From fig leaves to homespun, our ancestors did whatever was necessary to clothe themselves. Of course, then, all fabric was organic. Fashion trends took a turn in the late 1800’s after the invention of the first synthetic fibers. Today, we have more kinds of fabrics than we can name. We can be wrinkle proof, water proof, fire proof, and stain proof. But, at what cost?

We want to send our children off to school crisp and clean and hope they come home in relatively the same condition. But, if not, then we can confidently launder their school clothing knowing that they will come out spotless and wrinkle free. Because of our busy lives, all these new and improved fabrics and fabric treatments make life a little easier. The thing is, the chemicals used in clothes to make them stain resistant and wrinkle resistant may be causing serious damage to our children’s health.

One such group of chemicals to watch out for is perflourinated chemicals (PFCs). This includes the Teflon treated clothing we are seeing more and more of. The US Environmental Protection Agency has labeled these PFCs as being carcinogenic. Children are usually more susceptible to the harsh effects of chemicals. Another chemical used in clothing is formaldehyde, clothing made to be flame retardant emits formaldehyde gases.

We do everything we can to keep our children and ourselves healthy. Clothing is an often overlooked danger. That danger is more far reaching than just to the wearers of chemically produced clothing. The global issues associated with the manufacturing of modern synthetic fabrics are phenomenal. The use of chemicals in the creation of synthetic fibers are dispelled back into the environment polluting our air and waterways. We all need clean air and water to maintain our health.

True organic clothes are made from natural fiber fabrics such as flax, cotton, and hemp. These fibers come from plants grown without the use of pesticides and processed in an eco-friendly way. Some organic fashions are also made from recycled products.

Now that ‘Global Warming’ is one of the leading political issues, environmental consciousness is on the rise. So is the demand for safe, responsibly manufactured and ethically made organic clothing. More and more eco-conscience designers are using organic and recycled materials to make comfortable, clothing , footwear, and accessories.

There are more choices today than ever in the organic fashion realm. No longer are our choices limited to comfortable weekend clothing. We are seeing more fashions geared toward office wear also. Even the eco-friendly shoe is becoming more corporate suitable, check out the Terra Plana brand. Terra Plana produces shoes that are made with organic and recycled materials. They also use ethical, non-sweatshop production methods.

Just as our ancestors made their clothing out of natural resources out of necessity, so can we, out of necessity for a cleaner, safer environment go back to natural, organic clothing. You may not find an organic clothing store in your hometown or even the next town over. Don’t lose heart! There is a plethora of stores and distributors online. Let us join with millions worldwide and ’green up’ our closets.