Elves in the Wardobe, childrens clothing, organic cotton clothing
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Children’s clothing made from conventional cotton and synthetic fibres is destructive to our environment due to the way the materials are grown and manufactured. They are also harmful to our children’s health because it puts them in contact with toxic dyes, chemicals, pesticides, chemical fertilizers and herbicides.

Babies and children have sensitive skin and bodies and therefore benefit from wearing organic and natural clothes that are softer and gentler on the skin. 
We interviewed Verena from Elves in the Wardrobe to find out what makes their children’s clothing company so unique.

Where is Elves in the Wardrobe based, and how long has the business been going?

Elves in the Wardrobe is based in beautiful Bellingen NSW and has just had its first birthday.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

Elves in the Wardrobe was born from a love and passion for soft and organic fabrics, beautiful designs and a desire to create something that not only nourishes me and my family, but also has a healthy and ethically sustainable background. For me, nothing feels better than dressing my growing boys in organic and sustainable clothes from brands like Leela Cotton and loud+proud . I am absolutely delighted when I see gorgeous little people wearing organic clothes from our shop (especially when I go for a walk around town or pick up my children from the bus stop).

Why is it important to you that your clothes are made from certified organic cotton?

Even before I had my family, I was always drawn to the organic side of life as I just loved the feel and taste of organic products, without having much background information to base my passion on. Once our first son was born, it was a very clear decision to go organic, knowing more about the mainstream clothing industry and instinctively wanting to protect and nourish my family.

Conventional clothing worn by the majority of young children is responsible for a plethora of health concerns. The skin is partially porous, so anything that touches it can be absorbed. The longer something remains in contact with your skin, the more will be absorbed. Unfortunately, babies and children have skin that is more sensitive and more porous, so they are more vulnerable to harmful chemicals. These substances can have an impact not only on your child’s comfort but also on their long-term development.

Synthetic clothing contains many different forms of toxins. Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, defoliants and insecticides are used extensively in the production process, and they can often be found in high concentrations in conventional clothing. One of the ways in which synthetic clothing is most harmful to health is that it prevents the skin from breathing easily. When wearing organic clothing, the average adult expels about one pound of toxins per day through the skin. Synthetic clothing hinders this essential process, forcing the body to retain higher concentrations of harmful toxins. The presence of many different harmful chemicals can cause more harm by creating a toxic soup where they react to form increasingly harmful compounds.

Organic kids clothing does not put children’s health at risk because the production process does not involve any of these toxins. They are a far better choice for any parent wanting to go the extra mile for their child’s health.

Cotton that is grown in a conventional way covers only 3% of the world’s farmland, but it uses a full 25% of the world’s pesticides. Pesticides spread through groundwater to contaminate our food and drinking water. Fertilizers regularly cause algal blooms that can destroy marine ecosystems.

In contrast, our organic boy’s clothes and organic girl’s clothes are environmentally friendly because the farms we work with do not use any of these harmful products. They adhere to strict international standards for the production process, and we do not work with any farms that have used pesticides in the last three years. Our suppliers rely on crop rotation to ensure soil fertility, and they control pests and weeds using either mechanical cultivation or biological means.

While toxins are harmful for people who wear synthetic clothing, they are extremely dangerous for farm workers that are exposed to higher concentrations. Many experience very serious health problems, including respiratory issues, cancer, birth defects and Parkinson’s disease. Organic kids clothing is a sustainable choice that can also send your child the right message about socially responsible consumption.

The moral case for choosing organic boy’s clothes or organic girl’s clothes is very clear. But some advocates fail to emphasize that they are actually far better products! Organic kids clothing is much softer than synthetic clothing, which makes it much more comfortable to wear. It also helps children to breathe more easily. Organic kids clothing makes a particularly big difference for children who suffer from asthma or allergies.

While conventional clothing is harmful to workers, the environment and people who choose to wear it, organic kids clothing is comfortable, socially responsible, far better for your child’s health and made to last!

What is unique about Elves in the Wardrobe children’s clothing?

Especially in Australia, I found it challenging to buy beautiful organic clothes for my boys. Clothes that nourish children, instead of turning them into little adults! The designs I choose for Elves in the Wardrobe reflect this deep-hearted desire to protect the magic of childhood and reflect my love for the rich, sensory joys of life. The fabrics and styles are carefully chosen for their whimsical look and how they feel to touch. And, most importantly, to be clothes kids will love to wear for their adventures growing up.

Each piece is designed with children in mind; sturdy enough to last through all the jumps and tumbles they might encounter in their day, but soft enough to captivate their senses. Whether they are jumping through puddles or snuggling up to sleep, we have something they’ll love.

What are the benefits of organic clothing for children?

