I keep hearing how wonderful bamboo clothing and towels are, but have always had reservations about the processes the raw material goes through to become a fabric. I see some of the products labelled as ‘Organic’ and wonder about it, so here are some facts to consider. Bamboo as a plant can be organically certified, [...]
I was recently approached by The Green Parent magazine to answer some questions about bedding for children. This got me thinking, about assumptions and benefits around bedding for kids… 1)Why do you think that it is important for parents to choose organic or natural fibres for their babies/children? Natural fibres should mean really breathable bedding, [...]
A study just released by the FSA concludes that organic food is no more beneficial than conventional food. This has of course created scary headlines in all the major newspapers “organic is no better for you” etc and at a time where consumers are cautious of overspending, the organic market may find it is hit [...]
When times are hard, the way you spend your money takes on a greater significance. The ‘organic’ label has sometimes been associated with premium prices, yet when you factor in the higher quality, the positive effect on biodiversity, and the health benefits to the individual and the planet, they often provide better value over time [...]
This blog is supposed to be “textile specific”, meaning we try to keep the topics restricted to those things that apply to the growing of fibers, or the manufacture of synthetic fibers, and the processing of those fibers into cloth. But society seems to have tunnel vision about many things, such as chemical use. Bisphenol […] […]
My toxic couch: I’d like to nominate flame retardant chemicals used in our furniture, fabrics and baby products – as well as a host of other products – as being in the running for the “new asbestos”. These chemicals (halogenated flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are commonly known as PBDE’s. An editorial in […] […]
What does asbestos have to do with fabrics? Asbestos has been used in fabrics for centuries – the story goes that Roman soldiers (or, depending on the story, wealthy Persians) would clean asbestos napkins by throwing them into the fire – and they’d emerge clean and white. During the Middle Ages, some merchants would sell […] […]