Sustainable Clothing For Kids: What is it and how can you get involved?

We've been thinking about sustainability for a while. Particularly as it pertains to our homes, our commuting habits and our food. We may even have thought about it when buying clothes for ourselves. But how much thought have we given to what we buy for our little ones, where it comes from, what it's made from and how it's made? And what do all the buzz words mean anyway?

Buzzwords are often thrown about with little to no explanation on what they mean. Many companies realise that it's profitable to be associated with a clean and green movement and jump on the bandwagon. It's important to understand some of these key terms so that we know what to look for when shopping for our families.

Sustainable fashion is an all-inclusive term describing products, processes, activities, and actors (policymakers, brands, consumers) aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral fashion industry, built on equality, social justice, animal welfare, and ecological integrity.

In short, the movement is more planet-friendly and worker-friendly than the "fast fashion" we are used to. Sustainable clothing is often associated with slow fashion. Clothing is designed and constructed to last and be re-worn and passed on. Items are made from eco-friendly fabrics, which include reused, organic, and recycled materials. Sustainable clothing companies pay their employees a fair wage and provide safe working conditions. Sustainable companies are conscious of their carbon footprint and consider all elements of their supply chain including the impact of their shipping processes.

At the same time, people are becoming more conscious of fabric choice for their kids and this is the reason why many sustainable kidswear & clothing stores are opening. You can buy ethically made sustainable kids' clothing in NYC at my GREEN kid.

How are Clothes Made with Eco-Friendly Fibers?

Natural fabrics are more environmentally friendly than synthetic fabrics like polyester. Consider the organic cotton industry. It is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers and farmers harvest rotational corps to maintain the fertility of the land.

There are other eco-friendly fabrics also available that are made from renewable fibers that are simple to grow or produce. According to environmental websites, the following are the best eco-friendly and organic fabric options. Choose Climate Neutral and Reliable Clothing.

What exactly are sustainable textiles for children?

Organic Linen: It is made from flax, a plant that requires far less water, fertilizer, and pesticides than cotton. It is easy to compost or recycle into paper and requires little energy to manufacture.

Organic Muslin: It is a textile made from plants and organic cotton. The process of weaving this material used to be done by hand, but manufacturers now use machines to produce large amounts in a short amount of time.

Hemp: It requires little fertilizer or pesticides. Canvas, denim, jersey, fleece, and twill are all organic fabrics that can be produced from hemp.

Bamboo: It has both advantages and disadvantages as a sustainable fiber. It grows quickly and requires almost no pesticides. It produces a soft, easy-to-care-for fabric. However, turning the fibers into cloth frequently necessitates the use of toxic chemicals.

Lyocell: A fabric made from wood pulp, typically from the eucalyptus tree, which grows quickly and requires little water or chemicals to grow. The material produced is naturally wrinkle-resistant, making it simple to maintain.

Alpaca: Alpacas are native to Peru and are related to llamas. They have long hair with beautiful soft fibers. Alpacas are hardy animals that do not require much food or water. They can also remain healthy without the use of antibiotics. Alpaca wool is more eco-friendly than cashmere.

Organic wool: Organic sheep farms do not use traditional toxic pesticides on their pastures or treat their animals with toxic dips. Organic farmers keep their sheep and pastures healthy by fertilizing the soil with the animals' manure.

Silk: It is produced by silkworm caterpillars. This natural fabric is both lightweight and long-lasting. It decomposes naturally at the end of its life.

Sustainable children's clothing contains fewer chemical compounds.

Toxic dyes are a major issue in many fast fashion fabrics. Many traditional dyes contain hazardous chemicals, and the dyeing process consumes a large amount of water. Much of the dye is washed out during the coloring process, polluting rivers throughout the developing world.

Does this imply that white fabric is a better option? No way, because the snow-white fabric is usually bleached with chlorine. The bleaching process produces dioxins, a class of chemical compounds that can cause cancer and harm to many bodily systems.

Natural and low-impact dyes are a greener alternative. Natural dyes, such as cochineal and indigo, are derived from plants, insects, or animals. Low-impact dyes contain fewer toxic chemicals and require less water to manufacture. Unbleached fabric, which has a natural, off-white color, is another green option.

Recycled Plastic vs Upcycling

Another way to make eco-friendly children's clothing is to use recycled materials. For example, fleece is frequently made from recycled plastic bottles. This converts a waste product into something useful while lowering the use of nonrenewable oil.

Recycling old polyester garments can also be used to create new polyester fabric. Recycling polyester uses less energy and produces less pollution than producing fabric from petroleum. My Green Kids offers swimsuits crafted from an eco-friendly and sustainable techno-fabric made from 100% recycled polyester from pre and post-consumer waste.

Reusing clothing is the most environmentally friendly option. Recycling reduces waste and energy use, but reusing clothes nearly eliminates both. You can find

The most straightforward method of reusing children's clothing is to simply pass it on to new users. For example, take any gently used garments in good condition to a thrift store or sell them online. Pass on outgrown clothing from older children to younger children.

Workplaces that Value Employees: Where Clothes Are Made

The primary goal of sustainable clothing is to protect the environment. However, many environmentally conscious companies are also concerned about human rights. Truly sustainable clothing must be produced in ways that are both safe and healthy for workers.

Look for Fair Trade Certified labeled children's clothing. To be eligible for this label, manufacturers must promise to pay a living wage to all of their employees. They must also ensure that their factories are safe and that their production is environmentally friendly.

Children's Clothing Certifications

When it comes to sustainable clothing, there is a lot of confusing jargon, but there is a safe way to evaluate a brand's green credentials. Certifications are important because they reveal a lot about how a garment was made and the working conditions.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) regulates the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading, and distribution of all textiles containing at least 70% certified organic fibers. GOTS certification also includes an "organic" grade, which means it must contain at least 95% certified organic fibers.

Employees should be able to choose their own jobs. No child labor is permitted. Finally, health and safety standards are met, and reasonable wages are paid.

Oeko-Tex Standard Certification

The Oeko-Tex Standard is a four-tier system for assessing the toxicity of chemicals found in clothing. Independent inspectors conduct compliance testing. Oeko-Tex certification is frequently awarded in tandem with GOTS certification.

Fair Trade Certification

If a company has Fair Trade Certification, it means that its employees are paid fairly and work in safe conditions. According to the Fair Trade website, "a Fair Trade certified seal means a product was made in accordance with rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards." You can be confident that the methods used in the material's production protect both the people who made them and the environment.

Purchasing ethically made, sustainable clothes for kids not only keeps them protected from harmful chemicals but also allows you to contribute your bit to a cleaner, greener earth. The Green Kid, an ethical and sustainable kids' clothing store in Manhattan, New York, stocks the largest collection of unique unisex styles from women owned brands.

215 West 88th Street
New York City
New York
10024

We take the research off your hands, getting to know the processes and the product behind each of the brands we stock, so that you can be sure you're supporting ethical and sustainable small businesses. We bring you items that will last long enough to be passed from sibling to sibling, cousin to cousin and friend to friend. We don't compromise on quality clothing for your little ones.

This release was published on openPR.