Learn a bit,
Articles from Salts Organic Clothing:

Clean Green!
5 Eco-Friendly tips for Cleaning!

Whats so Great about Bamboo Fabric?
Heres 7 Brilliant Reasons!

Whats all this about Soybean Fabric?
4 Interesting Facts on Soy!

Why Wear Organic Cotton? 
Some compelling reasons!

How to Care for Sustainable Fabrics!
Caring for Organic Cotton, Bamboo, Soy and Hemp.

What Makes Organic Clothing Organic?
Information on Organic Cotton Certification.

What is Sustainable Clothing Anyways?
Article on Sustainable Clothing Production.

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Articles from Salts

Organic and Sustainable Eco Fashion FAQ! Answers to your important Eco-Fashion Questions.

We get a lot of questions about sustainable clothing and Eco Fashion through our website and I wanted to take a moment to answer a few of the most frequent Eco Clothing questions here.

#1. Whats so terrible about normal fabrics? Why switch to Eco Friendly Textiles?

Regular Cotton uses a lot of pesticides and herbicides which poison the ocean, near by streams and the land in general. When we use organic cotton we don't support the use of chemicals in crop production. Other textiles like polyester are made from petroleum which is not sustainable to produce or to manufacture into fabric. The resulting process if left unchecked can be extremely detrimental to the planet and produces an excess amount of greenhouse gases. Such fabrics also poison people, your skin is your biggest organ and takes in everything that you put on it. Making the switch to healthier, chemical free fabrics is great start in protecting you health as well. Regular crop production is also known to poison local streams and water supply for the people living near by, this is usually done in 3rd world countries where the locals can't just run down to the store for some bottled water and are left with little options but to drink up.

Salts Organic Clothing searches out the best fabrics available in order to protect the planet and others from the harm that these chemicals can cause.

#2. Where is Salts Organic Clothing made?

Salts is designed in a small Studio Boutique in lovely Sooke, BC. I design, chose the custom colors and make the first patterns. Once the design is to my liking I have the garments manufactured in a small Factory in Vancouver, BC or make them myself.  The Salts line is redesigned twice a year (once for Spring/ Summer and once for Fall/ Winter). I am adding a basics collection for Spring 09 which will complement our seasonal line.

We try our best to source fabrics and yarns from as close to our manufacturing in Vancouver as possible. We have many of our fabrics milled in Canada, use Canadian thread and are always seeking the best in sustainable sources for our clothing.

#3. Are you going to do More Men's clothing soon?

I have a new men's shirt coming out for Fall 08 and planning on adding 4 pcs to the men's line for Spring 09. I am open to suggestions on what the eco-Friendly men shoppers out there would like to see for them. I do get a lot of men approaching me at markets asking about the men's stuff. Its definitely a section of the line that will grow over time.

#4. Where can I buy Salts Organic Clothing and other Eco Friendly Eco Fashion lines?
 
The absolute best places are in our own online store, or etsy shop.  If you can come out to our brick and mortar store in Beautiful Sooke, BC on Vancouver Island that will be a great place for you to get your fill of all things Salts.  Check out our shop on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC and enjoy our great selection of Men's, Women's and Children's eco friendly clothing and eco Friendly shoes. Another good way is to try out our secure online store. You can also check the list of stores that sell Salts and find a location near you. All of the great stores that we sell to also carry other terrific sustainable clothing lines.

#5. Where do you ship too? I live in Europe, Australia, Japan, etc...?

Our Eco Friendly Online store is set up to ship for free anywhere in Canada and the US when you spend over $100.00 (there is a 6.50 charge for COD shipping, shipping for credit card made payments is free). Costs for shipping to the United States are minimal and range from $12 -$20 if you spend less than $100.00 depending on how far away from Vancouver Island you are. Please email me for a direct quote before you order or ask for one in the comments section when you are placing your order. For International orders we can get you a quote at the time of ordering, the cost depends on your country and the size of your order. We recommend getting a few friends together to place a larger order to help with overseas shipping costs and also to cut down on the environmental footprint of shipping overseas.

#6. How do I get updates on Salts Organic Clothing and learn more about Sustainable Fashion?

The best way to get updates on Salts is to join the newsletter. You can find the sign up box on the first page of our website at www.SaltsOrganic.com.  The news letter gives you the latest on Eco Fashion and Eco Products as well as informs you about the new happenings in the Sustainable Clothing world of Salts. Some great sites to learn about sustainability and the Eco Friendly life style in general are treehugger.com and The Eco Friendly Way of Life Blog.

#7. I want to learn more about eco fabrics and Eco Friendly Clothing? Do you have more info?

Take a gander at some of our older blog posts, I always write on new eco-friendly information as I find it. You can check the articles on the Eco Friendly Lifestyle

Dress Pure.
Do Good.

Salts.

Eco Fashion Update for Spring. Fabulous Eco Fashions in great sustainable fabrics.

