Why Choose Organic Cotton
Protect Our Planet and People By Choosing Organic Clothes
We know a lot about organic food and household products, but how much do we really understand about the fashion industry, and what it really means to buy organic cotton? The organic cotton industry makes a positive impact on health, people, and the planet. It is easy to be seduced by cheap clothes and fast fashion, but who or what pays the price?
How Do I Know the Cotton in my Clothes is Organic and Safe?
Sometimes it can seem a little overwhelming when there is a lot on information on a topic you are trying to get to grips with. Lots of new terminology and jargon you may be unfamiliar with. Organisations you may not even have been aware of in the past. The best way, is to get to grips with what each organisation stands for and what it really means to you, the customer.
Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) 
At Babipur, GOTS is a standard we look for (as is the Soil Association) as it covers every step in the supply chain. It considers everyone involved, from farmers to the person cutting the fabric, cleaning the factory, or driving the vehicles. When textiles carry the GOTS label it means safe working conditions, no discrimination, and no child labour.
GOTS is the world’s leading textile processing standard for organic fibres. In order to pass GOTS, it is required that 95% of the fabric is organic and that no toxic dyes or finishes have been used in the process. You can rest assured with GOTS that the process meets strict environmental and social criteria, and has been certified by an independent third party along the entire supply chain.
Proceed with caution when considering organic textiles, as it’s not clear cut. The term “organic” can be used much more loosely than in the food industry. The product could be labelled as organic but may only contain a small percentage, and toxic dyes may have been used.
The Soil Association 
The Soil Association is an independent organisation that conducts rigorous testing before a certificate is awarded. They review the entire manufacturing process, including sourcing of ingredients, premises, and packaging.
Sustainability and environmental safety are ensured by reviewing aspects such as water usage and waste management. The marketing strategy is also analysed to ensure it is completely transparent, something we firmly believe in here at Babipur.
Fairtrade 
Fairtrade is about ensuring the people who grow the things we love get a fair deal. This is done through fair pricing and working conditions in developing countries. The Fairtrade Foundation works with farmers to empower them to be involved and have their say.
The Fairtrade label is always a positive thing, but does not alone cover the entire supply chain. Therefore, we at Babipur support the Fairtrade standard in conjunction with GOTS and the Soil Association, to ensure the clothing you love has not negatively impacted people, the planet, nor public health.
OEKO-TEX 
Firstly, it is important to understand that an Oeko-Tex certification is not an organic certification. Oeko-Tex tests raw, semi-finished, and finished textile products and the certification can be found on both organic and non-organic materials. The Oeko-tex standard has an important role in ensuring product safety from the consumers perspective. It is an independent testing and certification of textile products and processes. Oeko-Tex are responsible for testing against harmful chemicals that may be used in the manufacturing of clothing. Each item will be assessed according to the purpose of use. For instance, a different level of testing will be preformed on an item intended for a child under 3 years to that that will be used in upholstery.
As with Fairtrade certification, it is important to understand that these are widely respected and important processes, but they do not alone guarantee that the product will be organic. This is why it is important we as consumers have an understanding of what role each organisation plays in the process of producing organic clothing.
Organic Cotton is…
Better for Health
A major benefit of organic cotton production is that crops are not treated with pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, nor genetically modified organisms (GMO). These toxins are recognised to be extremely harmful to farmers, factory workers, consumers, and wildlife ecosystems.
Cotton production is estimated to use 25% of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of the world’s pesticides. In developing countries, 20,000 deaths each year are a direct result of pesticide poisoning (World Health Organisation), which also has a negative impact on up to 3 million people through chronic ill health, cancer, infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects.
It may also have a negative impact on consumer health. According to the soil association, chemical residues present cotton products can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and may cause allergies, skin rashes or respiratory problems. GOTS ensures that textiles meet strict requirements when it comes to toxicity.
Better For People
The cotton farming industry is not a profitable one. Farmers earn a very poor wage, receive no support, and spend a huge amount of their budget on pesticides. Their local ecosystem and soil quality is poor, and often there is not enough food for the local farming community.
Organic cotton farming is not subject to the same oppressive contracts that GMO farming is subject to. There is far greater freedom regarding the production of their crops. Organic farming promotes the industry to work in harmony with nature and local ecosystems in a sustainable way. Organic farming encourages a diverse assortment of crops in order to maintain healthy soil, provide food for the community, and also extra sources of income. There is an emphasis on protecting the workforce and empowering smaller businesses to be self-sufficient.
