About Our Products
Our Quality
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Don't let our prices fool you- our organic cotton tee-shirts are not flimsy or cheaply constructed!
We take pride in our clothing and it shows. Premium stitching, classic styling and superior quality make an attractive, durable
product that has a lower eco-impact over its lifespan. We believe that quality and durability are a measure of environmental friendliness.
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Our quality features include:
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Combed cotton: Our cotton is first carded, and then combed, which removes short fibers and impurities. This means you get a superior product that is
stronger and softer.
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Ring-spun yarn: We also use ring-spun NOT open-ended yarn. Open-ended yarn is created inexpensively by blowing together short, loose fibers, which results
in a rough feel and look of low-end quality. Ring-spinning twists longer fibers continuously -creating a smoother, stronger and more durable yarn. This
lends a nice drape and better color retention.
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Extra-smoothness: A special enzyme added to the pre-wash gives the fabric an extra-soft, buttery-smooth feel as it removes loose surface fibers and prevents
pilling.
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Color fastness: Our dyes are eco-friendly low-impact reactive dyes that bond with the fabric to give you color fastness, so you can rest assured our red tee
will not make your whites blush!
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Side-seam (not tubular) construction: This simply means that our tees are cut and stitched along the sides under the sleeves. This premium feature ensures a
quality look and comfort, as our tees won't wring or twist out of shape.
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Durability: Well made products that last longer are ecological as they have a lower eco-impact over their lifespan. We use medium to heavy weight fabric for
our basic styles so it won't wear out after a few washes. This ensures they will be loved and worn longer.
- Quality stitching and finishing:
Customers mentally gauge the value of a product at first sight. Our fine stitching and
attention to detail create an impression of a superior product and great value.
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Environmental Friendliness
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All our products are certified organic by Control Union (formerly Skal) of Holland under the international GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) program,
also accredited by USDA's National Organic Program. Our cotton is grown, processed and low-impact dyed as per international
organic standards. This simply means that our products adhere to strict organic standards for not only cotton growing, but
also processing (e.g. pre-treatment, washing, bleaching, dyeing, waste treatment, finishing) to provide a completely
environmental product.
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Some of the benefits of our organic cotton products are:
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Not from genetically modified cotton-seed. Sterile GMO seeds break the natural cycle of regeneration and threaten bio-diversity,
wildlife, and soil micro-organisms - all of which have devastating environmental implications with world-wide impact. GMO farming has a huge
negative impact on farmers forced to rely on big corporations for expensive seed and pesticide purchase.
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Grown with natural means rather than synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers and defoliants. Chemical and pesticide run-offs
contribute to major ecological damage and pollute ground and surface water. According to an EPA study, pesticides now contaminate ground water in 38 states!
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Uses sustainable practices like crop-rotation, hand-farming and botanical pest control. This keeps soil enriched and healthy so it requires fewer external applications and treatments. Many of our farmers incorporate bio-dynamic practices that strengthen an age-old Indian belief in a spiritual connection with their cherished land.
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Incorporates eco-friendly processing that does not compromise workers' health and helps reduce water and electric use and toxic runoff. We use non-chlorine bleach, silicon-free softeners and low impact, azo-free dyes that do not create a hazard to health and environment.
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Strict testing is conducted to ensure the absence of hazardous elements like nickel, lead, formaldehyde, amines, pesticides and heavy metals.
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Being safer, ecological and fair, organic farming directly benefits farmers and their families by allowing them to pursue a livelihood with dignity.
According to a WHO estimate, 20,000 deaths and 3 million cases of health problems are directly caused by agricultural pesticide poisoning each year.
Another tragic and alarming statistic is that approx. 200,000 farmers commit suicide each year due to spiraling debt from expensive pesticide purchase.
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Fair Trade / Social Sustainability
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Our farms as well as our mill in India have received fair trade certification from FLO of Germany
(www.fairtrade.net),
a recognized certification body that monitors and conducts periodic on-site inspections and external audits.
In addition, our mill has also earned the Social Accountability SA8000 certification
(www.sa-intl.org). We adhere to international fair trade criteria for employment,
work environment and socio-economic development.
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Our workers get
independently assessed fair living wages which are usually higher than minimum legal wages, as well as medical, paid leave and retirement benefits, job
training, and free education for their dependants. A safe, fair and conducive work environment is provided where worker needs and issues are addressed,
allowing employees to pursue a dignified livelihood while optimizing productivity.
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We source our fiber from the Chetna project, a farmer owned collective in central India.
By bringing together thousands of small and medium farmers, the association promotes safer, ecological
and socially sustainable practices and provides management, training and certification.
Pre-harvest financing and fair prices allow farmers a livelihood of dignity.
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Worker welfare is at the heart of the organic movement in India. Not only do the ill-effects of pesticide use directly affect workers and farmers, reliance
on expensive pesticides have dragged poverty-stricken Indian farmers into spiraling debt, often resulting in desperate acts of suicide. Being labor-intensive, organic
farming was also recognized as a powerful vehicle for worker empowerment by creating job opportunities at all levels.
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HAE Now endorses and calls for fair trade ethics worldwide, as even the 'Made in USA' label does not guarantee that workers are paid minimum wages and work
in positive conditions. A Dept. of Labor study reveals that many U.S. garment factories employ low-wage immigrant labor and regularly violate wage &
overtime laws and basic health and safety regulations. Also, factories set up in U.S. territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and Saipan may
use the 'Made in the USA' label without adhering to U.S. labor laws.
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Sources of more information:
Pesticides in the Nation's Streams and Ground Water, 1992-2001
India: The Organic Revolution
