Cotton-industry officials say it is virtually impossible to tell organic cotton from the ordinary kind.
ECONOMIST: Ethically minded shoppers turn their focus to cotton
He is not alone in voicing scepticism about the long-term appeal of organic cotton.
ECONOMIST: Ethically minded shoppers turn their focus to cotton
G-III is sourcing organic cotton from an area in the Amazon heavily afflicted by human trafficking.
"We came back and said, 'We're going with all organic cotton within five years, '" says Smith.
Organic cotton currently accounts for only 0.1% of global cotton output, for a number of reasons.
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Despite the great hopes of organic cotton's backers, several challenges could prevent it from going truly mainstream.
ECONOMIST: Ethically minded shoppers turn their focus to cotton
The label's founder opted for organic cotton velvets and velveteen, colorful faux fur and soy fiber knits.
Organic cotton from Turkey, the world's largest grower, sells for about 20% more than the conventional sort.
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Given the limited supply, it is no surprise that organic cotton is more expensive than the ordinary variety.
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The charming Crown Heights shop specializes in "local, green, fair and direct-trade products, " like 100% certified organic cotton tea towels.
T-shirt made with organic cotton than one made entirely with ordinary cotton.
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He changed materials, switching in 1996 from conventional to organic cotton despite the fact that it initially tripled his supply costs because it was less harmful to the environment.
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T-shirts made from organic cotton cost more than other t-shirts.
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In the meantime, some big retailers are having to limit their organic clothing to particular (often small) items such as babywear, or to blend organic cotton with other fibres.
ECONOMIST: Ethically minded shoppers turn their focus to cotton
Many are not cognizant of the African designers working for the coveted Italian, French or even American branded lines using African leather and organic cotton, nor is there a realization of the state of the art manufacturing facilities all over the continent.
They built a thin layer, or "nanostructure, " using minute particles of titanium dioxide, a substance that reacts with sunlight to break down dirt and other organic material and can be coated on cotton to keep the fabric clean.
The cost of organic conversion and lower crop yields than regular cotton (at least in the early years after a switch) have quelled farmers' interest.
ECONOMIST: Ethically minded shoppers turn their focus to cotton
Often the better environmental decision is not to choose a natural or organic path, as one would expect, but to go synthetic--like choosing polyester clothes over cotton.
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