Live Happy, Be Pure! Gala & Organic Festival, showing again that fashion and conscious living do indeed mix, and quite fabulously!
Choose Blue Fish to align with the growing intention to support our collective future.
Written By:
Amanda Hessling
Sources
1 Baldwin, Peyton. “Why Organic Cotton is Better”. 2008. Mother Earth News.