Green Man Blog - T-Shirt Information

Green Man to Australia!

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:23:00 -0700

The Avon River flows by the town of Stratford. Stratford is well-known in Australia for its theaters and galleries.

Green Man T-Shirts in Australia? You bet!

In the southeast corner of Australia lies an area known as Gippsland, and all during the month of May they are celebrating a Be Inspired Festival. The festival will feature dozens of artists, including painters, sculptors, designers, musicians, and other performers. There will also be events held at galleries, open studios, workshops, cafes, wineries, festivals, and theatres.

In the lovely little town of Stratford, about 25 miles from the coast, a display of Green Man T-Shirts will be held at the Stratford Courthouse Art Gallery.

This is part of owner Anna Roberts’ Art-T Exhibition, featuring various t-shirt designs from around the world. During the festival, Anna will be inviting people of all ages to create a t-shirt design of their own.

Sounds like a blast to us, and we wish we could be there! But for now we’ll rely on Anna to supply us with pictures of the event, and upon the official festival website.

As we get closer to May, we’ll write more about the Be Inspired Festival, so stay tuned!

Common T-Shirt Terms

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:41:09 -0700

T-shirt manufacturers use many terms to describe their products. Deciphering a t-shirt description such as "100% 30/1 combed ring-spun Jersey knit organic cotton, 4.5 ounce, cap-sleeved, shoulder to shoulder taped, Oeko-Tex 100 certified," can be confusing, so here is the official Green Man T-Shirts Guide to t-shirt terms.

Green Man T-Shirts Guide to T-Shirt Terms

20s, 20/1, 20s single: Unit of measurement that defines the fineness of cotton thread. A standard spool of single-ply cotton thread is comprised of 840 yards of cotton thread. If it takes 20 spools to weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 20s cotton, or 20/1. If 30 spools weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 30s cotton thread, or 30/1. If it takes 40 spools to weigh one pound, then the thread on those spools is referred to as 40s cotton, or 40/1. The higher number means a finer thread, and thus a finer, softer fabric is created. T-shirts made of 30s and 40s are softer, finer, and have better drape than t-shirts made of 20s. The terms are used many ways, but it's the number that counts; "20s," "20/1," and "20 singles" are the same. Threads can be twisted together into thicker strands. If two 20/1 cotton threads were twisted together, it would be referred to as 20/2.

Bamboo Fabric: Rayon made from bamboo cellulose. Although rayon is a man-made synthetic material, most experts agree it is readily biodegradable. Bamboo fabric is extremely soft and has excellent drape.

Bamboo: Fast growing plant, classified as a grass, which can be readily processed into rayon to make bamboo rayon clothing.

Bleach Wash: A process that uses bleach to soften and distress the look of the fabric being washed.

Boat Neck: A very wide neckline that runs across the collarbone area to the shoulder points. Derives from early sailors' shirts, where the wide neck enabled quick removal if the sailor fell overboard.

Boy Beater: Women's fashion answer to the wife beater. A women's tank top, although it can be any color.

Brushed Cotton: A method to remove excess lint and fibers from cotton fabric. Brushed cotton usually has a very soft, smooth finish.

Burn-Out: A process that uses sulfuric acid or other strong acid to "burn-out" parts of a fabric knit, usually a polyester/cotton blend. The process gives a see-through, very sheer effect.

Cap Sleeves: Usually refers to shorter sleeves on women's garments.

Carbon Dioxide: CO2. A chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom. Known as a "greenhouse" gas because of its relationship with global warming. A few t-shirt manufacturers are now measuring and recording the CO2 emissions involved in manufacturing their shirts.

Carbon Trust: Independent organization founded in 2001 in Great Britain that monitors carbon emissions. The Carbon Trust works with companies to help reduce their carbon footprint, and now certifies companies and products as having a "low carbon" or "no carbon" footprint. A few t-shirt companies now manufacture "low carbon footprint" t-shirts.

Carding: A fiber cleaning process that eliminates short fibers and removes dirt and foreign matter. Carding can be done by hand or by large machines using drum rollers. Carded-only cotton is not as desirable as combed cotton.

Cellulase Wash: Another name for enzyme wash. This gives fabric a soft feel and a vintage look, depending on how the wash is done.

Cellulose: Derived from the cell walls of certain plants. Useful in making certain types of fabrics, including acetate, triacetate, and rayon. Bamboo fabric is actually rayon made from bamboo cellulose.

Cheap Cotton T-Shirt: T-shirts made with carded cotton, using 18/1 thread, usually knitted on 20 gauge machines. These t-shirts are coarse, rough, and have poor drapability. Used often as cheap promotional give-aways.

Climate Neutral: A term used to describe a company, process, or product that has zero impact on the Earth's climate. A few t-shirt manufacturers advertise their company as climate neutral.

CO2: Carbon dioxide. A chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom. Known as a "greenhouse" gas because of its relationship with global warming.

Colorfastness: The ability of a garment to withstand multiple washings without losing its color.

Combed Cotton: A method to remove short fibers and to arrange longer fibers parallel to create a smooth, fine cotton yarn. Combed cotton has high strength, excellent uniformity, and better hand. Combed cotton costs more and is used in finer t-shirts.

Compacting: A process that compacts the space between cotton fiber pockets. Helps to reduce shrinking.

Contrasting Stitching: Stitching with a different color than the garment. Gives a nice design detail in t-shirts.

