June 30, 2010

Seattle, WA – Just in time for Independence Day celebrations on July 4^th, Seattle-based organic apparel manufacturer Greensource Organic Clothing Co. has worked with Walmart to create a patriotic line of men’s, boys, and toddler organic cotton tees and muscle shirts with a July 4^th flag motif. The shirts are available as part of Walmart’s “Faded Glory” brand and are available in red, white, navy, royal blue, heather, and black. The manufacturing process was done in an eco-friendly manner with all the dyes and inks certified to the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS).

This is the first time that Walmart has offered this large volume/low price ‘Flag Tee’ item in organic cotton.

“With Walmart’s Independence Day flag apparel, consumers can show they are patriotic and appreciative of the environment at the same time,” said David Basson, Greensource CEO.

Greensource is the world’s 8^th largest organic apparel manufacturer, according to a recent report from the non-profit organization Organic Exchange which analyzed organic cotton consumption levels in 2009.

About Greensource:

Greensource Organic Clothing Company, a trend-forward apparel design and manufacturing company based in Seattle, WA, is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of  private-label and branded apparel made with organic cotton. It is also a large supplier of certified organic cotton blank T-shirts for the men’s, women’s, and children’s markets.

Greensource Organic Clothing Ranks 8^th Globally for Organic Cotton Use

Seattle-based apparel manufacturer moves up in global ranking from 2008

May 25, 2010 smarquardt@onthemarkpr.com

Seattle, WA – Seattle, WA-based organic apparel designer and manufacturer Greensource Organic Clothing Co. is the world’s 8^th largest organic apparel manufacturer, according to a report issued today by the non-profit organization Organic Exchange (OE) today.

According to the Organic Cotton Market Report 2009, Greensource rose in rank from 9^th place in 2008 on the strength of its 2009 sales of organic cotton knit and denim apparel. The apparel is also certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard and sold mostly at big box stores, providing consumers with premium fashion at affordable prices.

Greensource ranked so high due to sales of its “Greensource” and “Re-Gen” (Recycled Generation) branded apparel. If the company’s considerable private label production for major retailers, including Walmart and Kohl’s, were taken into account, the company would actually rank much higher.

According to the report, global retail sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products reached an estimated $4.3 billion in 2009. This represents a 35 percent increase from the $3.2 billion market in 2008 and indicates little change from the 40 percent average annual growth rate the organic cotton market has experienced from 2001-2009. OE projects the global organic cotton market will grow 20 to 40 percent in both 2010 and 2011 to result in an estimated $5.1 billion market in 2010 and $6.0 billion market in 2011.

“We are deeply committed to using organic cotton in our apparel lines and are proud we continued to increase our use of the fiber even during the recession,” said David Basson, Greensource CEO. “We plan to expand the amount of organic cotton we use even further in 2010 and beyond,” he continued.

The Top Twelve of 2009 were C&A, Nike, Walmart, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., H&M, Anvil Knitwear, Coop Switzerland, Greensource Organic Clothing Co., Levi Strauss & Co., Target, adidas, and Nordstrom.

The lecture, entitled “Transforming the Global Footprint of American Business,” is hosted by the Network for Business Innovation & Sustainability and will be held at the Antioch University Seattle, 2326 Sixth Avenue, Room 100. It is free and open to the public.

Apparel magazine named Greensource a “Sustainability All-Star” in 2009 with the editors noting that Greensource’s “field-to-shelf involvement in creating a more eco-friendly supply chain is particularly focused on keeping toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and defoliants out of the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe.”

Global retail sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products reached an estimated $3.2 billion in 2008, according to the Organic Cotton Market Report 2009 by the non-profit organization Organic Exchange. According to the report, Greensource is the ninth largest designer and manufacturer of organic cotton apparel in the world. If its considerable private label production for major retailers were taken into account, the company would actually rank much higher.

Other speakers include:

• Karl Ostrom, Co-Director of the Network for Business Innovation & Sustainability (NBIS)

• David Okrent, Brand Director, Environment and Sustainability, The Boeing Company

• Dennis Gawlik, Faculty, Bainbridge Graduate Institute and Director of Purchasing Services, University of Washington.

