The problem starts with industrialized farms produce few varieties of cotton. Variety is important because each variety has its own weakness and if only one kind is grown and disease strikes or pests invade, the whole crop is lost.
Buying Organic Cotton Clothes, Bedding, Towels
For instance, formaldehyde is often applied to clothing that has to be shipped long distances as a mildew preventative. And an array of additional chemicals can be added during the process of clothing manufacturing to accomplish things such as shrink reduction, fire proofing, and wrinkle reduction. These chemicals can potentially cause health problems to the person wearing the affected clothing.
Cotton clothing often has various chemicals applied to it during production, each having its own purpose. This cotton eventually becomes clothes, blankets, towels and household items. Raw cotton seed is often fed to livestock, affecting people indirectly who eat meat and dairy products. Then, there is the issue of direct pollution to the environment, especially since many of these chemicals are sprayed on the crops aerially.
The consumer who chooses to buy organic cotton clothing need not worry about their clothing affecting their health in an adverse way. Organically grown cotton is not treated with dangerous pesticides and herbicides. If you purchase clothes or bedding that is not organic, it is very important to wash them thoroughly before using.