California Companies Go Organic in Chicago
Los Angeles–based T-shirt maker American Apparel was among a group of California manufacturers participating in the second annual Wear Organic! Fashion Show, held during the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) All Things Organic conference on May 4 in Chicago.
Twenty-three companies took part in the fashion show, including California-based Ecoganik, Ecoland, Indigenous Designs, Nature USA, Sense Organics, Wildlife Works and World Peace.
The event featured apparel made with organic fibers, such as organic cotton, wool and linen. All the fabrics were made from materials grown using methods that have a low impact on the environment, including nontoxic and pesticidefree techniques that replenish and maintain soil fertility and encourage biodiversity.
The fashions on the catwalk included casual sportswear, athletic apparel, childrenswear, yoga and spa wear, and home textiles such as robes and towels.
Nike Inc. co-sponsored the runway show. The Beaverton, Ore.–based company has made a commitment to include at least 5 percent organic cotton in all its cotton apparel produced worldwide by 2010.
The conference also included seminars on marketing organic fiber products and a review of the OTA’s new organic fiber-processing standards.
The organic fiber market grew 22.7 percent in 2003 and now garners approximately $85 million in sales in the United States, according to the “2004 Manufacturer Survey” published by the OTA.
The OTA is a membership-based organization made up of more than 1,450 members, including growers, shippers, retailers, processors, certifiers, farmers associations, brokers and consultants. The group was founded to encourage global sustainability through promoting organic trade.
The next All Things Organic conference will be held April 30–May 3, 2005, in Chicago and will coincide with the International Conference on Textiles.
For more information, visit www.ota.com. —Alison A. Nieder
