2. Hemp
Hemp gets a bad rep as a hippie dippie fabric option, but hemp has come a long way! It uses very few pesticides and water to grow, it’s good for the soil, and it softens as you wear it. Organic hemp is also a joy to sew! Like organic cotton, hemp can be pricier, but again I think it’s about choosing quality.
Looking for some hemp options? We’ve got some right here:
Next >> Linen
[Image Credit: Photo via Noonday Textiles, used with permission]
Would like add another company I love because of the organic cotton prints which is Monaluna. Her Scandanavian designs are so fun and original.
Hemp is not without concerns, either. It has to be shipped here from overseas, meaning it’s not doing American workers any favors, there’s all the concerns with shipping, etc.
I agree about the bad side if cotton, but for some of us going organic is just not an option financially. I believe it is ok to use cotton, but use it well – ie. sew your own clothes, make them well so they last, and when you are finished with them pass them on or recycle into something else. Buy second hand clothes – buy second hand clothes and up cycle them, you can make some great original stuff. I guess what I am saying is that if we have to use cotton, use it till its just threads and never let it hit landfill. Don’t all the ‘bad’ stuff that had to happen to make the cotton be in vain!
I totally agree that second hand clothing and fabrics are great alternatives if organic cotton is out of reach!