• Valerie Bone, Director of Quality/Corporate Social Responsibility, Pacific Market International

About Greensource:

Greensource, a trend-forward apparel design and manufacturing company based in Seattle, WA, is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of  private-label and branded apparel made with organic cotton. OrganicInStock.com, a division of Greensource, is a large supplier of certified organic cotton blank T-shirts for the men’s, women’s, and children’s markets.

Sustainable Tees from Greensource

There is always the question on why should someone wear organic cotton if they have been wearing conventionally grown cotton for years and never had any negative effects on their health? This is a very common question heard by people who seek out organically grown cotton and other sustainable clothing items.

Organic goods go beyond the health and well being of the final consumer. There is an entire chain of individuals that are being affected in the creation of any product. Not to mention the well being of our environment. As a consumer it is important to look at the social responsibility of products and their manufactures.

Growing conventional cotton is one of the most harmful crops for the farmer and the environment. Many chemicals are used to prepare the land, fertilize the crops, kill the insects, keeping the crops from rotting, and killing the plant to harvest the cotton. Then more chemicals are used to prepare and process the cotton into its final product. Many of the chemicals used in the growing of cotton are sprayed into the air. This has a direct effect on the farmer and their community. After the chemical has set into the plant and soil it is leached into the ground and the drinking water. The land will become barren and unusable for farming after years of abuse.

Natural Compost

Organic cotton is grown without the harmful chemicals and the land is carefully managed with crop rotation. The soil is prepared with rich compost prior to planting. Natural fertilizers and compost are added to the cotton plant as it grows. Pests are controlled primarily with predatory insects in our fields. The cotton plant is allowed to complete it’s life cycle naturally and not killed with chemicals. The cotton is plucked from the plant without fear of chemicals transferring to the farmer. After collecting the cotton it is used to produce garments without adding any harmful chemicals. Our dyes and washing agents are eco friendly, collected and treated at the factory level before being released into the general water systems.

Cotton fields clear of Harmful Chemicals

We feel it is very important to look at the entire cycle of the clothing we produce here at Greensource. The farming community is kept safe and clear of the harmful chemicals that are so commonly used in farming communities.  At Greensource we are able to track the life cycle of our cotton from the field all the shelf.

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES - Greensource President David Basson, right, is with Mujtaba Habib, whose factory in Karachi, Pakistan, made this organic cotton T-shirt.

They might just be the largest local player in environmentally conscious clothing you’ve never heard of.

Basson’s 16-year-old company, The Source, designs organic-cotton clothing sold by the likes of Macy’s, Kohl’s and Wal-Mart.

The Source’s sustainable-products division, Greensource, was created in 2000 and now represents about 80 percent of its annual sales. This year, sales are up 10 percent and top $60 million, Basson said.

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Greensource ranks ninth worldwide among clothing and home-furnishings brands for its use of organic cotton, and that’s not counting its considerable private-label production, according to Organic Exchange, a nonprofit trade group. Others in the top 10 include Wal-Mart, Nike, H&M, Zara and Pottery Barn.

“Our M.O. is to believe in what we do and quietly get on with our business,” said Basson, formerly of Sun Sportswear in Kent. “It’s not our style to be ‘Rah, Rah! We’re the best.’ We’re lucky that along the way we’ve grown our business.”

Even so, Basson is making more of an effort to spread the word about Greensource. Last month, he spoke at a gathering of organic-cotton businesses in downtown Seattle, where many participants expressed a belief that steady sales of environmentally safe clothes will translate to a booming business in better economic times.

A new survey for professional-services firm Deloitte supports the first part of that premise: A fifth of consumers nationwide said they plan to buy more eco-friendly gifts this holiday season, the same portion as last season.

And nearly half, or 47 percent, expressed a willingness to pay more for a “green” gift than a non-”green” gift.

“People want their purchases to be more meaningful to them,” said Matthew Mole, president of organic-wool wholesaler Vermont Organic Fiber. Even in an economic crunch, he added, people are noticing eco-friendly clothes and saying, “Wow, that speaks to my values and makes sense.”

