Organic Clothing

First and foremost, I'll begin by saying that I truly believe the environment is in need of attention. However, I don't feel as though this crisis is something that has magically surfaced within the past couple years. The state of the environment has been unstable long before Al Gore, or anyone else for that matter, decided raise awareness. As much as I would love to believe that so many people are genuinely concerned about the well-being of the environment, I personally think manufacturers and retailers are taking advantage of such a marketable cause.

Looking at the situation from the retail standpoint, it's fantastic that such masses are jumping on the "go green" bandwagon. I, myself, am even guilty of purchasing a shirt that states "Do Your Part", when I don't even recycle every soda bottle I consume. Just because someone buys a shirt that is tagged organic doesn't make them an environmentalist. Retailers are thriving by buying into the clothing, shoe, and other lines that are either organic, or support the "green" lifestyle. These items are what consumers want, especially now. Since environmental awareness is at such a heightened level, retailers are making the correct business decision by marketing such product lines.

Some may argue that products such as organic clothing are better for the consumer. "Regular cotton", used in most clothing manufacturing, is hosed down with gallons upon gallons of pesticides that are said to cause health issues ranging from headaches to birth defects. I may be wrong but I cannot bring myself to believe that a t-shirt I choose to wear may cause a birth defect whenever the time comes for me to have children. I think this absurdity is environmentalists way of going completely over the top. American people have more important problems than a cotton shirt causing health issues. So, basically, I see the marketability of organic goods, and yes, I believe that some manufacturers produce such goods for the betterment of the environment. However, looking at consumer trends makes me think this whole fanaticism of organic goods and "going green" is just the popular thing to do at the moment.