Better For The Planet
There is significantly less water and energy consumed in the production of organic cotton. A large amount of organic cotton is produced using rain water, which preserves water resources. It is also hugely beneficial to the ecosystem, as it is not polluted with chemicals found in conventional cotton farming.
Organic agriculture combines healthy soil, biodiversity, preservation of natural ecosystems, wildlife protection, and support for the farming community.
Babipur
You can rest assured that any clothing sold by Babipur has undergone rigorous consideration and investigation prior to being passed on to the customer as organic clothing. There will have been a great amount of thought put into the production, sustainability, and quality of each brand. Maxomorra, Duns Sweden, Little Green Radicals, Piccalilli, JNY and Frugi are all registered with the GOTS label.
We need to be smarter, more conscious consumers, and care about our health, the planet, and its people. Never underestimate the power of an individual’s choice, and what a difference it can make.
Pre-Loved
Here at Babipur we have always loved to encourage our customers to reuse when possible, and buying pre-loved is a great way to do this! Buying pre-loved, as well as ethically produced new clothing, is a great way to fight against fast fashion, and to look after our people and the planet. If you are looking for pre-loved bargains, or have an item that needs to find someone new to love it, then take a look at our pre-loved Babipur B/S/T page on Facebook.
Want to Know More?
https://www.soilassociation.org/organic-living/fashion-textiles/what-is-certification/
http://www.global-standard.org
Eye opening and inspiring! Will be sharing with everyone! This is why I’m proud to buy organic – it’s better for everyone and the prints are amazing!
trying to be more ethical and it’s hard not to.when so.many ethical sustainable clothes are so beautiful
Thank you! We have to buy a nursery uniform but am otherwise mindful my son should have a better world to love
We absolutely love our organic clothing. We’re mainly a frugi household but also have kite, picalilly and pigeon. We love them all.
Great read, we began using organic clothing when clothing began to make our little girls eczema flare up.
Totally eye opening, also shows what an effort you guys put in to everything you do!
Thanks Heather for such an informative article, makes me even prouder to buy clothes from BP ?
For someone who only puts their children in cotton clothes this is a very informative read, I will try to up my organic cotton game. Thanks for a great post!
Really interesting read. Good to know facts about the impact these small changes can make. I also live on the B/S/T page! Oops. Lol.
I am a recent convert to organic clothing. You can deffo feel the quality and it really is soooo soft. Also having a resolution to try and be more “green” is a great excuse to buy organic. Thank you for a very informative post
This is so interesting – I’ll defimitely be more rigorous in checking clothes before I presume they’re fully organic
This is fab! So helpful to understand the difference between just organic and GOTS organic #lovebabipur
I didn’t know the environmental difference organic clothes made, great post
I love the feel of organic clothing, you can most definitely tell the difference. It’s a good reason to buy more baby clothes, that’s for sure!
It’s eye-opening how much effort goes into sourcing ethically made clothes that aren’t harmful to the planet. Thanks Babipur for making it easier for us to choose the best options!
Thank you Babipur for making me a more conscientious consumer. Great blog article.
So many beautiful brands to choose from! I just wish it was the majority of clothes – the big players need to do more!!
Such a good read! I really appreciate that you do all the research into the ethics and production so it makes it easier for busy mums like me to buy with confidence!
Love all of the beautiful organic clothing that Babipur sticks… just wish I’d discovered it sooner with my eldest! My lo is wearing the Frugi chicken leggings right now ?
Very interesting, I’d like to spend this year thinking more about our choices being ethical and having the least impact on the environment and better for us as a family. Thank you for so much useful information
This has really made me think about organic clothing and what it means. I have always tried to be greener in other areas of my life but somehow this is something I have overlooked. Thanks for sharing this. I now have even more love for my daughters Babipur clothes and a reason to by her more
Love Frugi clothes, an interesting read :-).
Love this, especially you encouraging the purchase of preloved clothing, I can’t think of any other retailer that would encourage this
A great read and eye opening! We’ve recently started purchasing organic children’s clothing from Babi Pur and were blown away by the quality! No wonder it’s priced higher- you get what you pay for!
A great read it’s nice to know that in buying clothes from babipur everyone who has been involved along the way is thought about and the impact on our planted. Some good links too and I do love buying pre loved it’s defo the way forward. Will be sharing x
Always look for GOTS organic cotton when buying clothes, so important to take all the above into consideration. Such beautiful choices at Babipur too!
I have to say that if none of the above arguments persuade you then the sheer softness will
With all the problems the world faces from global warming, plastic polluting our land, oceans etc and the harm chemicals do to our land and food, I wonder if there will ever become a point where all fabric will have to be Organic. It is nice to dream about a better future/world for our little ones and their little ones.
