Why We Switched to Organic Cotton
Conventional cotton uses 16% of the world's insecticides. Here's what that means, and why we moved our entire apparel line to certified organic.
Two years ago, we made a quiet decision: every cotton product we sell would be certified organic by the end of 2025. We hit that target last month. Here's why we did it, and what we learned along the way.
The Case Against Conventional Cotton
Cotton is one of the most chemical-intensive crops on earth. Despite covering only 2.5% of global farmland, it accounts for 16% of insecticide use and 7% of pesticide use. It's also thirsty — a single t-shirt can require up to 2,700 liters of water to produce.
What "Organic" Actually Means
Real organic certification (we use GOTS) means:
- No synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
- No GMO seeds
- Rigorous labor standards throughout the supply chain
- Restrictions on dyes and finishing chemicals
It's not marketing. It's audited.
The Tradeoffs
Organic cotton isn't cheap. Our wholesale costs went up 30-40%. We absorbed most of that rather than pass it on — our prices rose about 10%.
Quality-wise? The fabric feels better. Longer staple fibers make for softer, more durable garments. After a year of wearing our new tees, we haven't seen the pilling or thinning we used to get on conventional cotton.
What's Next
Cotton was the first step. We're now working through our non-cotton lines — wool, linen, hemp — and looking at recycled synthetics for our bags and outerwear.
If you've got questions or suggestions, we'd love to hear them.