Greensource uses cotton grown without toxic fertilizers or pesticides and is certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard, which prohibits toxic chemicals during the processing phases.

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES - A Greensource shirt with a tear-off label.

The cotton comes from many countries, including India, Turkey and Pakistan, where Greensource has worked with textile mills to build schools and health-care clinics for workers and their families in the Baluchistan region.

The company’s organic-cotton clothing can be found under the Greensource label at Macy’s and under the ReGen label at Kohl’s. Its clothing also is sold on a private-label basis to Wal-Mart, where it’s part of the Faded Glory Organics line.

At Walmart stores, Greensource’s T-shirts sell for $7 to $10, while its jeans go for between $15 and $18 — roughly 10 percent more than conventional-cotton products.

The Source had been selling conventional-cotton products to Wal-Mart-owned Sam’s Club in 2005 when a senior-level buyer, whom Basson fondly described as a “hybrid-driving organic-food nut,” learned about the company’s foray into organic-cotton production.

Until then, the Greensource division enjoyed a small but dedicated following of eco-conscious consumers through such retailers as Gaiam, which specializes in “green-living” and yoga products.

At the buyer’s urging, Sam’s Club ordered 200,000 yoga-inspired tops and 200,000 matching pants from Greensource. They sold out within a month, Basson said, and soon Greensource was filling large organic-label orders for Wal-Mart.

Greensource’s expansion into Sam’s Club, recalled Mole, “was a little hard to take for some old-timers, because it was going mainstream. But for a lot of us, it was amazing.”

Today, the company employs about 40 people and has offices in New York; Bentonville, Ark. (Wal-Mart’s headquarters); Los Angeles; Karachi, Pakistan; and Managua, Nicaragua.

Standing in the Renton warehouse, Basson pointed to a row of stacked boxes filled with conventional-cotton T-shirts that would soon go on sale at Walmart stores for $6 each.

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES - Greensource President David Basson shows off a T-shirt at his Renton warehouse.

For now, Basson said, the production costs associated with organic-cotton apparel make it impossible to sell eco-friendly T-shirts for as little as $6 and still turn a profit. So the company continues to meet a consumer demand for cheap conventional tees until production costs fall to the same level.

“Our objective is to hit price-parity,” Basson said. “And then we can get rid of any conventional product we’re producing.”

An Article written by Amy Martinez Seattle Times business reporter

The cotton in your shirt was likely grown with a strong dose of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Many synthetic fabrics such as nylon, acrylic and polyester are petroleum-based.

But it’s getting easier for consumers to break the habit, as more clothing made from organic cotton or renewable and reused fabrics hits store shelves and the Internet.

Q: Why should I be concerned about chemicals used to make my clothes?

A: We probably won’t experience any ill effects from these chemicals when we wear the clothes. It’s the farmers or factory workers and their families, usually thousands of miles away, who face the greatest risk.

About half the pesticides used to grow cotton globally are classified as hazardous, according to the London-based Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). Children commonly suffer from pesticide poisoning because of the closeness of their homes to cotton fields and the reuse of empty pesticide containers.

The environment pays a price as well. Hazardous cotton pesticides have contaminated rivers in India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Australia, Greece, Western Africa and the U.S., says the EJF. Petroleum used in synthetic fabrics contributes to global warming.

Q: Hasn’t the cotton industry reduced its use of pesticides?

A: Since 1996, the global environmental impact of insecticides used on cotton has decreased nearly 25 percent due to the development of genetically modified, insect-resistant cotton, says the industry organization Cotton Inc. However, some researchers have concerns about long-term effects of genetically engineered crops.

Three percent of the world’s agricultural land and 8 percent of all pesticides are used for cotton production, Cotton Inc. says. Some environmental groups claim the percentage of pesticides used for cotton is much higher.

Q: So where can consumers find clothing without the chemicals?

A: Although sustainable clothes are more available these days, locating them still requires legwork. Mainstream stores including Macy’s, Nordstrom and Wal-Mart often carry a few green garments, but not necessarily prominently displayed.