. So many clothes are just chucked away. Fashion can be far more sustainable than it currently is. Promoting preloved is great.
Really useful information, great blog post!
This was eye opening. Standards of clothing manufacture and fabric production is an issue that is too often overlooked in a world geared towards fast fashion. I made a pledge this year to buy mostly pre-loved clothing for myself and my little one. However it is proving tricky as I am so tempted by the gorgeous ethical clothing stocked at Babipur!
What a great and informative post. We started buying organic brands because they’re so pretty, but we found they were much more suitable for my children’s eczema too.
Great new years goals !
A really interesting read, it’s good to know what to look out for when buying clothing
Love that organic cotton is better for people!
Shopping ethically is easy with clothes this beautiful, and prices are comparable to many high street stores…. can’t wait for the next Duns drop!
Really interesting to read more detail about organic clothing and also pleased to see you encourage buying 2nd hand. Maybe you could also suggest what to do with clothing you e finished with…pass it on!
Wow can’t believe all the facts and info on insecticides and pesticides, really makes you think
I knew organic clothing was better for our planet but reading this I now I have a better understanding of exactly why this is .The promotion of pre loved and less waste is awesome too X
I love the organic ranges, due to fit maxomorra is our favourite. But the lgr pjs are also well loved here. They patterns are great, I can actually dress my son in colour. Also I love the ethics, as we need to really stop and consider our impact both ethically and environmentally.
we do.. as long as they’re brands stocked at Babipur you can sell on or swap in our preloved group 🙂
Interesting read. Can’t wait for more lovely GOTS clothing to be dropped. Love thatvyou back up the preloved bit with the BST Babipur page.
very interesting read and informative! thank you 🙂
Love organic clothes for all the benefits it brings not just my chidren but also the environment and the farmers. Also helps that they come in funky colourful designs so children can be dressed like children.
Just starting to find these brands – you’ve chosen some stunning examples to showcase GOTS brands x
Wow I never knew any of this. Thank you
Thank you for always so thorough so that I can shop with confidence without having to obsessively research!
Interestig read. Also made me aware of the B/S/T page on facebook ?
Fantastic piece. I wish people were more careful when it comes to disposble fashion.
Another interesting read, very informative. Max and Duns are my favourite for prints, they are gorgeous and now I know more about how the companies work to achieve their standards.
I wish I could afford to have my lb’s wardrobe full of just these brands.
very interesting, love that you are happy to promote pre-loved too! a truly ethical and generous company!
So easy to assume anything organic is good. Too often people are put off by price or the perception organic is ‘hoity toity posh’
Such an interesting read. I also think they last so well. My son is in some clothes I bought from you guys last Christmas!
Yes! Love all of this!
Fast fashion has a lot to answer for. I love that I can buy timeless, colourful clothes from Babipur and know that the whole supply chain is kind to the planet and people.
It’s difficult, especially when buying childrens clothing since they grow so fast, to balance ethics and income to ensure the most ethical items are purchased. The companies with the most sway, for the most part, do not use GOTS certified cotton and those of course are the organic cotton items which are the most affordable. I do try to buy secondhand for this reason, plus this saves resources which is of major importance. I am happy that Frugi, the other brands you sell, and more ethical clothing in general, for whatever reason have a considerably larger following and a much larger range now than 10 years ago, though regret the Cut4Cloth days when it was much easier to find secondhand and new ethically produced clothing at a price I could afford, albeit with more limited choice. I do sometimes wish we could return to those days…!
Really interesting read and viewpoint, thank you.
Quite educational. Interesting that Swedish brands are among the pioneers in organic cotton production!
Very interesting! I love how all the clothes are not only ethical but gorgeous. I’m always keeping an eye out for some second hand clothes, having s big family means we’ve passed on lots of kids clothes.
We buy less clothes now but only Babi Pur brands! ❤️
And as well as all of that, they look super cool as well ?
Really interesting. Good to understand some of the different labels that go on organic clothes. Will help to make more informed choices in the future. Thank you!
Very informative. Good to know it’s not just about soft fabrics and fun patterns!
Brilliant article. I am passionate about all things organic, food, cosmetics, cleaning products, clothing, living!! ? It’s wonderful to know I’m shopping somewhere that holds the same values and I can feel confident making purchases, knowing my values are being upheld by like-minded folk ?
Very informative. Good to know it’s not just about soft fabrics and fun patterns! Also, I love buying pre-loved.
Great info – I’d not thought about this before. Thanks!
Really interesting post, I’ll definitely be looking for the GOTS label in future
Loved this article, it reminded me why we choose to buy organic clothes and spend money on them. My children will grow up knowing about the importance of caring for the environment and people.
