Cotton is one of the most commonly used materials in clothing manufacturing. This natural fiber has desirable characteristics such as softness, strength, and flexibility.
But did you know that conventional cotton is one of the most polluting crops in the world ?
Organic cotton is a more ecological and sustainable alternative. At Maéli, we've chosen to go even further and use undyed, natural organic cotton for all our new materials, and we'll explain why below 👇
But let's start by discussing some of the advantages of organic cotton.
♻️ More environmentally friendly:
Organic cotton is produced without the use of harsh chemicals: pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers, or GMOs. Conventional cotton farming alone accounts for a quarter of global pesticide use!
These products are harmful to the surrounding ecosystem and to the soil they affect. They require a significant amount of water to be properly diluted… When you consider that it takes approximately 2,500 liters of water to make a traditional cotton t-shirt (the equivalent of nearly 70 showers), this is not insignificant. Organic cotton thus helps to reduce the environmental impact.
♻️ Healthier:
Organic cotton is healthier for your skin because it's free of harmful chemicals. Conventional cotton clothing can contain residues of chemicals used during the manufacturing process, which can irritate the skin or cause allergies. Furthermore, organic cotton farming is more respectful of the people who work with this fiber, avoiding their exposure to harmful substances.
Why did we choose undyed, natural organic cotton?
Cotton is a plant fiber derived from the cotton flower. Once woven, natural cotton is ecru/cream in color. However, it is rarely used in this form in the textile industry.
To obtain a white t-shirt, the yarns are bleached, notably with chlorine dioxide. This technique produces dioxins and furans, which are persistent organic pollutants. Dioxin is also a mutagen, meaning it can promote the occurrence of genetic mutations.
- For a black, grey or any other dark colour t-shirt, the cotton is dyed using heavy metals such as lead and chromium, which are very toxic.
For decades, most dyes used in the textile industry have been chemical, derived from petroleum… This step is also one of the most polluting links in the manufacture of a garment, in many respects.
- For the environment: with the release of toxic waste, pollution of water near factories, and degradation of the ecosystem and drinking water
- For humans: for the health of workers who come into contact with harmful products, for families who live near polluted waterways. But also for us, consumers, who wear the clothes.
There are alternatives to chemical dyes, such as plant-based dyes! However, this process is not very industrialized today and is closer to a handcrafted technique…
At Maéli, we have therefore decided to opt for the use of undyed ecru organic cotton to produce our sweatshirts and t-shirts.
We work with French partners who supply us with GOTS* certified material, knitted in northern France. This organic cotton is first grown in Turkey (we couldn't find anything closer...), then woven in Europe (weavers are very rare in France, almost non-existent).
As you have understood, no chemical treatment is carried out on our main material.
We chose to bring in the touch of color we love so much with our upcycled fabrics ❤.
👚See our undyed ecru cotton t-shirt
* GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification is the main label for certifying organic cotton.