Control Union: An international organization that offers certification services for a variety of programs--including many organic certification programs. Certifies USDA Organic, as well as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).

Cotton Jersey: Knitted, very slightly stretchy fabric with a smooth flat face and a more textured but uniform back. Average weight per yard is about 5.5 to 6 ounces. Basic t-shirts are made of cotton jersey. Fine cotton jersey is usually smoother and has a lighter weight per yard.

Cotton: A natural fiber that is the most popular in the world for fabrics. Cotton fibers are usually ½ to 2 inches long. Longer fibers produce finer cotton fabric. Varieties such as Pima and Egyptian, which feature fibers exceeding 1.5 inches, are more highly valued than ordinary varieties.

Crew Neck: A round close-fitting neckline. Most common neck on t-shirts.

Crop Top: A shirt with a short body to it; made to expose the midriff area.

Double-Needle Stitched: Used mostly on sleeve/bottom hems and refers to a parallel row of stitching. This type of stitching gives durability and a cleaner, more finished look.

Drape, Drapability: Refers to how a fabric hangs. A fabric like bamboo rayon has excellent drape, while a coarse fabric like burlap has very little. T-shirts that have good drape qualities feel nicer to wear.

Drop Tail: A garment that features a longer back than front.

Eco-Friendly: Extremely loose term that refers to a product's "greenness." Almost useless in realistically assessing a product. Favorite term used by green washers.

Egyptian Cotton: Cotton produced in Egypt and valued for its long length of fiber. Apparel made with true Egyptian cotton is prized for its softness and fineness.

Environmental Justice Foundation: A registered charity established in 2000 to help people who suffer most from environmental abuses such as pesticide poisoning, water depletion, and soil destruction. Especially active in curbing abuses in cotton farming.

Enzyme Washed: A wash process using special enzymes to produce a soft finish and smooth look to a fabric. Ages dyes to create a special look to dyed fabrics. Enzyme washing is physically less harsh on the fabric compared to stone washing.

European Cut: A style of t-shirt that is narrower than what one normally finds. For example, a full cut men's t-shirt, size large, usually runs 22 inches across the chest (measured one inch below the sleeve). A men's large European cut will run about half an inch to 1 inch narrower, sometimes more.

Fabric Dyed: Fabric dyed before being cut and sewn into a finished piece of clothing.

Fair Labor Association: A nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sweatshop conditions in factories worldwide. Works to develop Code of Labor Practices, especially important in the apparel business where working conditions have historically been so poor.

Fair Wear Foundation: An international group dedicated to enhancing garment workers' lives all over the world. Works with companies that produce clothing and other sewn products and that take responsibility for their supply chain.

Fine Cotton Jersey: Knitted, very slightly stretchy fabric with a smooth flat face and a more textured but uniform back. Fine cotton jersey is usually smoother and has a lighter weight per yard than regular cotton jersey. T-shirts made with fine cotton jersey have a better drape and feel than regular t-shirts. Usually made with 30s and higher cotton thread, and weighs about 4.3 ounces per square yard.

Fitted Cut: Definitions vary, but generally a fitted cut refers to a cut that flatters the body. Used often in women's t-shirts, the middle section of the shirt will be tighter than the top or bottom. Overall, the shirts run narrower than a basic full cut.

Full Cut: A generous, roomy cut. In t-shirts, tubular styles are generally considered full-cut, but there are exceptions. Full Cut differs from the slimmer European Cuts, Slim Cuts, and Fitted Cuts.

Garment Dyed: Clothing dyed after it has been cut and sewn into a finished article of clothing.

Garment Washed: A process where finished articles of clothing are washed, usually with added softeners to improve the feel and look of the fabric.

GMO Free: GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms. First used in the 1990s when consumers became worried about genetically modified food. Many companies now apply the GMO free label on everything from food to natural fabrics, like cotton.

GOTS: Stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. A project of the International Working Group. They have developed standards to ensure organic status of textiles, from the harvesting, manufacturing, and labeling, in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer. An organic t-shirt that meets the standards can be GOTS certified.

Green: Generic term used by marketing gurus to promote products. Another favorite term of "green-washers," who are hopping on the environmental bandwagon without any real commitment.

Green-Washing: Take off on the term "white-washing," but in an environmental context. Companies that green-wash are paying lip-service to environmental concerns to attract more business, but haven't taken any real steps to be environmentally responsible.

Hand: The way a fabric feels to the touch. A fabric that feels soft and smooth is considered to have a good hand.

Hemp Fabric: Hemp, or Cannabis sativa, has been used for fabric for thousands of years, mostly as an industrial fabric. Newer processing methods have made it suitable for finer clothing, and now it is used in many clothing articles, including t-shirts. Hemp is valued for its strength and durability.

Henley T-Shirt: Similar to a collarless polo shirt, a Henley is a pullover t-shirt featuring 2 or 3 buttons (sometimes up to 5 buttons are used, but that's uncommon). A Henley can be either short or long sleeved.

Ice Wash: A method of stone washing where the stones are first soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. This method produces a frosted appearance to fabric.

Interlock Knit: A type of knit that is very soft and has a good drape. Interlock knit stitches are tighter, more stretchy than Jersey knit, but less stretchy than rib knit. Used in very fine garments.

Jersey Knit: Commonly found in t-shirts and is the most durable of knits. It is light weight, and has fine vertical ribs. The Jersey knit was named after the British Island in the English Channel. Fine cotton Jersey refers to Jersey Knit made with fine cotton threads such as 30s and 40s.

