Here are the reasons for the growth of organic clothing globally.
We are past the phase where buying organic products is associated with status and luxury. Today, people are conscious about their health and environment, which has led to the growth of the organic industry. Be it skincare or clothes or food, all big brands and conglomerates have a subsection that caters to the niche audience who consume organic products. As retailers realized, consumers love the organic option and brands that offer ethical fashion; they saw an opportunity to fulfill the requirements.
Organic cotton production is growing by 10 percent globally, according to reports from 2017 to 2018. The growth is set to continue and accelerate the industry. In the world where fast fashion is always in demand, there’s a new change that opposes it because of its damaging and harmful characteristics. Fashion is the second most polluting industry, and fast fashion releases a lot of CO2 and greenhouse gas which is hazardous for the environment. It also destroys the soil and consumes massive levels of water. In contrast, organic apparel causes no harm to the environment. The water consumption is less, the soil can be reused, and the usage of chemicals is kept to a bare minimum. It’s not the best way to harvest, especially for mass production but that’s what makes it environmentally-friendly.
Apart from the environmental benefits, other advantages drive the growth of the organic clothing industry. When it comes to organic cotton, the softness it gives is incomparable. Organic cotton apparel for babies is also thriving because parents are aware of the harmful effects of chemical residues on the clothes. As their skin is delicate and porous, a lot of pediatricians and parents opt for organic clothing. In the process of manufacturing organic clothing, there are no or only safe amounts of pesticides used, making the lives of farmers easier, better, and safer. Brands that exclusively offer organic clothes mostly ensure the farmers get a fair share of the money. Over the years, the procurement of organic cotton has increased to fulfill rising demands.
The manufacturing and production cost of organic clothes is 5 percent higher than regular apparel. Considering today’s standard of living, this doesn’t make much difference in economically great countries like Australia, China, etc. This means higher margins and a fair share of income for retailers and agriculturalists. But in a country like India, the penetration for organic clothing is not deep, and it’s still picking up. In fact, India is one of the major contributors to organic cotton. However, overall, the benefits of organic clothing outshine the value on the price tag.
The other organic fabrics include jute, wool, silk, hemp, and more. Though with the existing climatic conditions and global warming, there is a decline in organic farming, a few countries like the United Kingdom and Germany have done exceeding well in this industry.
Take away: The organic industry has immense potential and scope as ethical fashion is a trend and necessity.
I am Andrea Michael, a post-graduate in humanities and communications, and an inquisitive person who loves writing. I’m working for Tiny Twig and my forte is digital marketing and everything that has to do with phones and screens. I am someone who believes that one person can make a change, and that’s precisely why I took up writing, which is the best tool to communicate these days. I have a decade of experience in writing and marketing, and I still find myself learning new things about it, which I want to share with my readers.
