Greenfibres

I saw it on the BBC News last night.  There is water on the moon … lots of  it!  Concretely this means that one day the moon will/could/might be able sustain human life.  As this news clip followed many more news clips on recession, nuclear armaments, climate change, terrorism and military conflict, this seemed like good news indeed.  Sorting out this planet has become so complicated, complex, costly and contentious that the prospect of a new one might just be the answer.  Might it?! 

I started Greenfibres 13 years ago in an attempt to help sort out a few things in this life and on this planet.  Don’t get me wrong:  I’d love for Greenfibres to have a lunar outlet in 200 years time supplying a natural collection of  ethically and environmentally responsibly produced textiles and products to ’moonies’.  I just feel that if we cannot make life work on this planet we actually do not have the right to get it wrong again on a different planet.  So let’s all try a bit harder and maybe one day we can legitimately enjoy the view from the moon, the view of our lovely, blue planet.

Gabriela Lana

When times are hard, the way you spend your money takes on a greater significance. The ‘organic’ label has sometimes been associated with premium prices, yet when you factor in the higher quality, the positive effect on biodiversity, and the health benefits to the individual and the planet, they often provide better value over time than cheaper alternatives (not to mention the hidden costs conventional products impose on the tax payer).

Supporting your local farmers and growers keeps money in the local economy, where it can help to bolster employment and quality of life.  Greenfibres makes the vast majority of its clothing and bedding products in the UK and in Continental Europe, so even with textiles you can still make choices based on local, health, and ethical grounds.

Conventional cotton – despite its ‘clean and natural’ image – is one of the most polluting crops in the world. Grown on  about 1 hectare in 25 (of the world’s arable land) it accounts for around 1/4 of the global insecticide market. So buying organic cotton clothing and bedding can make a significant contribution to the reduction of insecticide use, as well as cutting out a potential source of toxins in your home and in contact with your skin.

Most people are surprised by the idea that they can absorb toxic chemicals from contact with clothing – until they think about how nicotine patches work. Finishing chemicals (for example formaldehyde) commonly used on conventional cotton can be absorbed into the skin in the same way.

The economic, social, and spiritual crisis we’re going through is deep enough that ideas thought of as ‘off the wall’ 3 years ago, are now being considered as ‘possibilities’ by mainstream politicians and decision makers.  By supporting small, independent, ethical businesses aimed at “doing things better” – rather than always “growth” – you’re contributing to a more thoughtful and sustainable future.  Thanks / Ph

I’ve got a slot on the plinth ( see here for video ), this Sat. between 1 and 2 am.(!)  I’d like to do something that connects the people who are around the plinth with the person on the plinth (me), and makes the whole experience more of a community one.  So I’ll be throwing tennis balls … (only to those who know they are coming) with the idea of exploring the challenges climate change and peak oil confront us with, as well as flagging up the opportunities the changes offer.  I realise at that time many people will be coming out of pubs and clubs, as well as waiting for late night buses, but I’ll probably still have a rant about the evils of conventional cotton, and the solutions organic cotton can provide … from farmer health & wealth issues, to garment worker conditions, and end-user comfort & peace (sorry) piece of mind.

We’ve been an ethical textile company for 13 years now, and although I know a fair amount about the industry, I never realised how toxic tennis balls are … (for example, the vast majority are not suitable for use as toys for dogs as the dye used is carcinogenic). I’m labelling mine with the time, date, number (1 of 100 etc.), event name, and putting a few fun & thought provoking (I hope) words on them.  I’d like to get across a message that organic businesses in general – and organic textile businesses specifically – are part of the solution, and have a bit of fun doing it. Cheers / William

Having spent the last 2 weeks travelling and visiting family on the continent I delight in coming back to my organic bed.  Nothing beats the pleasure of snuggling up into natural materials and crisp organic cotton.  As a matter of fact, I like taking a small Greenfibres organic wool pillow with me and make sure there’s always enough space in my suitcase for it.  It’s literally my ‘comfort pillow’ , I guess.  Gabriela Lana

1. You avoid contact with synthetic chemical surface treatments.
A switch to an organic mattress and organic bedding will instantly reduce your exposure by about one third – or whatever proportion of the day you spend in bed. One of the most common fire retardants used on mattresses – boric acid – is also used to kill rats!

2. You support organic farming.
By choosing organic clothing, you divert your disposable income towards supporting organic agriculture, which will encourage more farmers to employ environmentally friendly farming methods.

3. You support ethical and safe working practices.
Farmers working on organic farms are exposed to fewer chemicals. Each year, an estimated 60 million pounds of organophosphate pesticides are applied to U.S. agricultural crops and an additional 17 million pounds are used per year for non-agricultural uses, such as in household pest control products and lawn and garden sprays.

4. You support the use of natural colour and natural dyed fabrics.
Dyeing fabrics and yarns consumes a great deal of energy and produces large quantities of toxic waste. Natural-grown colours remove this processing stage altogether, while natural dyes are generally much less polluting than synthetics.

5. You support fair and ethical trade practices.
There is a strong and growing link between organic and ethical practices among groweres, manufacturers and retailers. Soil Association organic textiles standards now contain the most comprehensive requirements for safe working practices and fair trade.

6. You reduce the allergens present in the environment.
By choosing chemical-free, organic fabrics, you help to reduce the background level of potentially allergenic chemical compounds. A recent U S National Academy of Sciences study suggested that one in four developmental and behavioural problems in children may be linked to genetic and environmental factors, including exposure to lead, mercury and organophosphate pesticides.

7. You save on toxic waste.
Organic fabrics can be composted safely, without contributing to toxins in the soil.

8. You support biodiversity.
Organic farming aids biodiversity at every level of the food chain, by using fewer pesticides and fertilisers and by adopting wildlife-friendly habitat management techniques.

9. You save energy.
Conventional farming is a huge consumer of non-renewable fossil fuels. Organic farms tend to use less energy, instead focusing on careful ecological management and natural balances to solve pest problems.

10. You can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
What you wear says something about you, even if it doesn’t have a slogan printed on it!

I have been busy creating a worldwide organic textiles directory with a textiles glossary attached.

Let me know how you think it could be improved.

“As an existing customer I am impressed with your reliability and fairness in your dealings with me. FYI: The same cannot be said of my experiences of **  with whom we no longer trade – between my daughter and myself we have been sadly disappointed in at least 5 orders (phone an 0870 number if there is a problem with the order….. and it costs a fortune, invoiced the full price for a 1/2 price sale, sent one half of a set of pyjamas because the other half wasn’t available etc etc) . It all makes us wonder if they treat customers so badly, how do they treat suppliers? Keep up the good work, regards, (name supplied)”

We know we are not perfect, but we do try.

If there is something we can do to improve your experience of shopping with us, do let us know.