Knit: Defines how the interlocking loops of yarn that make up fabric were made. There are many types of knits. Jersey Knit is commonly found in t-shirts and is the most durable of knits. It is light weight, and has fine vertical ribs. On the other hand, rib knits have heavy ribs running down the fabric, while interlock knits are used in very fine fabrics. T-shirt collars are usually rib knit.

Muscle Shirt: Sleeveless style t-shirt, but not exactly a tank top. Basic t-shirt, just without the sleeves. The shoulder strap portion is much wider than an ordinary tank top.

Neck Tape: A thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running across the shoulders and neck area. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch. Often referred to as "shoulder to shoulder taped."

OekoTek 100: Certification from the International Oeko-Tex® Association, which assures consumers that the apparel they buy is chemical free and poses no risk to their health. Under the Oeko-Tex standard, clothing must be free of formaldehyde, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and other toxic chemicals.

Organic Apparel: A term very loosely applied in the garment industry. It can mean anything from 100% organic to as little as 6% organic. Often combined with terms like Eco-Friendly, Green, and so on. Consumers must check the labels and verify the materials used to see if something is truly organic or not.

Organic Cotton: Cotton grown without the use of pesticides. Certified organic cotton has been inspected to insure it truly is organic.

Organic Soil Association: Founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists concerned about the relationship between farming practices and plant, animal, human, and environmental health. The Organic Soil Association pioneered the first organic standards in 1967, and certifies farms and businesses that meet those standards.

Overdyed: A process where previously dyed garments or fabrics are dyed with an additional color to create a unique look.

Performance T: Name for t-shirts manufactured for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Performance Ts are characterized by their breathability, moisture wicking, fast drying, and odor control capabilities. Many performance Ts are polyester/cotton blends, or can also be 100% polyester. Bamboo t-shirts, due to their absorbency and wicking properties, have become known as performance t-shirts, although they do not dry as fast as performance t-shirts made of 100% polyester.

PFD: Stands for Prepared For Dyeing. Sold this way to t-shirt customizers who want to create their own look with dyes.

Pigment Dyed: A type of dye that creates a washed out, distressed look.

Pima Cotton: A cotton developed in the U.S. in the early 1900s to compete with Egyptian cotton. It features longer fibers and is used often in fine men's and women's shirts. The name Pima comes from the Pima Indians, who helped with the first crops of the new cotton as it was first grown in the U.S.

Pique: A method of knitting that creates a waffle-type, fine textured surface. Used often in polo shirts.

Polyester: Man-made fiber manufactured from synthetic polymers. Used widely in apparel, especially combined with cotton in 50/50 blends.

Pre-Shrunk: Refers to the process of pre-shrinking fabric before it is cut and sewn. Occasionally it refers to an actual finished garment that has been preshrunk. Clothing that has been preshrunk shrinks less once the buyer washes it. Preshrunk cotton t-shirts will still shrink a bit, however, especially if dried using a clothes dryer.

Raglan T-Shirt: Style of t-shirt featuring sleeves that run directly to the collar. Usually the sleeves are a contrasting color from the body. Raglan sleeves are wider under the arms, and are preferred by wearers who want maximum freedom of movement. Baseball t-shirts usually feature a raglan sleeve style.

Rayon: Man-made fiber that uses plant cellulose as its main ingredient. Rayon is very soft, has excellent drape, and is very absorbent. Originally developed as a silk substitute.

Rib Knit: Characterized by heavy vertical ribs running down the fabric. Rib knits are usually classified as 1x1, 2x1 or 2x2. This lets you know the width of the rib compared to the space between. For example, a 1x1 rib knit or a 2x2 rib knit means the space between each rib is the same width as the ribs. But a 2x1 rib knit means the ribs are twice as wide as the spaces in between. Rib knit is very stretchy and is often used for t-shirt collars, cuffs, and tank tops.

Ring Spun: Refers to yarn made by twisting and thinning a rope of cotton fibers. The continuous spinning results in a softer feel and stronger yarn. Ring-spun t-shirts are noticeably softer to the touch.

Ringer T: A t-shirt with colored sleeve bands and matching crew neck. Most ringers are white, with the armband sleeves and crew necks in various colors.

Sand Wash: Refers to using sand while washing a garment or fabric to soften and distress it.

Satin Washed: Another term for silicone washed, which produces a very smooth and soft finish to fabric, and also gives the fabric good draping properties.

Scoop Neck: Wide, gently curved neckline that varies in depth. Favored in women's shirts.

Sheer Jersey: Very light weight jersey knit, weighing about 3.9 ounces per yard. A little stretchier than fine jersey.

Shoulder to Shoulder Tape: A thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running across the shoulders and neck area. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch.

Shrinkage: Usually refers to cotton apparel and the amount it can be expected to shrink. Most cotton t-shirts are pre-shrunk, but 4-5% shrinkage can still be expected.

Side Seamed: Refers to shirts with a seam running down at each side under the arm sleeves to the bottom hem. Side seamed t-shirts are more expensive to manufacture.

Silicone Washed: Refers to using inert silicone in a washing process. Produces a very smooth and soft finish to fabric, and also gives the fabric good draping properties.

Singlet: another term for a men's tank top.

