Environmentally friendly clothing is a solid investment in your personal health and that of the entire planet. The world is aware of the pollutants that threaten us. They’re in the air, soil and water. Traditional farming methods use large amounts of toxic chemicals to insure a bountiful crop. Money and profit rule, while the earth shudders under the impact of these potentially carcinogenic and lethal compounds. But as a consumer, you can make a huge difference in the direction the clothing industry takes every time you step up to the cash register.

Buying environmentally friendly clothing is a vote for organic farmers. Organic farmers do not use harmful chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides to grow their crops. Instead, they partner with nature to develop natural ways of combating plant diseases and controlling the pesky insect population. To be declared an organic farm, the soil and water supply must be chemical-free for at least three years. There are very strict government regulations and testing done on these types of farms to guarantee they are adhering to the rules.

When you buy clothes that are made from organic materials, like cotton, you can be sure that there will be no trace elements of chemicals in the fabric. In traditional farming, the chemicals used to enrich the soil or battle insects actually enter the growing plants. Residues of these lethal compounds remain in them and eventually find their way into the processed fabrics. When you wear these clothes, the many pores on your skin are able to absorb these trace elements and they enter your bloodstream. With organic clothing, this doesn’t happen.

On a global scale, buying organic clothing supports the work of these farmers. Your purchase is a positive step toward ridding the earth of the many pollutants. Additionally, the manufacturers of environmentally friendly clothes are usually fair trade companies. This means they are willing to pay their employees fair wages for their time and work.

Although organic clothing is usually more expensive than traditionally made types, no price tag can ever be put on your health. Wearing clothes that are pure and chemical-free next to your skin is important. With the current rise in neurological diseases and cancer, ridding your life and your clothes closet of toxic chemicals makes perfect sense. Thankfully, environmentally friendly clothing is gaining in popularity, and that will lead to more competitive prices and a cleaner, healthier world for all of us.