The Benefits of Organic Cotton & Why We Use It For Our Pyjamas
What Is Organic Cotton?
Organic cotton is cotton grown in a more sustainable and fair way, without the use of pesticides, herbicides or any other harmful chemicals. Organically grown cotton is considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly materials available, and it has a number of benefits for both people as well as the planet.
In this article, we will give you a brief overview of the history of cotton, what's so good about organic cotton and why we prefer to use it for our mens sleepwear range. Enjoy!
Image Below: Organic Cotton Field (source: Unsplash)
The History of Cotton
We know a lot about the past and our history but no one really knows how long humans have used cotton textiles. It's safe to say it's been around for many many decades at least.
The oldest piece of fabric cotton was found in graves and city ruins in Huaca Prieta in Peru and dates back to about 6000 BCE, possibly used for clothing. We also know that cotton fabric was known to and used by the ancient Romans.
Image Below: Traditional Textile Weaving Loom (Source: Unsplash)
The cotton industry was revolutionised in the 18th century, when a man by the name of Eli Whitney began working on a machine that would make it easier to separate the cotton fibres from the seeds. The Cotton Gin/Engine which Eli Whitney invented is today seen as one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution. The Cotton Gin also made cotton the most popular crop in America.
However, today we know that there are several problems with conventional cotton production. The use of pesticides and herbicides caused serious environmental damage, and the chemicals used to treat the cotton crops often resulted in health problems for farmers, workers and their families.
In response to these concerns, a number of organisations began campaigning for a more sustainable cotton production and organic cotton was first used in the 1930's. Hurray!
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) was founded in 1985 specifically to promote sustainable agriculture practices, including organic cotton farming. In 1990, OTA published an environmental handbook which outlined the benefits of organic cotton and provided guidelines for producers.
Since then, the sustainable cotton industry has bloomed and grown rapidly. Organic cotton is now grown worldwide and you can find it in many products ranging from clothing such as t-shirts and nightwear to accessories and furniture. There are now over 250 certified organic cotton producers around the world and annual sales of associated products exceeds $500 million.
Benefits of Organic Cotton
There are many good features about organic cotton compared to old fashion cotton and synthetic materials. Below we will talk about the three main benefits of using, buying and wearing cotton which has been produced in an organic way.
Better for The Environment and The Farmers!
Today, we all need to do what we can to protect the environment, help each other and save the earth that we all share and love!
Cotton produced in a more sustainable way is better for the environment because the farming practices do not use any harmful chemicals or pesticides, which can damage the environment. In contrast, conventional cotton production causes serious damage to soil, water and air quality.
Organic farming practises tend to require less water to grow than conventional cotton. Cotton crops also absorb carbon dioxide more generally when compared with other types of textiles and natural fibres.
Pesticides and herbicides used in conventional cotton production can cause health problems for farmers and their families. Organic farming practices do not use any harmful chemicals or pesticides, so it is safer for farmers and their families.
Better for Your Skin and Health!
It has been shown that clothing made by cotton produced in an organic way is better for individuals with allergies and/or sensitive skin. This is because, like mentioned before, organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides. Because of this, the cotton retains its natural softness, which makes it the perfect material for pyjamas, bath robes and any other clothing designed for comfort!
Organic Cotton is also great for anyone with sensitive skin or for smaller children because it’s hypoallergenic and won’t irritate your skin like synthetic material can. It’s also great if you have allergies or eczema as it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that could cause irritation.
Organic cotton also has a higher fibre count compared to conventional cotton, which makes it more durable and less prone to pilling (the formation of small balls on the surface of fabric). A general thing to keep in mind when buying clothing, such as pyjamas is that organic cotton is both softer and healthier for you than conventional cotton and synthetic materials!
Image Below: White Organic T-Shirt from Drift Sleepwear.
Super Soft and More Comfortable, Resulting in a Good Night's Sleep!
Apart from being softer, organic cotton has also shown to be more breathable than standard cotton and synthetic materials used in many clothing items such as polyester, nylon or spandex for example.
Organic cotton sleepwear can also help reduce heat and sweating by allowing a better airflow around the body, which prevents sweat and moisture from happening on warm summer nights and days.
So if you want super soft and breathable clothing, like pyjamas. We would definitely recommend nightwear made of organic cotton!
Drift Sleepwear and Our Organic Cotton Pyjamas for Men
Image Below: Panama Organic Pyjamas Bottoms from Drift Sleepwear
Our pyjamas are designed for comfort using only premium materials that are soft, breathable and lightweight. We also care about how these materials were made and their impact on the environment. This is why we've made the decision to replace non-organic cotton with organic cotton throughout our pyjama collection. This change will take time to implement, but we are committed to it and know that this is another step in the right direction.
Summary
After reading this article, we do hope it is clear to everyone why we choose to use organic cotton for our pyjamas and sleepwear for men.
To summarise, you should choose clothing made by organic and sustainable cotton next time you go on a shopping spree because:
- Organic cotton is the most environmentally friendly way to produce cotton. And these days, we all need to do what we can to save the planet!
- Sustainable cotton farming practices do not use any harmful chemicals or pesticides, so it is safer for both the farmers, workers and the people who will wear it.
- Clothing made by cotton produced in an organic way is better for individuals with allergies and/or sensitive skin because of its softness, breathability and absence of harmful chemicals or pesticides in the farming and growing process.
Image Below: Panama Organic Pyjamas Shorts from Drift Sleepwear
We also so want to make it earlier for you, as a consumer, to make good decisions when it comes to shopping for pyjamas! We are using sustainable grown organic cotton because we we want to leave the Earth better than we found it.
Want to checkout our website and read about all the good things we do (like plant one tree for every order placed, non-plastic packaging etc)? Click HERE.
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