Slim Cut: A style of t-shirt that is narrower than what one normally finds. For example, a full cut men's t-shirt, size large, usually runs 22 inches across the chest (measured one inch below the sleeve). A slim cut will run about half an inch to 1 inch narrower, sometimes more.

Stonewashed: A washing process that uses lava rocks or sometimes silicon and rubber balls. This method makes fabric softer and gives it an aged or distressed look. Sometimes bleach is used in this process.

Tank Top: T-Shirt characterized by thin shoulder straps and no sleeves. The name came from the early term for swimming pools: swimming tanks.

Taped Seam: Not actual "tape," but a thin strip of fabric sewn over the seam running across the shoulders and neck area of t-shirts. It covers the seam and looks better than an exposed stitch.

Tubular Style:A style that has no side seams; the body of the t-shirt is round and straight. Tubular t-shirts are less expensive to manufacture, and make up the bulk of the cheaper t-shirts.

Unisex T-Shirt: No standard definition exists for a unisex t-shirt, but generally speaking a unisex t-shirt is made of lighter weight, fine cotton jersey, side seamed, and not cut as full as a regular men's t-shirt. The sleeves are not extra short, like cap sleeves, but are not full elbow lengths either. The body length is usually medium/long. However, there are wide variations in unisex t-shirts, depending on the manufacturer.

Uzbekistan: Former U.S.S.R. satellite that became independent in 1991 and is notorious for its cotton production methods, which include forced child labor and environmentally destructive practices. Ethical apparel companies boycott Uzbekistan cotton; however, many companies don't care and have refused to join in the boycott because Uzbekistan cotton is cheap.

V -Neck: Inverted triangle style of neckline. Can be deep or shallow, depending on the style. Usually favored by women, but a shallow style v-neck is popular among men.

Viscose: Typically another name for rayon, as in viscose rayon.

Weight: Usually expressed ounces per square yard. A 5.5 ounce weight cotton fabric means that one square yard will weigh 5.5 ounces. Fine jersey cotton fabrics usually have lighter weights, while coarser cotton fabrics have heavier weights.

Wife Beater: Derogatory term for a men's tank top t-shirt. Usually refers to a basic white tank top.

Yarn Dyed: Yarn that is dyed before it is woven into a fabric

Boycott Uzbekistan Cotton

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:55:39 -0700

Forced child labor is one of the big issues in the apparel industry. Since the public consciousness was raised by the sweat-shop issues years back, more and more manufacturers are taking harder looks at where the raw materials come from and how they are harvested.

Uzbekistan is one of the top cotton-producing countries in the world. But the cotton there is picked by up to 200,000 children who are forced to work in the fields for little or no pay. Refusal to work means beatings or detention.

Most of Uzbekistan’s cotton ends up in Europe, where various manufacturers use it in all manner of cotton apparel.

Some of the manufacturers turn a blind eye to the source of the cotton. The Environmental Justice Foundation ran these quotes by major cotton traders:

• Paul Kinney, President of Cargill Cotton UK, was recently quoted as saying "Cargill has nothing to do with picking cotton in those countries. I have no further comment and prefer to end this conversation."

• In February 2004, a spokesman for Cargill was quoted as saying that to its knowledge children who picked cotton did so to help their parents during the harvest.

• Thomas Reinhart, who runs a Swiss family-owned company that is one of the biggest traders in central Asian cotton, said he had never heard of the use of child labour in the region. "We buy our cotton from government agencies and don't know what happens out in the fields."

At Green Man T-Shirts, we do not buy any organic cotton products that are made with cotton from Uzbekistan. Our main supplier, Continental, states this on their website:

Continental® Clothing Company has begun a major initiative, in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Foundation, to help stop child slavery in Uzbekistan (amongst other environmental and social disasters that are happening on a unimaginable scale).

Continental® is simply following the advice of the EJF, and in September will begin to label all their garments with the ‘Country of Origin’ of the cotton (normally it is the country of manufacture of the garment which is shown on the label), in order to assure consumers that the cotton does not originate from Uzbekistan, which is the world’s second largest exporter of raw cotton.

Director of Continental® Clothing, Philip Charles states, “ Why am I really doing this? As a large user of cotton, and with our influential position in the T-shirt industry, Continental® Clothing has an opportunity, even if not a responsibility, to raise awareness and promote consumer action on issues where we feel strongly - such as the state orchestrated child slavery in Uzbekistan. And the situation in Uzbekistan is hideous – the state torturing dissenters by dipping them in boiling water! If a person knew they were clothed in Uzbek cotton, their skin would crawl.

"The wonderful thing is that it costs us nothing to change our labels, and may cause consumers to question the T-shirts they buy and so switch them on to cotton T-shirts which guarantee that certain positive social and environmental conditions are met. There are many charities and individuals raising awareness of these critical issues, but they are all outside of our industry looking in; it takes the people personally and intimately involved in the cotton industry to make a stand, and it is us who can make the difference.

"And I ask other apparel manufacturers to follow suit, and do the same. If this happens, we can create a snowball effect and force change through economic pressure. I liken this to what happened when Dolphin Friendly Tuna was introduced as a marketing tool, now you would be hard pressed to find non-DFT on supermarket shelves. I am afraid to say that there is politically no chance at all that the Karimov regime (in Uzbekistan) would voluntarily go along with any of the key recommendations (of the ILO). Compulsion is needed to force change, and a consumer boycott is the way to attain that.”

Green Man T-Shirts agrees. We hope you do, too.

