5. Hemp/organic cotton blends
With a blend, you get the best of both worlds. Hemp can be a bit heavy for some projects, and with a blend (usually 55/45), you get the drape of cotton and the strength of hemp in one, lovely piece of yardage! Here are a few places to find hemp/cotton blends:
Have you run across other alternatives to conventional cotton? Share away in the comments!
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!