For those that have chosen the organic route for bringing up their baby or those that have chosen the organic life for the whole of their family, it can sometimes be difficult to find organic versions of everything that they want or need. The choice to be organic may be for environmental or health reasons or both.
In terms of the health of baby, toys are probably just as important as clothes, sometimes even more so as they will be cuddled close to the babies face and even sucked from time to time. That is why these organic bamboo baby toys and comforter blankets by NooNoo are the perfect gift for a new born baby. Extra soft bamboo is perfect for cuddling up to and great against babies delicate skin. They are handmade from bamboo fleece and organic cotton with interesting details like freehand embroidery reproduced from the imagination of a little boy.
The range includes an organic cotton and bamboo sheep rattle and bamboo comfort blankets and mini comfort blankets which are designed to be clipped onto buggies, high chairs and car seats. They all make unique newborn gifts and perfect christening presents to treasured by babies and children.
Bamboo baby children’s and baby clothes are both organic and chemical free, which is better for baby and better for the environment. Organic fibres are grown without the use of pesticides which have a huge impact on the environment and people living and working nearby. They are also free from chemical residues which are potentially damaging to health. But with all of the talk of Environmental ‘Green washing’, how can you be sure that organic baby clothes really are organic and chemical free?
There are a number of certifications that can be used to prove a garments organic status and that it has been tested and found to be chemical free.
OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association) - a standard to ensure that bamboo is grown 100% naturally without the use of chemical pesticides.
NOP (National Organic Program) - another well established and recognised standard that ensures that bamboo is grown without the use of pesticides.
SKAL and GOTS (Global Organic Textiles Standard) - For baby clothes (or anything) that also contain organic cotton, these certifications by well recognised organisations ensure that the cotton has been grown under strict organic guidelines.
Oeko-Tex 100 Certification -The processing of bamboo into yarns does use some chemicals (mainly caustic soda which is also used iin the processing of organic cotton), the the finished fibre is certified as chemical free using the Oeko Tex 100 certification. This includes testing for any chemicals that may be harmful to a persons health and if certified proves that no trace chemicals that pose any health threat, have been found.
Denim is such a practical fabric and many children and adults wear their jeans day in day out. They are perfect for playing in the garden, climbing trees and digging in the dirt. They are hard wearing and versatile for a modern look.
For babies conventional denim might be just slightly rough and uncomfortable on their delicate skin. Bamboo baby supersoft denim is the perfect answer. Ideal for all those activities that babies and toddlers love but also incredibly soft against their skin and comfortable especially for when they want to cuddle up for a sleep.
Bamboo Baby super soft denim is part of the bamboo baby classic range which is stocked all year round and perfect for spring, summer, autumn or winter. It includes jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses and dungarees for babies and children up to 7 years old. It is made from 100% bamboo which is not only soft but light, breathable and hard wearing. It is also easy to care for and is machine washable at 40 degrees and can be tumbled dried on a cool heat, although we recommend line drying where possible to minimise environmental impact.
There are a growing number of children suffering from eczema which can vary in severity from mild itching to major discomfort accompanied by broken skin and bleeding. There are a few different types of eczema and if your child is suffering from any skin complaint, it would be advisable to consult a doctor. There are however a number of actions or natural remedies that are thought to help prevent outbreaks or alleviate symptoms.
Avoid harsh wash products- products containing sodium can dry and irritate the skin. Milder natural and organic alternatives are much gentler on babies and children’s skin.
Choose organic cotton or bamboo clothes - Organic clothes do not have any chemical or pesticide residues making them less likely to irritate the skin. Bamboo fibres are particularly soft against the skin which is thought to help reduce eczema in those prone to outbreaks.
Alternatives to detergents - residues of detergents in clothes can be another source of irritation especially to eczema prone skin. Washing clothes in a mild detergent or using a completely natural alternative to detergents should also help.
Plant extracts- there are a number of plant extracts which are though to help eczema. Creams containing chickweed, Aloe Vera and Calendula are all recognised for their soothing and healing properties. You should always check first that they are suitable for use on children or babies though.
Keeping finger nails short should also help to reduce the itch scratch cycle and ensuring that a child does not get too hot is also important in reducing and preventing eczema.
There is a continuing fight by environmentalists to reduce the use of pesticides, which are environmentally damaging, potentially harmful to human health and build resistance in the pests leading to a vicious circle of more and more pesticide usage. All sorts of crops are grown using pesticides including fruit, vegetables, grain and non food crops like cotton. Alternatives that do not use pesticides include organic crops or the use of crops that are not affected by pests and therefore do not need pesticides for example bamboo.
The latest discovery by scientists at Swansea University, School of Environment and Society led by Dr Minshad Ali Ansari and Professor Tariq Butt is a naturally occurring fungi that controls wireworm, a widespread potato pest in the UK. In testing the fungi showed a 90% success rate. The wireworm is the larvae of the click beetle, damages potatoes and other arable crops and severely reduces yields. Usually it is controlled with an insecticide which is applied to the soil. This fungi could well eliminate the need to use insecticide against this pest and giving a completely organic alternative solution.