The Green Man Blog is written to spread environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world around us. Thank you for visiting! Stay green, support the organic movement, and be sure to visit www.greenmantshirts.com or www.robjuszak.com for the best in organic cotton and bamboo t shirts!

Moral Fiber

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:10:34 -0700

The more you know, the more you'll support the organic movement.

This video, presented in two parts here, highlights some of the dangers of conventional cotton growing, and the advantages of organic cotton.

Produced by the Pesticide Action Network in Great Britain.

Their website is here:

http://www.pan-uk.org/

Making Cotton T-Shirts Sustainably

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:30:55 -0700

Note: The following article is from our supplier of Ultimate Statement Organic T-Shirts. For those who wish to learn more about the entire organic cotton industry, this is a great starting point:

There is a negative impact to conventional cotton production. Cotton is grown commercially using a large amount of pesticides and herbicides, toxic chemicals designed, as the name suggests, to kill pests, insects, weeds, fungus, or any other kind of living things.

Most cotton is also grown on poorly managed soils, which would be almost sterile without large amounts of synthetic fertilizers.

More insecticides are sprayed on cotton than on any other major crop. Many problems are associated with this production method. Severe negative impacts include: loss of biodiversity and damage to ecosystems and wildlife, depletion of precious natural resources such as water and soil, and heavy contamination of water bodies.

The ecological devastation of the Aral Sea area in central Asia, one of the most visible ecological disasters on the planet, almost entirely due to cotton production, symbolises cotton’s environmental impacts.

Other impacts include poisoning (sometimes fatal) of farmers, and intolerable indebtedness of poor farmers trapped on the “pesticide treadmill”.

In some areas, the cost of chemicals is now reaching 60% of farmers’ production costs. The use of pesticides on small-scale cotton farms in developing countries has unacceptable negative impacts on the health of farmers and their families, and on their environment.

On such farms, the level of training required to avoid hazards when using pesticides is seldom attainable. The necessary protective equipment is almost never used because of its lack of availability and its prohibitive price, and is inappropriate for use in tropical climates.

The positive impact of organic cotton production

However, cotton can be grown following the strict principles of organic agriculture. Organic agriculture uses no synthetic chemical pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, and no Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).

Organic fertilizers (such as manure) and plant-based pest management products (such as neem or garlic extract) are used.

However, organic agriculture is not only a mere substitution of synthetic inputs with natural inputs. The major principle is to restore a natural balance within farms, with healthy and well-structured soils, rich in organic matter. In such an environment, the pests (any living things which damage the crop) are not systematically destroyed by poisons, but are kept under control by their natural predators.

Biodiversity (the diverse range of living species: plants, animals, microorganisms) and agro-diversity (the diverse range of crops planted by the farmer, as well as livestock) are integral parts of an organic farm.
The organic cotton fibre that is harvested is similar to most conventional cotton fibres, except that it is guaranteed non-GM, and is not contaminated with pesticides.

The main difference is that the ecosystem where it has been produced has not been damaged, and chemicals have not poisoned the farmer and his or her family.

The cotton produced while converting from conventional farming to organic farming is called ‘organic in conversion’. This is a necessary but difficult stage for any organic farmer, as the cotton may cost more to produce, but cannot be sold at the premium that certified organic cotton can achieve.

Some companies have decided to incorporate this cotton into their conventional cotton production, as an indication to consumers of their support for, and understanding of organic issues, and forward thinking business ethics.

Fully organic cotton fiber is certified as an organic agricultural product, along with other crops on the farm, by a private certification body, which guarantees that the rigorous organic standards have been strictly followed. The UK-based Soil Association, for example, is one among over 100 such certification agencies worldwide, which are accredited and audited by various bodies such as the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement, Control Union Group, which now, at last, are being brought together under a single GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD (GOTS).

Therefore, the certification of cotton fiber as an organic agricultural product is extremely reliable. If the label of your T-shirt claims that it has been made with organic cotton, you can be confident that the cotton fiber has really been grown organically. There is no need for a logo, the word “organic” is sufficient.

However, the word ‘organic’ only refers to a guarantee on the growing stage of the cotton fiber, and not on the processing or the manufacturing, and there is still a long way from the fiber to a T-shirt.

Fiber processing

There are many stages required to process cotton from fibers to fabrics. The fibers are cleaned, carded (combed), spun into yarn, coated with starches or chemicals, woven into fabric (or knitted in the case of a T-shirt), cleaned up from their coating and their natural wax, bleached, immersed in concentrated caustic soda, dyed or printed, and chemically treated for easy care and other properties.

All these stages require a large number of chemicals of various toxicity and hazards. Some of these chemicals threaten the health of workers, while others cause environmental pollution from the mills’ waste water. Finally, many of these chemicals are found as residues in the finished product, and some of them may affect the health of consumers, and are suspected to cause allergies, eczema, and even cancers.

In order to address those processing and manufacturing stages, a handful of organisations, mostly organic certification agencies, have developed their own private voluntary “organic” or “sustainable” standards for textile, and are certifying finished products according to those standards.

Such organic certification agencies and their textile processing scheme include the Soil Association and the Control Union International (aka SKAL International); the new GOTS will encompass those.

And so, what we commonly call in Europe an “organic T-shirt” is a T-shirt made with certified organic cotton fiber, and processed according to those textile processing standards. The certification agency then authorises the manufacturer to add its logo (or mark, or symbol) on the T-shirt’s label or their marketing literature. This is essential in order to recognize an Organic T-shirt.

