Organic cotton is generally understood as cotton, from non genetically modified plants, that is certified to be grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides. Its production also promotes and enhances biodiversity and biological cycles. As of 2007, 265,517 bales of organic cotton were produced in 24 countries and worldwide production was growing at a rate of more than 50% per year

Cotton covers 2.5% of the world’s cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world’s insecticides, more than any other single major crop. Other environmental consequences of the elevated use of chemicals in the non organic cotton growing methods consist of:

• High levels of agrochemicals are used in the production of non-organic, conventional cotton. Cotton production uses more chemicals per unit area than any other crop and accounts in total for 16% of the world’s pesticides.
• Chemicals used in the processing of cotton pollute the air and surface waters.
• Residual chemicals may irritate consumers’ skin.
• Decreased biodiversity and shifting equilibrium of ecosystems due to the use of pesticides. 

Cotton growers who make the transition to biologically based growing practices expect to not only offer a healthier and cleaner product, but to also benefit the planet. Some of the contributions to the different ecosystems include:

• Protecting surface and groundwater quality (eliminating contaminants in surface runoff)
• Reduced risk insect and disease control by replacing insecticide with the manipulation of ecosystems
• Long-term prevention of pests through beneficial habitat planting.
• Conservation of biodiversity
• Eliminate the use of toxic chemicals used in cotton
• Organically grown crops also yield soils with higher organic matter content, thicker topsoil depth, higher polysaccharide content, and lower modulus of rupture; therefore reducing considerably soil erosion.

Since organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, it should contain fewer pesticides than conventional cotton. Pesticides used in the production of conventional cotton include orthophosphates such as phorate and methamidophos, endosulfan (highly toxic to farmers, but not very environmentally persistent) and aldicarb. Other pesticides persisting in cotton fields in the United States include Trifluralin, Toxaphene and DDT. Although the last two chemicals are no longer used in the United States their long breakdown period and difficulty in removal ensures their persistence. Thus even organic cotton fields may contain them since conventional cotton fields can be transitioned to organic fields in 2-3 years.

Organic clothing is clothing that is made from materials that are raised or grown without the use of chemicals in the form of pesticides – herbicides or other chemicals.

Many highstreet retailers market organic clothing ranges that contain many chemicals from dyes to bleaches and other chemicals to aid transportation many thousands of miles from their manufacture in places such as China. It can take almost a 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizers to grow one pound of raw cotton in the US, and it takes just under one pound of raw cotton to make one t-shirt.

Turkey, India and the US produce organic fibers.

Authentic organic fabrics and clothing can help the environment in a number of ways, such as:

• Manufacture of chemicals is not required
• Chemical residues are not entered accidentally into the environment
• Humans and animals are not exposed to chemicals
• When the fabric is finished with chemicals are not returned to the earth in landfill, or enter into recycling process.

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This year the ELD is also including some top designers from Mexico, Holland, Moscow and Italy.

Shoreditch Town Hall, for more information

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We strongly recommend her; to other businesses, and also for personal commissions (families and weddings). She is very professional and is incredibly talented.  

She has posted some of our product shots on her blog – name-studios

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Nottingham Contemporary
Fantastic new modern art gallery opening in Nottingham – read about it here: http://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org – opening on 14th November with a David Hockney exhibition.

Ten Little Monkeys
Boutique childrens clothing store in Wilmslow, Cheshire selling  branded childrens fashion and gifts.  http://www.tenlittlemonkeys.co.uk/

My Little Eco
Small ethical online company specialising in Eco-friendly products.  Just launching a baby section of which we will be one of their suppliers! http://www.mylittleeco.co.uk/

Purple Dragon Play
A club in Battersea – ‘Purple Dragon is a state of the art new members club for families. It’s a destination where children learn through play, make new friends and have fun in a safe, creative environment that stimulates imagination and bolsters confidence. Adults can relax safe in the knowledge that their charges are having a great time, meet friends in the brasserie, pamper in the beauty room, or join one of the many classes just for them. Whether you are 6 months or 66 years old Purple Dragon is all about having fun!’
http://www.purpledragonplay.com/

Our Zoo collection in baby clothes and accessories were particularly popular this year, the panda graphic getting a lot of attention.

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We have exhibited here since 2007, it is now one of the key events of our calender. Although this exhibition is not specific to our industry (baby and childrens clothes), we feel our products are well represented here, where the focus is very much on design and aesthetic.

This year we are promoting some NEW homeware products, and NEW graphics in theZoo and Fruit Fiesta collections. 

‘Top Drawer is the retail industry’s final opportunity of the year to stock up on a wide range of design-led products for Christmas and beyond from a carefully edited selection of 600 of only the best suppliers. Products on display, many of which are exclusive product launches, include; gifts, home accessories, jewellery, fashion accessories, greeting cards & stationery, outdoor products, gift food and much more…’

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name-studios, UK baby and childrens clothing

Name-Studios has been trading as Name Clothing since 2006, designing and manufacturing design-led gifts for the baby and childrenswear market.

We have recently been designing products for older children and adults. The re-branding to Name-Studios will now act as an umbrella for more exciting products to come. Watch this space…..

We are very pleased to launch the new branding in conjunction with our fantastic new website. It showcases some of our new collections which have previously been sold only to wholesale stockists. These collections can be found and explained on our website.

Our new baby and childrens collections include:

•  theZoo - fun animal prints
• fruit fiesta – fruit prints promoting 5 a day and a healthy diet
• alphabet – alphabet letters or initials
• yourName – personalised baby and childrens clothes 

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“strawberry fruit bib, £7.50 available from http://www.nameclothing.co.uk”

Please note – our website address has changed since this article was published, it is now http://www.name-studios.co.uk

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