04 August 2017

Why GOTS-certified Organic Muslin vs Bamboo fabric

Why GOTS-certified Organic Muslin vs Bamboo fabric

One of the frequently asked questions when our custumers feel our fabric is “How is it so soft?”. Our Le Petit Society swaddles are made from the finest quality Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) Organic Cotton Muslin. It is non-chemical, hypoallergenic and lightweight. The GOTS certified organic cotton muslin is eco-concious and gentle on the baby's skin. More importantly, muslin is known as a safer alternative to other fabrics to protect your baby from overheating and reducing the risk of SIDS. Every swaddle is pre-washed, breatheable and ultra soft, becoming even softer with each use and washing. Which brings us to the next common question.  

“Is it bamboo?” 

This is when we launch into a lengthy explanation on how Bamboo Fabric is made and if it's really as eco-friendly as it claims. We thought we’d share our views here with you today so you can make wiser decisions when picking fabrics… Especially for your little ones.

  1. Organic Bamboo – Growing bamboo is greatly beneficial for the planet as Bamboo is touted as the world’s most sustainable resource. Though the growth of the plant is wonderfully sustainable, it is not always organic. And extremely hard to prove so.
  2. Manufacturing Process – There are two ways to process bamboo into fabric - mechanical or chemical. The mechanical way is by crushing the woody part of the bamboo then usual natural enzymes to break the bamboo walls (recall, very tough material!) into a mushy mass so the natural fibers can be mechanically combed out and spun into yarn. This is the same method used to produce linen from flax or hemp and yields similar textures. The result is called Bamboo Linen. Very little bamboo linen is manufactured because it’s more labor intensive and costly.

Chemically manufactured bamboo fiber is a regenerated cellulose fiber similar to rayon or model. They bear many similarities in the way it’s chemically treated and how it feels. Most bamboo fabric that is of the “eco-fashion” rage is chemically manufactured by “cooking” the bamboo leaves and woody shoots in strong chemical solvents such as sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide in a process known as hydrolysis alkalization combined with multi-phase bleaching. Both these chemicals have been linked to serious health issues. And because of the potential health risks and damage to the environment, this process is not considered sustainable or environmentally supportable. And should definitely not be used with babies and young children.

So our recommendations is, best to keep an eye on these “eco-fashion” trends as a lot of them, unfortunately, are just marketing tactics to make a quick sale. Ask the brands how their fabrics are sourced.

{Shop Organic Muslin Swaddles here}

In Le Petit Society, until we find a more transparent production process or sustainable source, our fabrics will not be filled with chemical because we believe that our children only deserve the best. Kids First. Always. 


Le Petit Society

Source : http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2007/09/bamboo-facts-be.html

Source : https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/13/bamboo.fabric