Now-a-days we are bombarded with messages encouraging us to lower our carbon footprint! But believe-it-or-not, that isn’t the only footprint to be worried about. All of your actions have an impact on the environment. Every time you buy a new t-shirt, (or new bedding) you leave a FIBER FOOTPRINT. This evaluation takes into account where the cotton is grown, where it is manufactured, how much water and energy was required, chemicals and transportation. Magnolia Organics decreases their water footprint by using less-intensive irrigation practices. Water is also sustained during the production of Magnolia Organics’ sheets because no toxic pesticides, insecticides or fertilizers are used during the growing process. Thus, water is not wasted diluting toxic concentrations of chemicals.

Magnolia Organics also scores extremely well in the carbon and land footprint categories. Each step of the entire production and manufacturing process occurs within miles of each other, lessening the carbon released during transportation. Our 100% organic cotton is grown in healthy soil that is prepared through crop rotation. This retains moisture in the soil and fosters healthy and sustainable cropland. Once the cotton is ready to harvest, natural defoilation from freezing temperatures and water management is utilized. This has a smaller carbon footprint than conventional practices which induce harvestation with toxic chemicals and waste finite fossil fuels with aerial spraying of insecticides and intensive irrigation. 

Compare the footprint of conventional cotton to that of organic cotton and make an informed decision the next time you buy!
http://www.sustainablecotton.org/footprint_calculator/buyers/

Thread count is the number of threads, both vertical and horizontal, in a one-inch square of fabric. Does thread count matter? Not exclusively. The general misconception is that the finer the threads, the softer the fabric- but that is not always the case.

In competitive spirits, manufacturers manipulate the calculation of their thread counts to be high, higher and highest. They count not just each thread, but each fiber (called plies) that make up each thread. So a single thread might be four plies twisted together. One company will call that one thread, while another will call that four threads. Inconsistent, we know. High thread count doesn’t mean anything if the threads being counted aren’t high quality. Take the weave into consideration…

Percale: Percale sheeting is one of the finest available. It is made with both carded and combed cotton containing a high thread count that combines to create a silk-like feeling.

Flannel: Flannel sheets are a soft, medium weight fabric with a napped finish on one or both sides. The raised surface makes it look fluffy and is great for warmth in the winter.

Jersey: Jersey is a plain stitch knitted cloth that is extremely elastic. Think about a soft tee-shirt.

Sateen: Sateen has more yarn surface on the face of the cloth and is softer with a more lustrous look.

Magnolia Organics’ offers both percale and sateen sheet sets with thread counts ranging from 200 to 550. At the end of the day, it’s important to make a bed that you can lie in. The best sheets are the ones that you think compliment your bedroom and feel great against your skin.

• GMOs
• Pesticides
• Fungicides
• Synthetic Fertilizers
• Intensive Irrigation
• Chlorine Bleach
• Toxic Bi-Products
• Toxic Waxes 
• Petroleum-Based Fabric Softener
• Heavy Metals
• PVC Packaging
• High-Impact, Unnatural Dyes
• Irritating Residual Chemicals
• Sometimes, Formaldehyde
• Chemical Finishes

**But these are all in conventional cotton products!

Once upon a cotton farm in Madhya Pradesh, India, a farmer plants a few handfuls of untreated Non-GMO seeds. His fields have just finished a three year cleansing period certifying it as organic. The seeds thrive here because the farmer does not use toxic and persistent pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. The farmer, being very smart, allows beneficial insects to flourish to keep pest insects in check. Crops are rotated regularly to maintain fertile soil and weeds are controlled the old fashion way: by hand.

After lots of tender love and care, the mature cotton is finally picked and packaged in clean organic cotton cloth packaging to avoid contamination. It then makes a short journey to the ginning sight. There the cotton fiber is separated from its seeds and then spun into yarn. Warp yarns are stabilized using double plying or non-toxic cornstarch. The yarn is woven into large beautiful sheets of fabric and whitened with safe peroxide or dyed with low-impact fiber-reactive or natural dyes containing low metal and sulfur content. Next the fabric is rolled out for an unyielding inspection process. The testing includes breaking strength, color fastness, shrinkage and pilling among many more.

Upon passing inspection the fabric is cut, stitched and inspected once more.

The sheets are ironed and folded before they are packaged in organic cotton bags. It is important to mention that the entire process of sheet making is done in a fair labor facility. After all who can sleep soundly on a sheet made for 5 cents by a worker on an 18-hour shift?

Then the sheet gets paired with its coordinating fitted partner and pillowcases. They whole family is ready to be packaged in their reusable cotton bags. Since it is important for the sheets to remain clean in-transport, some plastics are required for transportation. However, whenever Magnolia Organics uses plastic it is a low density polyethylene or biodegradable plastic.

The product then passes through customs and shipped to the United States. That night, a person, sick of sleeping on toxic conventional sheets visits http://www.magnoliaorganics.com. He or she picks out the sheet set suitable to their preferences and needs. The order is processed through our website and prepared for shipment. Six to ten days later, the customer is putting their bed in line with their beliefs! With occasional washings on the delicate cycle and tumble drying on low, the sheets have a long and happy life in their new home and the customers and their sheets live happily ever after.

While the New England weather these past few weeks has me confused that it may be tornado season, the summer months officially began on June 21st! It’s no surprise that this is many people’s favorite season. What’s not to love? No school, longer days, sun-kissed skin, going barefoot, and the beach! Oh, I love the beach. According to California’s EPA department: 24% of Americans go to the beach each year. That’s around 75 million people! As water pollution continues to be on the rise, it’s important to be a good guest, regardless of which coast you flock to. Next time you pack up the car and head to the sandy shores, keep these green habits in mind…

The walkover paths at the beach exist for a reason. USE THEM. This protects the sensitive dunes needed to protect ocean towns from storm waves and is the home to a special ecosystem of plants and animals. Walking on the dunes increases erosion and is a major beach faux-pas. 