Creating a pure, natural environment is a vital decision for a growing number of parents, including myself. With our children exposed to pollutants in many aspects of life, choosing organic fibres is another step towards natural living, both for our sensitive babies & children as well as our environment.

Here are a few benefits of organic baby & children clothes to consider:

Sensitive skin.

Okay, so you know that a baby’s skin is sensitive and more susceptible to irritation.  But did you know that it’s actually thinner and more porous than yours?  This means that not only can rough fabrics cause discomfort and rashes, but any chemicals in or on your baby’s clothing can be more easily absorbed into the body.  In addition, their skin produces less protective oils, so harsh chemicals can dry out their fragile skin.  This is why organic clothing is a fantastic option.  You can get the comfort of ultra-soft cotton without all of the potentially harmful toxins that normal textiles are saturated with.

Allergies.

It is fairly common for babies to develop allergies to chemicals.  For this reason, you likely use safe and natural soaps, shampoos, lotions, and detergents.  You may have even switched to green cleaning products in the home.  So why wouldn’t you choose organic clothing?  Your baby’s clothes will be in contact with his skin all day, much more than any cleansers you use, so it is important to any allergens that they may introduce.

Durability.

You might think that textiles untreated by chemicals would deteriorate more quickly, but in fact, just the opposite is true.  When cotton fibres, for example, undergo the many chemical process required by standard manufacturing (bleaches, dyes, formaldehyde, and more) they begin to break down.  As a result, these fabrics start to deteriorate in as few as ten washes.  Organic cotton, on the other hand, will last ten times as long and even stains can be treated and washed out much easier.

Cost.

This is going to be a factor for any new parent, and if you have begun to look into organic clothing options then you have likely discovered that they often come with a higher price tag than items that have been mass produced (and treated with chemicals).  And while it might be worth it to you to spend a little more up front to ensure the safety of your infant, keep in mind that the longevity and durability of the garment means that it will not only last longer before wearing out (up to 100 washes), but you can also get fewer items, which means you’ll save money over time and might even able to resell outgrown clothes.

Chemical waste.

You know that the lack of chemicals in your baby’s clothing is better for the environment, but when you realize just how many toxins your child breathes in and ingests through water and food (it gets into the soil and water supply and spreads through the air), you’ll definitely start to consider the benefits of switching to an entirely organic approach to living.

Which of your children’s clothing ranges and items are your “best-sellers” and what do you attribute this to?

The most popular brand in my shop range is loud+proud, a German eco baby & kids brand and a fast growing business, ever since it was founded in 2008. It is the mixture of adorable prints, reversible designs, fantastic quality, soft fair-trade organic cotton, as well as a very good price that makes loud+ proud stand out from others. The baby onesies with the green hedgehog print as well as the ink blue snail print are our bestsellers in the shop.

Another great brand that sells really well (especially at our Market Stall) is German Organic Fashion Leela Cotton. They design and sell organic cotton textiles for adults and children. Especially the organic hooded tunic dresses (available in a range of different colours and styles) and hooded jackets are loved by many customers.  Not only for their whimsical design & look but also for the feel! If you truly want to know what organic cotton can feel like- Leela Cotton got the answer. I never felt anything so soft.

Ubang is a another fantastic organic baby& children label that caters for sizes 0-10 and are known and loved for their great  designs & fantastic soft & sturdy quality. The basic concept of Ubang is to incorporate the possibility of play and laughter into the design of the children’s wear. The elephant & tractor shirts are very popular amongst the boys, as well as the skirts & dresses amongst the girls.

Can you tell us about the other clothing and accessories available from Elves in the Wardrobe?

At Elves in the Wardrobe we stock a variety of baby blankets, jackets, hats, swim suits, socks, gumboots and slippers, baby heating pillows, soft toys and this allows parents, grandparents, relatives & friends to find the perfect gift for any occasion.

Elves in the Wardrobe is committed to operating an eco and socially conscious business. How do you ensure this?

All of my brands and items are handpicked and carefully chosen. There is a lot of research the goes into finding new labels and companies that meet our Elves in the Wardrobe standards.

All of our stock is either GOTS certified (The Global Organic Textile Standard is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain) produced under fair trade conditions, either in Europe & India or Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified (all garments and fabrics have been tested and certified to be free from harmful levels of more than 100 substances known to be harmful to human health).

All of our orders are carefully wrapped in recycled paper. Cards & invoices are printed on recycled paper. We are trying to avoid plastic bags. There are a few of our companies that don’t use any plastic wrappings for their products and we think it is absolutely fantastic. We would love to see more fashion labels following this trend.

Where are your products available for our viewers?

Our products are available through our online shop https://www.elves-in-the-wardrobe.com.au/ , as well as our monthly market stall at the Bellingen Community Market, which is held every third Saturday of the month http://www.bellingenmarkets.com.au