You’ll have better luck at specialty retailers such as REI, Patagonia and American Apparel. Independent boutiques are a good bet, as are locally based Web sites such as www.FashionEthic.com.

Q: I’ve heard the Pacific Northwest is a leader in this field. Is that right?

A: Yes. Greensource, a 16-year-old Renton-based apparel company that few people locally know about, is one of the world’s top 10 buyers of organic cotton. Its organic-cotton shirts, denim jeans and other products are made overseas and sold at major retailers under various labels including ReGen, Faded Glory and Route 66.

Oregon-based Nike has been consistently innovative in sustainable shoes and clothing and was just named one of America’s 10 greenest large corporations by Newsweek magazine.

Greensource, Nike, Nordstrom and REI will all have active roles in an international Sustainable Textiles Conference Oct. 21-22 in Seattle.

The Puget Sound region is also a hotbed for high-quality used clothing, sold at scores of thrift and consignment stores.

The latest wrinkle on this is reclaimed clothing consisting of new designs spliced together from old clothes. It’s available at crafts markets and selected specialty stores. Used clothing is the greenest of all, of course, because you have practically no new environmental impacts.

Q: Will green clothing cost me more?

A: Buying used clothes always saves money, but you’ll spend more time shopping for them since it takes longer to separate the wheat from the chaff.

New green clothes such as organic cotton shirts often cost in the range of 15 percent more than regular cotton garments, mostly due to the smaller quantities being produced, says Greensource president David Basson. His company’s goal is to make the price the same.

Basson believes the future of clothing will be sewn from greener fabrics including organic and recycled cotton, specially processed bamboo, soy, Ingeo (made from corn) and recycled polyester.

“There’s so much research going on in the industry, and it’s so exciting,” Basson says. “We’re making huge strides.”

An article written for the Seattle Times by Tom Watson

Tom Watson is project manager for King County’s Recycling and Environmental Services.

We are currently using two biological predators to protect our Organic Cotton crop from the attacks of Bollworms (moths) and other insects.

1. TRICHOGRAMMA

Trichogramma

A small wasp that measures about 1mm in size destroys the eggs of bollworm. Bollworms are a major pest for damaging or even destroying our crops of Organic Cotton. The Trichogramma parasitizes the eggs of the bollworm by puncturing the eggs and partially sucking out the swap of the eggs. Then lays her eggs inside the shell of the bollworms egg. The Trichogramma egg then hatches and continues to consume the remaining nutrition from the bollworm egg.

The reproduction of the trychogramma is being maintained in the lab on a regular basis by parasitizing the eggs of sitotroga, a grain pest. These parasitized eggs are then placed in the fields for hatching. The trychogramma then spread and pray on the bollworm eggs in our Organic Cotton fields.

2. CHRYSOPA (Green Lacewing)

Chrysopa

Chrysopa is a bug of about 2cm in length. Their principal prey are aphids, but it also destroys mites, white fly, small caterpillars and eggs of bollworms by eating their eggs.

The Chrysopa is also raised in the laboratory on an annual basis to be placed in the Organic Cotton fields. Individual larvae are kept in a small vile and then released in the fields where they actively more around looking for their prey.

By utilizing these predatory insects we are able to raise a healthy Organic Cotton crop. This in turn helps to keep farmers and the surrounding population free of harmful chemicals.

Seattle, WA (Vocus/PRWEB ) October 15, 2009 — David Basson, CEO of Greensource Organic Clothing Co. (“Greensource”) – the ninth largest designer and manufacturer of organic cotton apparel in the world – will address the importance of community development in a successful organic cotton program as part of the Organic Exchange’s “21st Century Sustainable Textiles: A Deeper Look at Key Issues” annual conference October 20-22, 2009, in Seattle, WA. He will also participate in a workshop on natural textiles. More than 250 decision-makers from the apparel and home textile sectors around the world will be at the conference.

