| What to look for when you buy organic yoga wear | | | | as well. |
| Be cautious when buying organic yoga apparel. The | | | | Choosing organic yoga wear is 1 small step towards |
| environmental bandwagon is becoming crowded with | | | | the greater good. |
| companies of all sizes, some unscrupulous, trying to | | | | Going organic seems like the perfect solution for |
| cash in. Carefully examine labels to make sure that | | | | helping yourself and the environment; but |
| items include a higher percentage of organic material | | | | unfortunately it's not. Africa, China, Peru and Turkey |
| over synthetic. (Most items, particularly yoga clothing, | | | | currently grow more organic cotton than the United |
| will contain a small percentage of Lycra or spandex | | | | States. Items must be shipped around the world to a |
| to retain stretch. But if the label reads 90% synthetic | | | | retailer near you, packaged in a cardboard box and |
| / 10% organic, put the item down and keep looking - | | | | mailed again, leaving a sizable carbon footprint. |
| assuming you're committed to going organic.) | | | | Organic clothing also costs more - typically 10 to 15% |
| Like other organic products, organic clothing must be | | | | higher than conventionally-produced. |
| certified by a third party such as the U.S. Department | | | | But don't dismiss organic clothes! Consider how your |
| of Agriculture (USDA) or the Dutch organization | | | | investment benefits the environment, the global |
| SKAL which certifies agricultural products in Europe, | | | | economy, the fight for fair wages, your own health |
| South America, Africa and Asia. Many companies will | | | | and more. Improvements on all fronts can happen |
| include the name of the certifying entity on the label | | | | through the collective efforts of many. |