Cotton

Cotton is a natural plant fiber harvested from the cotton boll, but conventional cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops grown, treated with glyphosate, organophosphates, and other agrochemicals in the field.

Most field pesticide residue degrades or washes out during processing, so it is the finishing chemistry on the finished garment you wear that matters most. Conventional cotton labeled wrinkle-free, easy care, or no-iron is frequently treated with formaldehyde-based durable-press resins, a recognized human carcinogen that off-gasses and is linked to contact dermatitis and skin irritation. Reactive and azo dyes can also leave residue that touches your skin all day. The upside: untreated cotton is genuinely breathable and lets air move against your skin, which is why it stays comfortable in heat.

Choose GOTS-certified organic cotton, which bans formaldehyde, chlorine bleach, and carcinogenic azo dyes across the entire supply chain, or look for OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, and always wash new cotton before the first wear to flush loose finish and dye.

Conventional cotton is water- and pesticide-heavy in cultivation, while organic systems sharply cut chemical inputs.