Make it organic. Whether it is your sunscreen, lunch, beach tote or blanket, your body and the planet will thank you. Hit up the local farmers market or organic food store before packing lunch for your friends and fam. Chemicals in regular sunscreen come off in the ocean and harm marine life. Natural sunscreens work just as well and still let you get your bronze on. Magnolia Organics just released an awesome new blanket to their line which is PERFECT for the beach. The 100% organic cotton blanket is breathable for those hot days but will also keep you warm for late night bon fires on the sand. Must I remind you that using organic textiles is not only better for the environment, but it decreases your exposure to harmful toxins? Its a win-win. Check out the blanket at… #mce_temp_url#

Don’t be trashy. This is a given. Properly dispose of all your trash in the designated bins or bring it home with you. Better yet, don’t create any trash at all. Eat your seaside snackies with reusable glassware and cutlery and if you’re a smoker, please bring an ashtray. Danielle from Wilmington, North Carolina is the author of the blog: It Starts With Me (http://itstartswithme-danielle.blogspot.com/). Everyday she heads out to the beach and picks up litter for 20 minutes. Great idea, right? You should try it too. Twenty minutes is not a long time and it’s small steps like these that will have an impact. 

Grill with gas. Charcoal grills are not efficient and are a major producer of “black carbon” which is soot that floats into the upper atmosphere. The soot settles in the arctic and absorbs heat from the sun and which causes the ice to melt. So unless you want rising sea levels and even hotter summers, opt for propane.

What you do in your private pool is your own business. But the ocean is not one big restroom. Utilize public bathrooms and bring baggies for your sea dogs. 

Remember, “Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.” Love Always,

You don’t eat fabric. So who cares, right?  WRONG. If I love anything more than being in bed, it’s being natural. Eating natural is one thing, but until recently I never really thought about how many chemicals I was rolling around in every night during my sleep.

I HATE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS BUT…

Let’s face it: conventional cotton is gross.  Cotton is considered one of the most chemically dependent crops on earth. The growth of conventional cotton in the U.S. uses 25% of the world’s insecticides on just 3% of land.  Talk about excessive. So next time your about to throw down $100 dollars on an outfit from your favorite store think about this…

- 1/3 of a pound of chemicals went into producing enough cotton for ONE t-shirt.

- It took 3/4 of a pound  of chemicals to make that ONE pair of designer jeans.

-The same materials used to make the clothes you wear ALL DAY- EVERY DAY, are the same materials that you lay in for 8+ hours every night while getting your ZZZ’s. 

According to the Organic Trade Association, “During the conversion of cotton into conventional clothing, many hazardous materials are used and added to the product, including silicone waxes, harsh petroleum scours, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia and formaldehyde- just to name a few.” The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the U.S.  as “possible”, “likely,” “probable,”  or “known” human carcinogens. This is some disturbing news for those sleeping on conventional sheets. 

Not only do these carcinogenic chemicals taint the bed we sleep in every night, but they are also known to seep into local bodies of water and even public water supplies! Aldicarb, cotton’s second best selling insecticide, can kill a man with just one drop absorbed through the skin. it’s used in 25 countries and 16 US states have reported it in their ground water. Nitrogen synthetic fertilizers used to foster growth contribute to an increase in N2O emissions which are 300 times worse than C02… A.K.A. speeding up global warming! Greeaatttt.  Future generations are gonna love us for that. PS. I’m being completely sarcastic.

NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS. Wait, there is good news, right?

Your bed says a lot and organic sheets are a fantastic and easy way to put your bed in line with your beliefs. Organic cotton is grown using materials and processes that have a low impact on the environment. It is produced without the use of toxic pesticides and un-natural fertilizers. Even better, federal regulations prohibit genetically engineered seeds for organic farming. Woohoo! Au natural and lovin’it! Due to the lack of chemicals, organic sheets don’t smell like plastic-y and processed… which is always a plus. Making the transition from conventional to organic cotton does not require sacrificing good taste. If natural isn’t your style, don’t fret. Organic bedding can be safely and stylishly designed. Trade in your matchy-matchy conventional blankets o’toxins for an organic set that has been dyed with natural colorants or low-impact environmental dyes. 

Opponents of organic cotton claim that the water resources needed to grow it exceed that of conventional cotton. I would agree with them, but then we’d both be wrong. The lack of chemicals used in growing the cotton create healthier soil. Thus farmers don’t need to intensely irrigate their crops. Although making the transition from growing conventional to organic cotton does require more water initially, after a few years water levels return to normal or even less. Organic farming builds stronger soil via crop rotation and retains water more efficiently due to organic matter in the soil. 

While its nice not to fester in carcinogens, organic cotton also has an incredibly impact on our society. Organic farmers forgo many of the health issues experienced by conventional growers as a result of daily exposure to harmful chemicals. Their yield is higher and organic methods support biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. Organic farming does take more time, skill and money but it’s worth it. As we enter a generation of diminishing resources, creating strong sustainable businesses is critical for HEALTHIER industry for producers and consumers alike. 

Thanks for visiting!  We’ll be using this space to keep everyone updated on any news on our current product line, exciting upcoming products, and some interesting eco-friendly news.  We’ll also be doing a series of posts showing you exactly where your Magnolia Organics sheet set comes from - - stretching from the cotton farm, all the way to the cut and sew facility and packing!

We’ve got a lot to share, so stay tuned!