Cotton – Summer’s Coolest Friend by Lisa Marlene N
ewcomers to South- west Florida usually face a shared challenge: learning how to stay com- fortable during subtropical, 90-degree summer days that ooze humidity. Fortunately, experienced year-round residents are quick to offer tips for dealing with soaring temperatures: wearing cot- ton clothing and sandals; completing outdoor errands and activities before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m.; enjoying a
dip in the backyard pool; applying plenty of sunscreen; and tak- ing comfort in the nearly constant Gulf breeze. At the top of everyone’s summer rescue remedies is cotton, a plant-based fiber that is the world’s most popular clothing fabric. Cultivated for textile production for nearly 7,000 years, cotton can be spun and woven into a strong, durable, yet supple, cloth that breathes. According to the International Forum for Cotton Promotion, cotton fiber is hol- low in the center, looks like a twisted ribbon under a micro- scope, and can absorb up to one-fifth of its weight in water before feeling damp, which is why it is so efficient at wicking perspiration away from the skin.
“Cotton keeps you cool and more comfortable than cloth made of synthetic fibers, which don’t absorb per- spiration,” says Amanda Woodward, store manager for Thoughtful Threads, an organic and sustainable living store in Naples. “Few people consider that the chemicals used to process and dye synthetic fibers continue to release possibly harmful fumes and gases for a long time, much like a brand- new carpet does. These toxins can find their way into our bodies through our pores, which open when we perspire,” advises Woodward, adding that customers are generally shocked to learn that the production process for one T-shirt may require up to 8,000 different chemicals. “As awareness of this grows, so does the popularity of organic cotton clothing,” notes Woodward, who explains that all Thoughtful Thread vendors employ alternative tech- niques such as using low-impact dyes and natural enzymes to process their cotton.
In order to be labeled organic, cotton clothing must be made from cotton grown in accordance with United States Department of Agriculture organic crop production regula- tions. Organic cotton growers refrain from using the agricultur- al chemicals that are integral to conventional cotton farming.
Thoughtful Threads, 2132 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. 239- 434-0469.
Thoughtful-Threads.com. See ad, page 8.
natural awakenings July 2012 25
Thoughtful Threads’ Natural-Fiber Clothing Helps Beat the Heat
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