While the processing and manufacturing are not really “organic” in a similar way that agricultural products are “organic”, what those standards aim to achieve is to maintain the integrity of the organic nature of the fiber as much as possible. This is achieved by using as much organic material as possible, and by adopting alternative chemicals and processing practices that minimize the impact on the environment, and protect the health of consumers, while insuring textiles of high quality that are economically viable. The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Mark is one such standard.

The OKEO-TEX Standard 100 Mark

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Mark (or Öko-Tex ) is probably the most widely recognised standard in textiles, which sets strict limits on the amount of substances harmful to consumers which can be found in the finished textile product.

The mark states “Confidence in Textiles” is displayed on textile products which have been tested by one of the member institutes. Criteria are even more stringent for baby clothes than any other textiles. Most of the criteria for residues in the baby clothes category are comparable to health criteria of the organic textile standards.

Although Oeko-Tex standards only address specifically consumer’s health issues, the necessity to comply with the criteria induces better environmental practices at the processing and manufacturing level. The standards offer significant environmental benefits. Therefore, when choosing a sustainable T-shirt, look for Oeko-Tex certified T-shirts, made with 100% organic certified cotton.

Ethical Trading

Some companies go further, and open up their manufacturing processes and business practices to scrutiny by organizations set up to promote fair labor conditions such as the ‘FAIR WEAR FOUNDATION’ (FWF).

The FWF exists to promote fair labour conditions in the garment industry world wide; this means it’s member companies have undersigned FWF's Code of Labor practices, and thereby the company has committed itself to monitor the factories of its suppliers, and the Fair Wear Foundation verifies that the Code of Labor Practices is actually implemented and respected at the factories.

The Green Man Blog is written to spread environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world around us. Thank you for visiting! Stay green, support the organic movement, and be sure to visit www.greenmantshirts.com or www.robjuszak.com for the best in organic cotton and bamboo t shirts!

Rollover Javascript for Changing T Shirt Colors

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:12:30 -0700

We've had a few people ask about the inline rollover javascript we use on the Green Man T Shirts website. This is the color-changing script to illustrate the different colors of our organic t-shirts.

Like many others, we had problems using two-part scripts where some of the script had to go into the head section and some into the body section. We use GoDaddy as our host, and we don't have access to the head section of the site (not easily, anyway. There is always user-modified CSS, but we aren't that smart). Plus, any javascript we used had to xhtml validate for us, and that kept creating problems for us code-challenged newbies.

What we needed was a simple javascript we could cut and paste into the body section, and finally we cobbled one together. Look at some of the organic t-shirts at Green Man T Shirts to see how it works.

Rather than make someone use Firebug and grab it off the site, we just put the entire javascript into a downloadable zip file to study and use. Put the code into a txt file (use Notepad or something similiar) for easy viewing. Once you see it and compare it against our site it's pretty easy to see how it works.

Just replace the images we made with images of your own (Please! It's bad form to "borrow" bandwidth); use your own color terms; add or delete lines depending how many colors you wish to show; and you are all set. Just cut and paste it into the body section of your website.

We used t-shirt mockups generously provided by Tom Neal, and we found out about him from the great guys over at Assault Blog. They have a link where you can download the free mockups. In the future we might be buying the GoMedia Mockups. They look pretty darn good.

Hopefully this will help other t-shirt guys like us who are more into designs and shirts and styles, rather than writing xhtml, CSS, and javascript.

Download the Rollover Javascript below:

Rollover Javascript

Organizations We Support

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:10:00 -0700

With over 1 million charities, it’s not always simple choosing who to put on our support list.

To help us, we use resources like Charity Navigator and Guidestar. These organizations serve as charity watchdogs, and are a big help in deciding who to list.

Our criteria are simple: any group we list must have a four-star rating (the highest rating) from Charity Navigator, or be a group we have personally worked with.

Here are the groups we currently support (with your help), and their mission statements:

Surfrider:

Founded in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. The Surfrider Foundation Chapters are the heart, soul and body of the Surfrider Foundation. The Surfrider Chapters act locally to protect their community's coast. There are 70 Surfrider chapters located along the East, West, Gulf, Hawaiian and Puerto Rican coasts. The Foundation focuses its work on four initiatives: clean water, beach access, beach preservation, and protection of special places. http://www.surfrider.org/

African Wildlife Foundation

Founded in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), together with the people of Africa, works to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever. AWF is the leading international conservation organization focused solely on Africa. We believe that protecting Africa's wildlife and wild landscapes is the key to the future prosperity of Africa and its people - and for over 45 years we have made it our work to help ensure that Africa's wild resources endure. At AWF we approach all of our work at the landscape level - that is to say, we look at large landscapes (we have identified eight of these areas to date). Within these landscapes, we implement a variety of efforts that conserve land, protect species and empower people. http://www.awf.org/

San Diego River Park Foundation

The vision of the San Diego River Park is a greenbelt from the mountains to the ocean along the 52 mile long San Diego River. This greenbelt is really a trail system and a clean and healthy river system which connects a diversity of parks, open spaces, public places and community facilities spread out along the length of the River.

The San Diego River Park Foundation is working to achieve this goal by partnering with government agencies such as the San Diego River Conservancy, business and civic leaders and a wide range of public organizations. By promoting stewardship of the River and promoting a better understanding of the River's natural systems, the San Diego River Park Foundation is endeavoring to enhance the quality of life in San Diego.