Greensource Organic's organic cotton women's knit top

Basson, whose company Greensource manufactures trendy and affordable organic cotton jeans and tops that are also certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard and sold at major retailers such as Macy’s (“Greensource”), Kohl’s (“ReGen”), Walmart (“Faded Glory”), and Kmart (“Route 66″), knows the community development topic well as the company has established schools and clinics for the communities in Pakistan where the organic cotton for Greensource is grown. During a visit to the region in 2003, Greensource executives noticed that local children in the region were playing next to the cotton fields where their parents worked. They were told that the reason the children were not at school was because the nearest school was 80 miles away. Greensource decided to contribute towards building local schools – two schools have been completed and the third school is in process. Greensource also partnered with its denim mill to establish a clinic where all medications and services are free to workers and their families.

Basson most recently spoke about “eco-materials” at the September, 2009, MAGIC Apparel Show in Las Vegas, NV, then led a panel on sustainability in the textile sector at Apparel Magazine’s 2009 Apparel Executive Forum October 5 in Coral Gables, FL.

Apparel magazine named Greensource a “Sustainability All-Star” March 24, 2009 with the editors noting that Greensource’s “field-to-shelf involvement in creating a more eco-friendly supply chain is particularly focused on keeping toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and defoliants out of the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe.”

According to the Organic Exchange’s 2009 Organic Cotton Market Report, global retail sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products reached an estimated $3.2 billion in 2008. This represents a 63 percent increase from the $1.9 billion market in 2007. The top ten organic cotton-using brands and retailers globally were Wal-Mart (USA), C&A (Belgium), Nike (USA), H&M (SE), Zara (Spain), Anvil (USA), Coop Switzerland, Pottery Barn (USA), Greensource (USA), and Hess Natur (Germany). If the company’s considerable private label production for major retailers were taken into account, the company would actually rank much higher.

Old clothes will be treated as a carbon source or a “brown” in your compost. To help them break down more quickly it is a good idea to cut them into smaller pieces. Synthetic fibers in the garments including tags, labels and some threads will not break down and need to be removed from the compost. If you place a cotton / Polyester blend into your compost you will find the skeleton of shirt left behind. This is a Polyester in the blend not being able to break down.

Likewise, the amount of organic cotton farmers grew worldwide in 2007-2008 jumped 152 percent, notes the O’Donnell, Texas-based non-profit, resulting in 145,872 metric tons grown on 161,000 hectares in 22 countries. But which brands and retailers are snapping up all that inventory? The top 10 companies that purchased organic cotton might surprise you.

10. Hessnatur
This German clothing company uses organic wool, cotton, linen and silk in its clothing lines.

9. Greensource
Recession? What recession? Greensource, the U.S. manufacturer of organic cotton apparel in the world recently reported a 21 percent increase in its first-quarter earnings. The company, which opened a new office and showroom in New York City this year, credits its success to a growing demand for certified-organic cotton denim and T-shirts.

8. Pottery Barn
Since 2007, this home furnishings store has carried organic cotton bedding and bath towels. More than half of Pottery Barn’s bedding contains at least 5 percent organic cotton.

7. Coop Switzerland
Switzerland’s second-largest grocery store carries organic, fair-trade cotton textiles.

6. Anvil Knitwear
This company created the world’s first carbon neutral t-shirt.

5. Zara
This stylish Spanish company introduced organic cotton t-shirts and denim in 2008. This season the line has grown to include dresses, tops and scarves.

4. H&M
In 2004, this Swedish clothing company incorporated organic cotton into its children’s line. Since 2007, it has expanded its use of organic cotton to its women and men’s lines.

3. Nike
By 2010 Nike, which already offers 100 percent organic cotton products, plans to use at least 5 percent organic cotton in all cotton-containing apparel.

2. C&A
The Belgium clothing company started using organic cotton in 2007. Since then, C&A has exponentially expanded its organic cotton lines.

1. Wal-Mart
Yes, that’s right. Wal-Mart buys12 million pounds of organic cotton, making it the world’s largest consumer of organic cotton. In 2006, when Wal-Mart adapted green business practices and products, it incorporated organic cotton into its clothing, bedding and bath products.