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Friday, July 18, 2025

Living Organically: Threads

Over the years, organic food products have gone from just food for hippies to a staple in many U.S. homes. Many people feel safer and healthier buying food that has not been produced with chemicals and pesticides that farmers use today. Major companies such as Nike and Patagonia have joined the bandwagon and there is a rising interest among UW-Madison students.  

 

According to www.patagonia.com, when raised conventionally, or non-organically, cotton loses its purity. Every year, 57 million pounds of chemicals are dusted over California cotton farms. Its research showed that the use of synthetic fertilizers, soil additives, defoliants and other substances seriously harm soil, water, air and many living things.  

 

In an effort to minimize these harmful effects on the environment, groups such as the Sustainable Cotton Project have formed, promoting the use of organically grown cotton. They have partnered with major companies and work to increase the nation's awareness of the effects of cotton on our planet.  

 

So far, their efforts are working. In 2002, Nike created Nike Organics\ apparel that contains 100 percent organic cotton. In 2004, ""Premier Organics""—a line that contains both Nike organics and clothes blended with organic and conventional cotton—was introduced. The ""White Label"" collection made the shift to organic cotton in 2005 as well. Nike is now the largest retail user of organic cotton in the world.  

 

Patagonia has also gone environmentally conscious and madeover its entire sportswear line. While the adjustment is slightly more expensive, Patagonia insists it is worth it, because the clothes have a much softer feel. 

 

Besides Patagonia and Nike, organic clothing can be found when shopping online at www.Greenapple.org, Organicconsumers.com, www.Shopsafe.com, www.BeneficialT.com and even www.Amazon.com.  

 

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Madison's own Satara Inc., 216 N. Henry St., specializes in bedding and baby clothing made from organic cotton. According to employee Sherri Amos, there is a definite desire for the product. 

 

""People who buy organic cotton are interested in supporting an industry that isn't putting harmful chemicals on the earth. They are also really eliminating any chemicals that are touching their skin and might be irritating it,"" Amos said.  

 

""At Satara we specialize in organic cotton bedding, as well as baby clothing. People don't want to put their children in anything that might harm them and we spend so much time in bed that people don't want to be exposed to all the chemicals for that long. It ends up feeling softer as well,"" she added.  

 

Since the cost of organic clothing is going down, and it has become easier to buy, students have started to take an interest.  

 

""I think buying organic cotton is a really smart idea. It is supporting something that isn't harming the Earth, and the more people that catch on, the more big name brands will want in,"" said Jessica Cherry UW-Madison freshman.  

 

As the demand for more earth-conscious products increases, it is only a matter of time until more retail corporations catch on. 

 

 

 

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