Last week online fashion retailer ASOS launched an eco friendly and ethical section to its website, this week they have launched a new Fairtrade collection called ASOS Africa and inspired by African prints.
The team from ASOS travelled to Africa and worked with artisan producers and local developers to get inpiration and help with the designs of this vibrant collection. The sale of these clothes will help to support trade in Africa and ensure that those involved in the production get a fair deal.
The collection, which includes on trend styles including tailored blazers, jumpsuits and playsuits, features bold and bright prints which are undoubtedly have origins in the African continent.
Amongst our favourite pieces are this very colourful blazer, perfect for those who like to stand out in the crowd and really make a style statement. It is great to see such innovative and original designs in the Fairtrade sector making it so much more enjoyable for those who want to switch to Fairtrade products.
One of the exciting sustainable British labels to exhibit at the Estethica trade exhibition at London Fashion Week was Makepiece. Makepiece is completely committed to being eco friendly and ethical. All of their beautiful clothes are made using natural yarns that are farmed sustainably, manufactured completely in the UK with a low impact and using only natural dyes and providing fair employment. They are also working towards becoming carbon neutral.
But it is not just these eco credentials that make this label so interesting. The knitwear that is made from wool from their own sheep is innovative, cosy and luxurious. They also use fibres such as hemp, bamboo and tencel The designs are both contemporary but also classic. They are pieces of clothing that are supposed to last and be treasured for many years to come. When they finally come to the end of their useful life, they can be composted.
The labels moto is ’slow style, not fast fashion’ and this is a great way to describe the way that these garments are produced. Makepiece designer Nicola Sherlock is a graduate of the Nottingham Trent University’s four year degree in Knitwear Design. She designs her stitch creations in three dimensions adding shape, texture and patter to the clothes.
Yesterday, at the sustainable clothing conference at London Fashion Week, Dan Morris, the Environment Minister announced a list of new participants in the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan. The reception at the Estethica exhibition, the ethical fashion trade show in Somerset House as part of London Fashion Week brought together participants from a wide range of industries and non profit organisations who have all committed to actions to increase sustainablilty in the clothing industry. New signatories including British Retail Consortium, Ethical Fashion Forum, Forum for the Future, Levis Strauss, MADE-BY, Cotton Made in Africa, RSPCA, Society of Dyers and Colourists joined existing participants including Marks and Spencer’s, Tesco, Oxfam and Nike.
One year on from the original formation of the sustainable clothing action plan, the Sustainable clothing conference which was held at the South Bank Centre yesterday, high lighted how some biggest names in fashion are working to take actions which will make a significant difference to the environmental footprint and social inequalities which blight some of the consumer fashion supply chain and focused on further ways to move forward. It was announced how the Responsible and Accountable Garment Sector (RAGS) fund will make £3.5 million available over three years for bids from organisations who want to make the clothing business more ethical and contribute more strongly to development in poor countries.
Presentations included Tesco announcing a new online capsule Sustainable Fashion range in collaboration with From Somewhere, the recycling fashion pioneer.
It is great to see the ever increasing choice in ethical and eco fashion. Once it was quite difficult to find affordable and trendy clothes made from organic cotton, Fairtrade cotton or recycled materials but they are now becoming more and more readily available online. The latest addition to online ethical and eco fashion is the The Green Room which has just been launched as part of the website of popular online retailer ASOS.
The new platform is dedicated to brands with a social and environmental ethos including some ASOS own brand clothing. At the moment the Green Room includes a fairly small selection of trendy pieces including organic cotton T shirts designed by some well know fashion bloggers, Jewellery by Made, which creates jewellery using design by influential designers made in disadvantaged communities in East Africa and Slow Motion, a range of organic cotton T Shirts in contemporary designs.
The Green Room at ASOS also sell their own line of essentials including t shirts and tops made of Fairtrade cotton and will soon stock ASOS Africa, which features a gorgeous kanga printed collection made by small community groups and artisans in Kenya and organic cotton jersey from Tanzania.
The Samantha Pleet collection for Fall Winter 2010 was shown at the Green Shows at New York Fashion Week. It was yet another great collection that proved it was possibly to be stylish, trendy and green. The collection (pictured in the You Tube video above) is made using both organic cotton and organic wool. The manufacturing facility is based in New York to save on transportation and is also wind powered.
Samantha Pleet’s collections are always young, fresh and whimsical with an element of fantasy. She has previously designed a capsule collection for Urban Outfitters, proving that her designs are very popular with the young and trendy. She is also known for dressing indie bands and for her signature chic day dresses, all in one suits and jackets. In 2009 received a sustainability design award for her work on the premier collection of Bodkin. Her clothes are not only eco friendly but also very desireable and we think this collection is likely to be just as popular as previous ones.
For those that have chosen the organic route for bringing up their baby or those that have chosen the organic life for the whole of their family, it can sometimes be difficult to find organic versions of everything that they want or need. The choice to be organic may be for environmental or health reasons or both.