Thank you for the great article. I hadn’t considered the impact that buying pre-loved would have on the fashion industry, definitely going to keep a better look out on bst page for my crazy 2 x
Thank-you for such a great article, really eye opening as to why buying Organic Ethical clothing is so important xx
Enlightening! There’s so much here that I’d not even considered, e.g. how much pesticide and insecticide is used in regular cotton production. I’d always been aware that toxic dyes can be used on fabrics but it didn’t occur to me that even the cotton plants are usually grown in a toxic way. I’ll definitely be looking to buy more organic clothing in future. X
I’ve honestly never thought much about buying organic clothing – I feel like I knew it was ‘better’, but only in a vague, abstract kinda way, so thank you for explaining it so well. We do have some organic bits, but will definitely be more mindful from now on, and do a bit more research into brands etc. before buying… or more realistically, just buy it all from BP to save me the time ;^) Definitely need more adult clothing though please!
I’m looking to go a bit greener for 2018 and this made an interesting read!
Fab article. Thanks you! Will be sharing with friends and family
I had no idea that the way organic cotton is watered was so different from ‘standard’ cotton production. Nice to have a breakdown of what the three different labels (GOTS, Fairtrade and Soil Association) mean.
Very interesting read. I’ve only just started buying though Babipur as fed up with plastic toys and this has now opened my eyes even further.
Love the babi pur BST group can’t always afford to buy new frugi so it’s nice being able to buy pre loved and still knowing it’s better for the environment because I’m not creating a demand for new”fast fashion”
Loved reading this. Great point about the possibility of harmful dyes in organic cotton clothing.
I’m always more cautious when it comes to very dark or very bright colours.
Would be good to find out more about each individual dye and that way people would hopefully understand why the colours might fade faster.
This was so interesting and really drove home the facts about why we use organic cotton and pay that bit extra for it.
I will be sharing this post with my friends who don’t quite understand my reasons
This is great to read- really useful at putting the arguments across to people who don’t understand why ethical clothing has any value. I didn’t realise that GOTS included all aspects of the supply chain! Thanks.
I have personally found this blog very interesting! to read up on how much of a difference organic cotton actually affects not only our lives but those of others is an eye opener.
Have to admit there was much here I didn’t know, thank you!
I buy a lot of scandi organic clothes for the beautiful print and soft superior feel… now I feel even better about justifying my choices. Hopefully my new post baba wardrobe will also contain organic clothes when I get around to spending money on me!
I didn’t realise that GOTS also included the Fair trade guidelines, which is every bit important to me as using organic cotton on baby’s skin. I stumbled upon GOTS at Babipur when looking for clothes that fit over a cloth bum, haven’t looked back!
An eye opening read. We have some frugi in the wardrobe but not as much as I would like!
Great read thankyou.
haven’t thought much about the label “organic” before, thought it was enough to be considered eco friendly.
Interesting read, thanks Babipur. We are trying to be more ethical and reduce our plastic use as a household and clothes play a significant part at the rate children grow! Love the b/s/t page too!
For all of the reasons above that’s why we choose babipur we know that the extra hard work of finding ethical, fair trade and organic has been done for us so all we need to do is whittle down our orders to our favourite bits!! Thank you babipur
Thankyou. Very informative and eye opening. I’ll be making more effort to buy organic cotton.
Really interesting post, I had never really thought about it in the past, but now I always try to buy organic clothes and love the range that babipur stock!
Interesting.
Great article. I need to pay more attention to the clothes we buy, and need to look for more organic cotton clothes for us grown ups – I know I can come to Babipur for clothes for LO but not sure where to source clothes for myself
What an amazing company you are. The thought for your customers is amazing, all the checks you go through to make sure the products we get are what we expect without having to check everything ourselves.
Also the fact that you have a 2nd site for people who want to buy but who maybe can’t afford new or like the idea of buying perfectly good items pre owned rather than brand new.
Thanks again babipur
Love the idea of this and the preloved page for those of us on a budget, thanks Babipur
Can’t wait for the new Maxomorra!
Great post! Now I wish Babipur was stocking some clothes for ME.. I would definitely be buying some. Majority of my wardrobe comes from charity shops so I don’t fewl that bad. But would love to find some cool, organic and affordable clothing for myself?
Hello! We will have a few bits and bobs for adults this season and next season too 🙂
Really interesting read!
We are all so used to very cheap clothing that it can seem very expensive to buy these types of brands. Sometimes I need a reminder to step back and look at the whole picture, rather than just the price tag.
eye opening thank you!