I get a lot of questions about organic cotton and bamboo. Both are great eco-fabrics, but which is better?

Besides being amazingly soft to the touch, bamboo is a highly sustainable resource. A grass, it’s the fastest growing plant in the world and is 100% sustainable. Bamboo is also naturally anti-microbial, which means the fabric actually prevents bacteria from growing on it, resulting in clothing that remains odor-free longer than other fabrics . . . meaning less trips to the dry cleaner, which is always a major plus for the planet and your wallet!

Bamboo production, however, is not completely virtuous as there are harmful chemicals used to breakdown the bamboo into fabric, but bamboo growth does not require any pesticides.

Cotton on the other hand uses a plethora of pesticides. In fact, five of the top nine pesticides used on cotton in the U.S. (cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite, and trifluralin) are KNOWN cancer-causing chemicals. All nine are classified by the U.S. EPA as Category I and II— the most dangerous chemicals.

Organic cotton is therefore a great option because it uses neither harsh chemicals nor pesticides for growth and production purposes. I especially like organic cotton for babies. Look at these sweet little wide leg pants. They’re made from organic cotton and look very comfortable. I wish they came in my size.

Posted on August 10th, 2007 by Olivia Zaleski