Want to move in the Eco Fashion direction this spring? Here are some of our top picks for a sustainable wardrobe. These pieces are easy going and can move into any wardrobe seamlessly. Made from cushy fabrics in Bamboo, Certified Organic Cotton and
hemp there is sure to be something that you are dying to have.

Not sure your ready to jump on the Eco Fashion bandwagon? Check out this article on Why Eco Fashion is so hot.
Whats is Eco Fashion you ask? Well, the Sustainable Technology Education Project which is a non-profit organization that "aims to increase people's awareness of sustainable technology, enabling them to recognize the economic, environmental and social impacts of their own technology choices." has an opinion. They say that Eco-Fashions are clothing that " that take into account the environment, the health of consumers and the working conditions of people in the fashion industry.” . Great definition.

Here are some of the key Eco-Fashion pieces from Salts Organic Clothing this Spring 2009. These items will be available in stores across Canada and the US in May 2009. For a listing of stores where Salts is available please go to the Salts Clothing website. You can also buy Salts online on
Etsy.

From top to bottom we have, the Tough Cookies Jacket in hemp/ organic cotton fleece, next is the Laughter skirt which plays double duty as a dress. The little tank here is the Crossback tank in hemp organic cotton jersey or bamboo organic cotton jersey fabrics. On the bottom the model wears the Kicks Yoga Track Pant in Certified organic cotton. Last but not least is the Dandelion tube in black and the Leaf Skirt in Crimson red. Both items are currently available on Etsy.com. The skirt again can be work as a great tube tunic style top.

Stay tunes to the Salts blog for more updates on Spring 2009 trends and
eco fashion trends. Next article will be on our killer bamboo organic cotton dress. Yum.
 
 



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Clean Green!
5 Eco-Friendly tips for Cleaning...

Clean GREEN!

We all know it’s easy to pick up a super-cleaner and tackle household grime. But there are some age-old tricks that are a lot healthier and just as effective! We at Salts would like to encourage you to clean Green. We found a great article by Lisa Boushy at W Network with some tips to get the job done the eco-friendly way:

1. A simple and safe mixture of vinegar and water (half and half) poured into a refillable spray bottle will do wonders on anything from windows and glass to ceramic floors and counter-tops. Try adding a half-cup each of baking soda and borax to your mixture to tackle tougher spots.

2. Many liquid laundry can cause skin irritations and allergies. A better alternative is to use either bar soaps or eco-laundry disks. Disks soften the water, are hypoallergenic, reusable and economical in the long run (most last for hundreds of loads).

3. Hanging clothes outside whenever possible will save on energy costs. But if you really must use the dryer, try to skip the fabric softeners that are loaded with chemicals. Instead, throw in a ball of aluminum foil, which will help reduce static cling.

4. Forgo the latest trend in disposable cleaning wipes - they contribute to clogged landfills. Try organic cotton, hemp or lint-free micro-fiber cloths, which will help prevent those stubborn streaks. Micro-fibre cloths are especially good for the removal of grime on stoves, tubs and sinks - they won't scratch the surfaces.

5. Hemp-seed oil and beeswax are great non-toxic, pure and safe finishing oils that provide clear coatings as well as protect wood grains and painted surfaces. Both can be used for walls, decks, furniture, antiques and floors. They’re even safe for cutting boards and children’s wooden toys. Here’s a great homemade recipe you can use to polish your wooden floors:

  • 1/8 cup hemp oil (olive or vegetable oil works too)
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon vodka. Try grading some beeswax into the mix and voila — sparkling floors!

Read the full article by Lisa Boushy

Much Love,

Salts

 
Organic Cotton

Why Wear Organic Cotton?

Salts Organic Clothing uses on certified organic cotton. We also use sustainable fabrics like bamboo, soy and hemp. As Shelter Apparel we used regular cotton, it was hard to find organic cotton in the beautiful fabrics that we can find it in now. We have changed the name and began to use all organic and sustain ables because it is way easier on the environment of course. We also use it because the fabric feels amazing and has many great properties.

Each T-shirt made with 100% organic cotton saves 1/3 a pound of synthetic fertilizers and farm chemicals from entering the ecosystems. By ecosystems I mean the water you drink, the surf you surf and all the life you see outside your window. Cotton is also used as a food for cattle (the seed and fiber) and cottonseed oil is an ingredient in many processed foods. But because it attracts weeds and pests and is not considered a food in regular terms farmers load it up with toxic chemicals. Cotton is one of the most grown crops in the world so the effects from this are significant.

Conventionally grown cotton accounts for 2% of the farmland world wide. It is responsible for 10% of the worlds pesticide use and 25% of the worlds insecticide use. The crops are sprayed from above affecting near by streams, farm houses and people. In contrast organic cotton uses beneficial bugs and manure in place of the chemicals. Organic Cotton also uses crop rotation methods, hand-weeding and cover crops as methods to ensure good crops. To use a field as organic the field must be free of chemical for 3 years. The cotton is processed according to acceptable standards.

These are some of the reasons that Salts has chosen to go Organic!

Sincerely,
Salts Organic Clothing

 



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How to Care for Sustainable Fabrics!  Caring for Organic Cotton, Bamboo, Soy and Hemp.

