Organic textiles are not akin to organic beef. Because you wear them. Well, that’s not supposed to be one of those chicken crossed the road type of jokes, though it may sound like one. Clothes are worn. What could possibly be the stirring call for clothes to be one hundred per cent organic? What are the health benefits for instance?
Sri Lanka is a major exporter of textiles, and the industry plays a vital role in the country’s economy. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for organic textiles, and Sri Lanka is well-positioned to capture a share of this market.
However, there is a risk that Sri Lanka could lose out on its global market share if it becomes too focused on organic textiles. The conventional textile industry is still much larger than the organic textile industry, and Sri Lanka needs to maintain its competitive edge — whatever there is left of it at least — in both markets.
Organic textiles are made from organically grown fibres, which means that the raw materials are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Organic textiles are also processed without the use of harmful chemicals, such as bleach and formaldehyde.
Organic textiles are often more expensive than the conventional stuff, but they are supposed to be more sustainable and better for the environment. It’s because these organic products use less water and energy to produce, leave less waste, and reduce the use of harmful chemicals that can pollute the environment and harm human health. Ostensibly, of course being the key word in all of this.
CONTEND
Organic textiles are also better for human health because they are free from harmful chemicals that can irritate the skin and cause other health problems. They are also more ‘breathable’ and comfortable to wear, and less likely to shrink or fade than conventional textiles, it is said.
But does any of this make a case for an organic textile fetish? Also, what’s the veracity of the above claims?
The demand for organic textiles is growing rapidly, as consumers become more aware of the environmental and health impacts of the textile industry. Many brands are now offering organic clothing and accessories, and organic textiles are also being used in home goods, such as towels, sheets, and curtains.
If you are looking for a more sustainable and ethical way to shop for textiles, organic textiles are a great option, and that fact may be conceded. There is organic cotton, organic linen, organic wool, organic silk and hemp and even organic bamboo.
The conventional textile industry is still much larger than the organic textile industry, and Sri Lanka needs to maintain its competitiveness in both markets, which is an imperative. Focusing on organic textiles could alienate some of Sri Lanka’s existing customers, who are not willing to pay a premium for organic products.
Does any of this matter for those who say, when choosing organic textiles, look for the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification? They have already made a fetish of this haven’t they, for crying out loud?
BUDGET
This aforementioned certification ensures that the textiles are made from organically grown fibres and processed using sustainable methods. Those who advocate for wearing ‘organic’ say these textiles are seen as being more ethical. This is because organic textile production often employs fairer labour practices and supports small-scale farmers, they contend.
However, it is important to note that not all organic textile brands are created equal. Some may use the term “organic” loosely, and their products may not meet the same standards as others. It is important to do your research and choose a brand that is certified by a reputable organization such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). That’s the advice that’s imparted, at least.
It is also important to consider your own needs and priorities when deciding whether or not to buy organic textiles. If you are concerned about the environment and your health, then organic textiles may be a good choice for you. However, if you are on a budget or you do not have any specific concerns about the environment or your health, then you may want to consider buying conventional textiles instead. It may be added, simply because you want to live, you’d want to do so.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy organic textiles is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer there.
Sri Lanka has not maintained its competitiveness in the conventional textile industry by investing in new technologies to improve the efficiency of textile production, focusing on high-value products, such as technical textiles and sportswear, and developing new markets for its textile products.
Instead, because organic textiles are more sustainable and better for the environment, and because these so called environment-friendly textiles are growing in popularity and there is a large and growing market for them, we are being told to go the organic route.
They say that focusing on organic textiles could help Sri Lanka set itself apart from other textile-producing countries. But organic textiles are more expensive than conventional materials, and this could make Sri Lankan textiles less competitive in the global market.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to focus on organic textiles is a complex one. Sri Lanka needs to weigh the pros and cons carefully and make the call that is best for the country’s economy and environment.
Instead of doing that and investing in research and development to reduce the cost of organic textile production, we are at least at times seen to be going the organic fetish route. We need to be targeting specific markets where there is a high demand for organic textiles.
We also need to be working with international brands to develop organic textile products. Instead of that at this juncture, there seems to be some advocacy towards positioning this country as a provider of organic textiles and organic textiles only.
However, it is important to bear in mind the country’s disastrous experience with organic fertilizer in 2021. Back in that dark age, the Sri Lankan Government abruptly banned the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in an effort to transition to organic agriculture. This decision was made without adequate planning or preparation, and it led to a widespread crop failure and a severe food crisis, as if we need any reminder.
The Government’s plan was based on the false assumption that organic agriculture could be eventually more productive than conventional crop growing. In reality, organic farming can be many times less productive, especially in the short term. Additionally, the Government failed to provide farmers with the training and support they needed to make the transition to organic farming.
DEVISING
The key difference between Sri Lanka’s organic fertilizer plan and its potential organic textile production plan is that the latter should be based on a careful assessment of the risks and benefits. The Government should work with the private sector to develop a sustainable industry, and should provide financial incentives and support to farmers.
Let’s get the fetish aspect out of it. Yes, there is a market for organic textiles and that segment has to be targeted separately and selectively. But there is a lobby that’s getting on high dudgeon and saying we should all wear organic clothes. Some pause should be given to ask what’s wrong with the synthetic stuff considering some of the benefits?
It’s akin to the universal condemnation of polytene and plastics. Mankind should be able to dispose of plastics properly but instead of devising ways, the drive is sometimes to kill plastics altogether. That could lead to more destruction such as an increase in paper products that causes more deforestation because tree pulp is used for paper. It’s a classic case of trying to throw the baby with the bathwater — this attempt to do away entirely with plastics. What’s the point in sacrificing mankind’s genius in developing products such as plastics just because we cannot learn to deal with the downside?
It’s ludicrous. We may as well go back to a primitive state and give up using plastics and synthetics altogether. Just see how that would work out. We will probably go back to an era when everything costs the earth, and the products are inferior in terms of wear and tear. However, we can all in that imagined utopia, be virtue-signalling until the cows come home.
Rajpal Abeynayake
