Can you picture a clothing material made from the best cotton in the world, a piece that not only fits and adapts perfectly to the human body, softly covering it, making it feel fresh and comfortable, but also that it also is elastic and adaptable? Could you also picture this fiber allowing the fusion between your body and the clothing, adjusting itself to all the movements as if it were a second skin? Can you now add to the picture this being completely eco-friendly?

The answer, impossible as it may seem, is real. This material exists, and it produces a lovely, pleasant feeling on your skin. It is called ORGANIC COTTON.

Let us explain to you what exactly Organic Cotton is

Cotton is a natural fiber of vegetal origin. This fiber is made from the seed of the plant. The best cotton seed it exists is called “GOSSYPIUM BARBARENSE”, and the area with the best growing conditions for it is in Egypt, being distinctively named as GIZA cotton.

Which is the process?

Its seeds grow in a microclimate next to the Nile banks. Between the months of June and September, the rainy season, the Nile rises and overflows resulting in flooded basins and banks. When the level of the water lowers, the soil is impregnated with very fertile black silt; in fact, Egypt is also known as Kemet, Black Land. In October, when the water level drops, seeds are then planted in this black silt where they will grow and flourish well nourished and with an optimum humidity level and ideal temperature. As a result, seeds grown and develop into special and unique cotton, known world-wide for its quality.

Let’s take a quick parenthesis to talk about standard cotton. For regular cotton to grow and develop properly, it needs a considerate amount of water. This was not a problem until recently. Today’s world population has expanded in the last decades considerably; in fact, it has increased from 3,6 billion people in the 1960s to 7,8 billion in 2020;that means it has more than double in the last 80 years. This increase has, consequently, raised the demand for water. In times of shortage of water supply, the deficit escalates affecting the ecosystem and the economy. On top of that, we must recall that fact that global climate change has intensified the amount and duration of droughts. In this scenario, regular cotton has become a harder crop to cultivate.

Another side effect of droughts is the appearance of pests that attack and destroy plantations. Cotton is a crop that is highly sensitive to pest attacks. Furthermore, these insects are known to develop over time a resistance to insecticides, pesticides and fungicides. To win this battle against resilient insects, farmers use genetically modified seeds and synthetic fertilizers. As explained earlier, cotton crops have a severe impact on the ecosystem; all this takes us to the conclusion that current cotton production methods are environmentally unsustainable.

This situation made the fashion industry rethink its methods of obtaining raw materials, and think more in terms of organic, eco-friendly, and biologically available products.

And what benefits does this fabric provide?

Organic Cotton, contrary to traditional cotton, is rain-fed, efficiently managed and nourished with all the organic materials present in the soil. Its seeds are not genetically modified, and the fertilizers are natural and non-toxic. There are not chemicals involved in the pests control mechanisms; instead, natural resources such as other non-harmful insects that are natural enemies to cotton pests like ladybirds and bees are supported.

Clothing and other products fabricated with organic cotton do not add whitening agents highly toxic like chlorine or chemical ones like those coming from copper, chrome, or zinc before bleaching. Plus, all the dyeing products come from natural sources.

We must also keep in mind the fact that human skin is a very porous organ, which means it has a tendency to easily absorb substances that are in contact with it. Organic cotton, not containing any toxic substances, is not harmful nor does it cause any allergic reactions. In turn, that means that the skin transpires and breaths better, making it feel fresher and more natural. On top of that, organic cotton is softer and thus more comfortable than regular cotton.

All this said, we must point out the fact that the production of organic cotton is strictly regulated and follows precise traceability rules. Fields are controlled and checked, guaranteeing that harvesting processes are followed. The quality of the fiber, the spinning processes, the production rooms, the dyeing methods and the finishing touches are all under strict control; even the cutting of the final design follows scrupulous regulations. In other words, the entire process from A to Z is controlled and signed off before it gets to the final customer with the organic mark approved. Let us add that this ORGANIC mark does also include a certified fair trade certification, which includes a fair salary and fair working conditions.

And what about certifications?

There is a series of certifications that follow the entire process as you can imagine; yet the most important one is the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). The GOTS guarantees that the entire production process from start to finish undertakes the established: criteria, socially, economically, and ecologically speaking.

Now, we hope you have a better understanding that by using ZD’s undergarments, you also contribute to the well-being of the planet and to our eco-system.

And at the end of the day, remember: our organic-cotton garments will bring you extreme comfort, softness, and freshness, with guaranteed no allergic reactions. Should you dare? We think so.