San Diego River Park Foundation works with community groups and other organizations dedicated to the San Diego River and the River Park and its wildlife, recreation, water, cultural and community values to better engage the public in this project. We support projects which help to establish the river-long park such as restoring and enhancing the river, establishing public plazas and community gardens, and telling the story of the river through interpretive programs, kiosks and educational signage, and more. We also work to acquire and manage critical properties which play an important role in creating the River Park.

We are dedicated to making this project a truly treasured regional asset that is valued by all members of our community. We welcome and encourage everyone who is interested to join us in this effort. http://www.sandiegoriver.org/

Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity and demonstrate that human societies can live harmoniously with nature. Founded in 1987, CI works in more than 40 countries on four continents to help people find economic alternatives without harming their natural environments. Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature for the well-being of humanity. Conservation International is committed to helping societies adopt a more sustainable approach to development - one that considers and values nature at every turn. http://www.conservation.org/

WildEarth Guardians

WildEarth Guardians was formed in January of 2008 from the merger of Forest Guardians, Sinapu, and the Sagebrush Sea Campaign. With offices in Boulder, Denver, Phoenix and Santa Fe, WildEarth Guardians protects and restores wildlife, wild places, and wild rivers in the American West using a potent combination of litigation, scientific analysis, and grassroots organizing. http://www.wildearthguardians.org/

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. Since our founding in 1951 we have protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide - and we operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. We have more than one million members. We work in all 50 states and more than 30 countries - protecting habitats from grasslands to coral reefs, from Australia to Alaska to Zambia. We address threats to conservation involving climate change, fire, fresh water, forests, invasive species, and marine ecosystems. We use a science-based approach, aided by our more than 700 staff scientists, and we pursue non-confrontational, pragmatic solutions to conservation challenges. http://www.nature.org/

Rainforest Alliance

Founded in 1987, the Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. The Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, we involve businesses and consumers worldwide in our efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily. We set standards for sustainability that conserve wildlife and wildlands and promote the well-being of workers and their communities. http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

World Wildlife Fund

Founded in 1961, World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) mission is the conservation of nature. Using the best available scientific knowledge and advancing that knowledge where we can, we work to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth and the health of ecological systems by: protecting natural areas and wild populations of plants and animals, including endangered species; promoting sustainable approaches to the use of renewable natural resources; and promoting more efficient use of resources and energy and the maximum reduction of pollution. We are committed to reversing the degradation of our planet's natural environment and to building a future in which human needs are met in harmony with nature. We recognize the critical relevance of human numbers, poverty and consumption patterns to meeting these goals. http://www.worldwildlife.org/

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Scripps is one of the oldest, largest, and most important centers for marine and earth science research, education, and public service in the world. Its preeminence in marine and earth sciences is reflective of its excellent programs, distinguished faculty and research scientists, and outstanding facilities.

With one-of-a-kind resources and a century-long record of achievement, Scripps Oceanography is uniquely positioned to provide the scientific leadership necessary to address many of society's most crucial and complex challenges. Focusing on issues of global impact such as climate change, natural disasters, rising sea levels, the collapse of marine ecosystems, and the growing resistance of diseases to pharmaceuticals, Scripps scientists work to ensure a balanced relationship with our environment - now and for generations to come. http://sio.ucsd.edu/

Zoological Society of San Diego

Founded in 1916, the Zoological Society of San Diego (ZSSD) operates the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, and San Diego Zoo Conservation Research. ZSSD is a conservation, education, and recreation organization dedicated to the reproduction, protection, and exhibition of animals, plants, and their habitats. The 100-acre Zoo is home to over 4,000 rare and endangered animals representing more than 800 species and subspecies. The Wild Animal Park is an expansive wildlife sanctuary that is home to more than 3,500 animals representing more than 400 species. CRES is dedicated to preserving and protecting rare and endangered wildlife and habitats. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

About Bamboo T-Shirts

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:52:00 -0700

We’ve heard talk about bamboo fabrics and decided to look into it for ourselves. We discovered plenty about it, some true, some false, and we want to share that here.

First, the correct term is bamboo rayon, or rayon fabric made from bamboo. We don’t want to go all chemistry teacher here, but to say bamboo shirts are made from bamboo is technically incorrect.

To be more precise, “bamboo fabric” is made from rayon processed from bamboo cellulose. There isn’t any actual bamboo fiber in the finished product.

The process used to convert bamboo cellulose to rayon involves harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide. These chemicals must be handled responsibly, or dangers to workers’ health and the environment develop.

The finished material runs the risk of residual chemical contamination.

So why sell bamboo t-shirts? Are there any green advantages?

Well, yes. Quite a few, actually.

Here are the reasons we like:

Some facts to consider about the greenness of bamboo would be:

• Bamboo is grown without any pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Bamboo is naturally resistant to bacteria and fungus, making it simple to grow organically.

• Bamboo rarely needs replanting after harvesting because its vast root network continually sprouts new shoots, pulling in sunlight and greenhouse gases and converting them to new green growth. No re-planting means no petroleum-guzzling tractors.

• Bamboo grows incredibly fast and can be harvested in 3-5 years. Botanically categorized as a grass and not a tree, it is the fastest growing grass on Earth and can shoot up a yard or more a day.

