| THE DIRT
Healthy Babes:
Babies and children are highly susceptible to potentially damaging synthetic chemicals in the environment. Their higher respiratory rates, more permeable skin, developing immune systems and incomplete blood brain barrier until around 6 months of age, make them more vulnerable to absorbing and being unable to process many of the toxic chemicals to which clothing can expose them.
Ethical School Uniforms:
UK based company Clean Slate (www.cleanslateclothing.co.uk) supply fair trade and organic school uniforms. The company was formed in March 2006 by a husband and wife team who were searching for cotton school uniforms that had not been chemically treated, for their chemically sensitive daughter. They were particularly keen to avoid perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) a compound that is used to make Teflon, but is also applied to mass produced garments, including school uniforms.
Perfluorinated compounds are classified as cancer causing by the USA Environmental Protection Authority. PFOA is now found in the bloodsteam of humans, it does not break down and therefore continues to pollute our airways, waterways and bodies. It has also been associated with causing birth defects.
Healthy and Ethical clothing choices for children include:
• Buying second hand items that have been washed many times and also have had time to ‘off gas’
• Choose organic fabrics, or fabrics that do not require the use of pesticides in growing such as bamboo and hemp.
• Avoid items that have been treated with azo dyes or chemicals that create an ‘easy care’ or ‘no –iron’ finish.
• Look for fairly traded / sweatshop free items to guarantee a fair price and conditions for all those along the clothing chain.
G SPOT
Check out the BLOG for a sneak preview of Gina and Tony's little bundle in some very cool organic get up!
COME CLEAN
For the greenest big and little kids in town, check out these ethical fashion ideas.........
You’re never too young to start saving the world! Set your baby, toddler or child on the path to sustainability with Margaret River HempCo’s fantastic range of ‘ecokids’ clothing. Bright, attractive, comfortable and durable. The perfect way to protect young skin and the environment. Do the right thing tomorrow … visit their beautiful shops in Margaret River or Fremantle; or online at www.hempco.net.au. ecobabe sources clothing and baby care products that are gentle on the environment and ethically produced. They have a lovely range of New Zealand made Bobux eco-leather™ baby shoes that are tanned without residual heavy metals and dyed with water based dyes, making them safe for babies to put into their mouths, as babies do, and safer for all workers involved in the manufacture of the shoes. www.ecobabe.com.au My Fair Ladybird. Ethical Trading Company
Bringing you a delightful range of ethical home and giftware, designed in Australia and hand crafted traditionally by women in Nepal. Check out the hand felted pixie boots are available in assorted colours and a full range of kids and adult sizes. Acid free dyes. www.myfairladybird.com At Gecoz you can find a comprehensive range of environmentally sustainable clothing and household items for all the familly. Including Pure Baby Organics, hemp clothing and a new range of unique funky outfits made from recycled vintage fabrics. You can visit their beautiful store, or shop online at www.gecoz.net.au to view all that is gentle for you and the planet.
Our favourite baby sling now comes in organic cotton!! hug-a-bub® baby sling is different. It is a wrap-around, soft cotton baby sling, which holds your baby close to your heart. In the hug-a-bub® baby sling , your baby feels hugged even though your hands may be busy doing other things. The perfect organic sling for parents and baby - it also helps to protect both your spine and that of your little cherub! | 
