Organic Cotton Clothing in Portland

It has been called the fabric of our lives, and rightfully so. From clothing to food products, cotton is everywhere; yet despite its popularity, few people know the dark side of this ubiquitous textile.

"The simple act of conventionally growing and harvesting the one pound of cotton fiber needed to make a t-shirt takes an enormous and devastating toll on the earth's air, water and soil that impacts global health," writes Andrea Koranteng, owner of EcoVibe Apparel, in a post on the store's blog:

Also, policies and practices within the cotton industry from crop subsidies to garment sweatshops create poverty and misery that stretch around the world. Cotton industry trade organizations spend millions and millions of dollars attempting to convince American consumers of the hoax that conventional chemical cotton is pure and friendly to the health of the wearer.

- Andrea Koranteng, "Why Organic Cotton? The facts behind the fiber"

According to the Sustainable Cotton Project, less than three percent of the world's crops are cotton, and yet cotton still accounts for 25 percent of the world's insecticide market and 11 percent of global pesticide sales, making it the most pesticide-intensive crop grown in the world. To make one conventional t-shirt, it would take a little under one pound of raw cotton and almost 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizers. Three of the most hazardous insecticides to humans—Aldicarb, parathion and methamidopho—make the top ten list of most commonly used chemicals in cotton production, while the rest of the top chemicals (minus one) are classified as moderately to highly hazardous, according to the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).

While the facts may not deter some from buying an inexpensive conventional cotton shirt, the impact of these hazardous farming practices reaches farther than apparel. The cottonseed hull is a secondary crop sold as a food product. Although the hull isn't the direct recipient of the chemical bath, the EJF estimates that as much as 65 percent of the byproducts of cotton production wind up in the human food chain, either directly from food oil or indirectly from the milk and meat of animals.

Fortunately, some cotton producers have turned to organic methods to reduce these harmful impacts. Organic farming methods use compost, animal manure and other natural fertilizers to recycle the nitrogen present in the soil instead of adding more nitrogen from artificial sources. "Working with rather than against nature is the guiding principle behind organic farming," says Koranteng. "Even beyond the farm, there are major differences in how organic cotton impacts the environment. At each manufacturing step, organic clothing manufacturers do not add petroleum scours, silicon waxes, formaldehyde, anti-wrinkling agents, chlorine bleaches or other chemical processes."

Every little bit helps, and each organic cotton purchase is a vote for cleaner farming practices. "The key element is the consumer," Koranteng says. "While there is big resistance to change from chemically-dependent processes in clothing manufacturing, the bottom line is demand. Manufacturers will do what the consumer dictates, so the change to environmentally responsible organic cotton clothing begins with you, the consumer."

Where to Find Organic Cotton Clothing in Portland

Jet

First opened in designer Jennifer Thomas' attic studio in 2009, Jet has always taken strides to be a sustainable business. They value local production, good working conditions, fair wages, community action, natural fiber use and farming methods, green transportation, promoting a healthy body image, and have a wonderful selection of organic cotton clothes.

Jet
3753 N Mississippi Ave.
Portland, OR 97227

Souchi

Founder Suzi Johnson crafted her first Souchi sweater in 1997 and has since made a name for herself and her designs with locally made and sustainably sourced designs—her designs have been featured in Vogue, W Magazine, Travel and Leisure, Lucky, In Style and British Elle. Johnson hand picks her yarns from the finest, most reputable mills and makes it a point to include a great variety of organic clothing, most of which can be layered to create multiple looks.

Souchi
807 NW 23rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97210

EcoVibe Apparel

Co-owners (and soul mates) Andrea Koranteng and Leonard Allen opened EcoVibe Apparel in 2010 with a strong commitment to organics. Selected for the fashion and environmentally conscious consumer, EcoVibe has a range of organic cotton clothing that spans from tunics to men's jeans.

EcoVibe Apparel
921 NW Everett St.
Portland, OR 97209

Tilde

Everything sold in Debbe Hamada's modern boutique has been made directly by an artist or small design company and was chosen for their clean lines, color and story behind the design. They currently carry a line of organic cotton clothing from PI Organics (Perfectly Imperfect Organics) that features long-sleeved dresses, long jackets and cardigan-style jackets.

Tilde
7919 SE 13th Ave.
Portland, OR 97202

Pie Footwear

Established in 2008 by NE Portland native Stacey Matney and her husband JC, Pie Footwear literally helps consumers to walk-the-walk of the organic movement. They sell organic cotton shoes with a modern and stylish flare by designers Ethletic and Simple Shoes.

Pie Footwear
2916 NE Alberta St.
Portland, OR 97211