How do you know cotton is organic?
	Why should retailers invest in organic cotton?
	How much more expensive is the switch to organic cotton?
	What is the biggest selling point for organic clothing?
	Are there quality considerations in using organic cotton?
	Are there production considerations when blending organic fibers?
	Do organic farmers receive the financial advances they need to produce crops?
	You don't eat it, so why is organic cotton really important?
	Where do you buy organic cotton?

How do you know cotton is organic?
Organically grown cotton is certified by independent third parties and some state agencies to ensure that no synthetic substances were used in the cultivation and harvesting of the fibers. Cotton grown on land free of chemicals for three years is certified as 'organic.' Cotton grown on fields which have been free of chemicals for less than three years is certified as 'transitional organic.'

Why should retailers invest in organic cotton?
A bona fide organic cotton industry has to start with apparel companies. Manufactures' orders provide the financial backing growers need to take the extra steps to farm biologically, rather than chemically. Organic cotton helps companies meet goals of cleaner water and air quality, as well as satisfying consumer demand for corporate environmental leadership.

How much more expensive is the switch to organic cotton?
T-shirts blended with ten percent organic fibers can raise the F.O.B. unit cost as little as seven cents. One hundred percent organically grown garments can cost anywhere between twenty and fifty percent more than conventional.

What is the biggest selling point for organic clothing?
Aesthetics, quality and price remain the most salient consumer concerns in
the United States, even among environmentally responsible buyers. If the product looks great, is finally made and priced appropriately, its chances of success will follow. Concerns about the environment, health and safety, and saving the family farm offer an added value to the product.

Are there quality considerations in using organic cotton?
Production experts report that organic cotton fibers have the same fiber strength, length and other properties as conventional cotton. In some cases, we learned, once a mill has gained initial experience with organic fibers, fabric development efforts can be enhanced by the additional focus on novelty fibers.

Are there production considerations when blending organic fibers?
Production experts recommend blending organic fibers of the same micronaire (fiber breadth) in order to avoid any problems.

Do organic farmers receive the financial advances they need to produce crops?
No. Right now farmers need purchase orders from mills or brokers before the planting season begins because the conventional sources of crop financing still perceive organic cotton farming as a high risk investment- despite five years of comparable, consistent yields documented by University of California professor, Dr. Sean Swezey.

You don't eat it, so why is organic cotton really important?
The fact is that cotton is a food as well as a fiber: seed and fibers are fed to cattle, and cottonseed oil is a main ingredient in processed foods. Because it is so susceptible to weeds and insect pests, and because it is considered a fiber and not a food, farmers use heavy amounts of toxic chemicals to produce it. Finally, because of its many uses, cotton is one of the most widely grown crops in the world, and the amounts of chemicals applied to produce it add up significantly.

Where do you buy organic cotton?
Organic cotton can be purchased from a mill in the form of yarn, fabric or finished goods; it can be bought in bales (480 pound blocks) through a broker; or it can be procured by contracts directly with farmers. Organic cotton garments are sold throughout the world, refer to the Sustainable Cotton Web site links or search the web for “organic clothes.”

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