Don't be afraid of sustainable fabrics! They feel great, silky and are terrific to wear but they also wash like a dream. Here are some tips on caring for Salts Organic's Sustainable styles!

Viscose from Bamboo: Viscose from Bamboo is a really hearty fabric, it has a silky feel but you can wash and dry it like cotton. It even lasts better than cotton. We recommend on our Viscose from Bamboo garments that you cold wash on regular or delicate and hang dry (uses less power). If you are in a time crunch you can always throw it in the dryer though with no worries! At Salts we mix the bamboo with organic cotton so you have the properties of cotton and bamboo. This makes for a great easy care item. Enjoy.

Soy: Soy is a bit more delicate than viscose from bamboo. It is also mixed with organic cotton at Salts. We recommend a cold water wash and tumble dry (again hang dry to save power and $). Spot treat any stains as needed, but make sure you test your stain treatment on an area that won't show if the color gets bleached. Bamboo, Organic Cotton and Soy all can be ironed freely. Our Soy Bella Wrap Hoodie is shown above in Natural color.

Organic Cotton: Organic Cotton, is....well...Cotton. You can wash, dry and iron like you would with normal cotton. Cotton always shows wear and tear if you apply a lot of heat to it, so go easy on hot dryers.

Hemp: Hemp is the heartiest fabric of them all. Hemp actually looks and feels better the more you wash and dry it! It softens up over time like your favorite jeans. So do what ever you want to it. Wash, Dry, hang dry and press, whatever suits your fancy.

Dress Pure. Salts.

 



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What Makes Organic Clothing Organic? Information on Organic Cotton Certification.

Organic this and organic that is all the buzz these days, but what exactly makes clothing organic? Salts Organic Clothing is made with certified Organic Cotton, not regular cotton. Many Bamboo, Soy, Tencel and Hemp fabric blends are made with regular cotton, not organic cotton. Certified organic fabrics are certified by several governing bodies depending on where they are from. It all starts with the fiber that makes the organic fabric. Salts Organic fabrics are certified by the Control Union World Group formally called SKAL. Some state and governmental bodies also have their own certifying bodies that certify Organic Cotton from their area. Certification processes and procedures may vary depending on the certifying organization, but the underlying values are the same. The organization IFOAM, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement is currently in the process of Defining Organic Agriculture in less than 300 words that will encompass all the objectives of organic farming.

The CUWG or SKAL can certify the fiber or the yarn. All organic land used to grow organic cotton must be treated organically for 3 years in order to be certified. To be treated organically the field must not be sprayed with any pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. Crop rotation, manure fertilizer and other earth friendly farming techniques are used instead. Organic Cotton for organic clothing is now grown in 18 countries but still only fills .01% of the total cotton market in the world. According to 2001 statistics the largest producers of organic cotton was the United States, India, Turkey and Peru.

Simply put, organic clothing is made from fabrics that were made from yarns that were made from Fibers that were grown on certified organic fields. These fields are gentle on the environment which has advantages to humans and nature alike. Many small farming villages have faced health struggles due to chemical use on cotton fields. Nature can only dilute and disperse so much chemical until it will begin to affect us all. We will all begin to notice these chemicals it in our food and water supplies eventually. Buying Organic Clothing is one way that you can be gentle on the earth.

Sincerely,
Salts Organic Clothing

 



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What does Sustainable mean anyways? Sustainable Clothing Production Information.

The dictionary defines Sustainability as "the attempt to provide the best outcomes for both human and natural environments both now and in the indefinite future." The Brundtland Commission defines sustainable development as development that, "meets the needs of the present with out compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

In basic terms, what does this mean when used in Sustainable Clothing Production? It means that ever effort is made from the fiber to finished product to ensure the least harmful and most natural materials are used. Also using the least energy possible to produce and distribute the clothing. Starting at the fiber, using natural, easily renewable fibers like bamboo help lessen the amount of land and energy used. Using organic cotton instead of regular cotton prevents chemicals from getting into the surrounding natural and human environments. Using fibers found closest to the end retail location also cuts down on energy consumption.

The milling process of turning the organic fiber into a sustainable clothing item is also important. What chemicals are used to process the fiber? Some bamboo fabrics are processed heavily with chemical before they are finished. Natural color organic cotton and hemp is best because little processing is needed to make the finished fabric. What are the dyes used? Are they the least harmful kind or even natural dyes? Again mills located close to the where the clothing will end up are best for less energy use.

The next level of production is the cutting and sewing of the sustainable clothing. Local is best, when items are made locally it is using less energy in transport. It is also great to shop local for from a community sustainability perspective. Shopping from a local reputable source also insures that fair labour practices are being used. Shipping is the final rung on the sustainable clothing ladder. Shipping less equals less energy and less environment damage.


All of these things add up to what it takes to make organic, sustainable clothing. When a company pays attention to what it takes out of the world to make its product it makes all of our futures brighter and more secure.

Love,
Salts Organic Clothing

 

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