Organic and Eco-Friendly Products

A range of technologies have recently developed that utilize bamboo as the main fiber in fabric and fashion accessories.

Bamboo yarn can be used in its own pure form or alternatively it can be blended with cotton depending on what final texture is desired. In recent times bamboo has also been blended with such fibers as spandex and hemp.

History

Bamboo was originally used by the Chinese to weave shoes and hats. Bamboo hats were particularly popular in rural areas to protect farmers from the sun. In western areas of China bamboo was adapted to use as structural components in corsets.

Benefits

There are a number of environmental and health benefits to choosing bamboo. Some of these include:

1. Echo-friendly: Bamboo absorbs 35% more carbon dioxide than other trees. Research shows that if more bamboo was grown as a substitute for other trees it would have a significant effect on the current global warming issues.
2. Naturally Organic-When Bamboo is grown there is no need for pesticides or fertilizers. This makes it 100% natural and organic.
3. Hypoallergenic –Bamboo is 100% organic and natural and therefore does not contain in of the trace elements that cause irritation to sensitive skin.
4. Absorbent and breathable-Fabric woven from bamboo is porous in nature and has proved to be much more absorbent and breathable than other fabrics. This makes it ideal from towels and sheets.

Where can I purchase items bamboo alternatives?

Ettitude is a clothing manufacturing company that produces a range of clothing (for both adults and children), towels, sheets etc that are made from eco-friendly sustainable bamboo fiber and premium cotton. Silky soft and beautiful to touch, with all the wonderful attributes of bamboo and cotton, your precious little poppet will love wearing this comfy fabric against their delicate and sensitive skin!

Most people who choose organic do so because they ‘just know that it is better for them’ but how much impact can you actually have on our environment by choosing organic?

What is the extent of the problem?

Over time, pests have built up a resistance to pesticides. For this reason more and more pesticides need to be used in higher and higher concentrations to effectively kill pests. In 2000 alone, 940 million pounds of pesticides were used.

Research has shown that pesticide related acute poisoning and cancer account for over $1.1 Billion dollars of the public health budget each year.

What affect is it acutely having on me?

Research has indicated that there are links between the exposure to pesticides and the following health conditions:

• Immune system suppression
• Nervous system disorders
• Reproductive damage
• Cancer
• Parkinson’s disease
• Respiratory problems
• Skin and eye irritation

Who is most at risk and why?

Children are at the highest risk of being affected by pesticides. This is due to the fact that they have a very high metabolism and low body weight.

Pregnant women also need to be very aware of their exposure to pesticides and the effect this will have on their unborn baby.  Over exposure to pesticides during pregnancy has been suggested to contribute to autism, obesity, asthma, brain cancer and other childhood cancers.

What can I do about it?

Choosing organic options will dramatically reduce your exposure to pesticides. Any product produced under organic conditions is strictly prohibited against the use of any pesticide or chemical. Organic farmers therefore use biological and cultural methods to remove pest.

Ettitude is a company that strongly believes that each person or organization can make a different by the choices they make. They manufacture a wide range of baby and kids clothing, bamboo bedding, lien, down products and luxury towels that are all 100% organic and echo friendly.

Towels

A towel is a piece of absorbent cloth used for wiping or drying, whether to dry yourself or something else. The material draws moisture away from the body through contact, otherwise known as wicking (the flow of liquids through porous material). Bath towels are generally woven with a loop or pile for absorbency. Usually this involves the use of a dobby loom. Dobby is short for ‘draw boy’, which refers to the weaver’s helpers who used to control the warp thread by pulling on draw threads.

Bath towels are generally produced in single colours, although some are decorated with embroidery. The reason for not printing designs on towels is that towels are exposed to a lot of water and would probably not retain their patterns very long.

Traditionally produced towels are made from cotton or a blend of cotton and polyester. The raw material is spun into yarn, coated (with products such as PVA starch and wax), woven into fabric, bleached, dyed, hemmed and labeled. All towels are bleached white before it they are dyed, using chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, caustic defoamers and so on. The wet linen is subjected to high temperatures to create a chemical reaction, then it is washed a couple of times to rinse out all the chemicals. This process not only creates toxic byproducts as waste and uses huge amounts of water, but also leaves you exposed to toxic chemicals.

Bamboo Towels

Towels made from bamboo fibre are more environmentally friendly than traditionally made towels. Not only are they made from a highly sustainable and renewable resource that is naturally antifungal and antibacterial, but they are not treated with toxic chemicals such as bleach.

Bamboo towels are highly absorbent, silky smooth in texture, breathable, odor resistant and hypoallergenic. They are extremely durable because the pulp fibre is extracted naturally through steaming and boiling, not chemical processing, so its special structure is retained as are all its incredible properties.