Although there are a lot of organic clothing in Singapore being produced, some of them aren’t necessarily always sustainable or environmentally friendly.
Organic clothing is often defined as any piece of clothing produced from natural materials such as organic cotton or wool. Due to this loose definition, though, finding organic clothing manufacturers can sometimes take a lot of time and extensive research, as well as having to ask yourself your purpose behind seeking organic clothing.
To help you out, we’ve put together a quick guide to the steps you can take when scouting for organic clothing brands in Singapore.
Decide what organic clothing means to you
Clothing manufacturers, whether they admit to being organic or not, impact the environment in one way or another. It’s simply the nature of the fashion industry.
Are you seeking organic clothing in Singapore because you’re trying to live an environmentally ethical lifestyle?
If so, one key thing to look for in a clothing manufacturer is whether they actually use organic and sustainable materials, as well as non-toxic chemicals. How energy-efficient their manufacturing process is and how they manage their waste are important factors to consider as well.
On the other side of ethical manufacturing is cruelty-free and vegan clothing. These are products that contain no animals and whose materials and ingredients have not been tested on any animals.
Research the company’s policies and ethics
Once you know why you’re looking for organic clothing in Singapore, it will be much easier to find clothing manufacturers that share your views.
The only way to know if a clothing company’s views align with yours is by reading up on their operation policies and searching for certification labels and accreditation
Plus, what are customers and reviewers saying about the company? Words from customers can offer some good insight into product quality, functionality, and adherence to ethical and sustainable clothing practices.
Double-check certification labels
Believe it or not, some certification labels are created only to capitalise on the eco and sustainability trend. You could say these labels are worth less than the ink used to print them since they don’t signify anything.
If you want to be on the safe side, here are some global certifications to look out for as they’re authentic and trusted by many:
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) – GOTS is your best bet when it comes to organic clothing certification. It guarantees that at least 70% of the garment’s fibres are organic.
- The EU Ecolabel – an EU Ecolabel means that a clothing brand complies with a high level of environmental awareness.
- OEKO-TEX – clothes with this label have been tested for a wide range of chemicals, which can be carcinogenic and harmful.
Use your preferred shopping method
Whether you prefer to shop online or in-person, certain benefits come with each form of shopping.
Online gives you instant access to organic and ethical clothing brands across the globe, and have their products delivered right to your doorstep. Many direct-to-consumer organic clothing retailers can only sell online.
The majority of them can sell their products at a much lower cost to a wider range of customers by being exclusive to the Internet.
Meanwhile, the traditional form of shopping allows you to check whether these such clothing brands live up to expectations.
Unlike fast fashion brands, many organic and ethical clothing brands are often found in specialty stores or pop-up events. More often than not, these brands are always willing to share their contribution to organic and sustainable clothing manufacturing.