• Bamboo is a critical element in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Bamboo plantations are like large factories for photosynthesis, reducing greenhouse gases, and absorbing about 5 times the amount of carbon dioxide and producing 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.

• Bamboo is an excellent soil erosion inhibitor. Growing bamboo improves soil quality and helps rebuild eroded soil. The extensive root system of bamboo holds soil together, prevents soil erosion, and retains water in the watershed.

• Bamboo clothing is 100% biodegradable and completely decomposed in the soil by micro-organisms and sunlight without decomposing into any pollutants such as methane gas.

When we considered the overall pros and cons, we felt bamboo rayon t-shirts were a green positive, rather than a negative.

And we carefully considered our source. Our supplier, Continental, is famous for their environmental initiatives. Quite frankly, we trust them.

All their clothing products are certified to the OEKO Tex 100 standard for residual chemicals. This means their bamboo rayon fabric is free from residual chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Currently, the Oeko-Tex Standard is the most comprehensive certification process to insure that a garment is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Continental is also a certified CarbonNeutral® Company.

So we made the decision to promote bamboo t-shirts. We think it’s the right one.

You’ll see that we talk about how smooth and great feeling the bamboo shirts are, and how they wick moisture away from the body, and how they make you feel cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Bamboo fabric is highly absorbent and wicks water away from the body 3 to 4 times faster than cotton. In warm, humid and sweaty weather, bamboo clothing helps keep the wearer drier, cooler and more comfortable and doesn’t stick to the skin.

Plus, they look outstanding. The shirts are blended with 70% bamboo rayon and 30% certified organic cotton, and you have to feel and wear them for yourself to see how soft and smooth they are. It’s like wearing silk, except our bamboo fabric breathes much better, is far less expensive, much more durable, and you can machine wash it.

Personally, we love our bamboo t-shirts. We think you will, too.

About EarthPositive

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:20:00 -0700

One of the issues we have at Green Man T Shirts is finding the right suppliers. We don’t want just anybody. Just because a company can offer dirt-cheap products or has a “name” doesn’t impress us.

The clothing industry has been stained with many examples of horrible practices such as forced labor, child labor, sweatshop conditions, environmental hazards, pesticide and herbicide poisoning, and so on.

We want no part of that.

So when we found EarthPositive Apparel we immediately liked them.

EarthPositive makes 100% organic cotton clothing. They are certified by the Control Union and the Soil Association, and work to the Global Organic Textile Standard. They are also certified under the Oeko-Tex 100 Standard.

They use manufacturing facilities powered by green renewable energy, and farm the organic cotton in areas where monsoon rains give plenty of water. This avoids overusing water resources in water-scarce areas, which can be a problem since it takes over 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pound of cotton.

EarthPositive adheres to a strict Code of Labor Practices, and freely allow audits by the independent Fair Wear Foundation to ensure compliance.

But there is much more. We have heard about carbon footprints, and how we need to reduce them. Well, through its sustainable practices, EarthPositive has managed to reduce the carbon footprint of the ordinary t-shirt by 90%.

Typically expressed as Green House Gas emissions (GHG), the manufacturing process for an ordinary t-shirt weighing 7 ounces might release a mass of GHG 45 times greater than the mass of the shirt itself.

To put it another way, the average men’s t-shirt is responsible for releasing nearly 20 pounds of CO2; the average women’s t-shirt nearly 17 pounds.

Our Women’s Organic T Shirts from Earth Positive release less than 3.5 pounds of CO2. Quite a difference, really.

Can you see what we like them?

And here’s something interesting: instead of using air freight, EarthPositive uses only containerized ocean shipping. This helps to greatly reduce the transportation-generated carbon footprint.

So that’s why we like the company, and why we choose to sell their products. It works for us, and it will work for you.

One last thing: if you buy one of our Green Man Organic T Shirts, keep the sustainability chain going. Wash in cold water and air dry when possible.

After all, it’s in the spirit of the Green Man. The Earth will love you for it.

Thank You For Your Order!

nospam@example.com (Green Man) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:15:00 -0700

Thank you for supporting Green Man T Shirts!

Your order helps to advance many environmental causes around the world. Not to mention the fact that by purchasing our organic t shirts you are also advancing the organic, sustainable movement. These are good things!

About your shirts: Wash them in cold water and line dry if possible. This conserves energy and carries on the philosophy they were made with.

If you have an original Rob Juszak design t-shirt, turn the shirt inside out before washing. This helps to preserve the design.

If there were any problems with your order, contact us immediately: greenman@greenmantshirts.com.

We’ll take care of you, no worries. Enjoy the t-shirts!

Our Thoughts About the Business

When we started this project, we deliberately focused on keeping things simple. We knew that just about everybody buys t-shirts, so that’s what we decided on. But we also knew we had to commit 100%.

Part of that commitment was starting the Green Man Blog, writing about the Earth and all its wonders, covering environmental issues, and having fun exploring the history and legend of the Green Man. The blog carries no advertising and never will.

Another part of that commitment was carefully choosing the products we sell. We felt we could be part of the problem or part of the solution. We chose to be part of the solution. So we sell quality organic, sustainable t-shirts from companies we trust.

And, of course, how we run the business itself is part of the commitment. That’s why we don’t print tons of flyers and brochures and stuff them in with your shirts; we direct you here instead. We don’t pack your shirts in ordinary plastic; we use a special biodegradable plastic. Our shipping boxes are eco-friendly, as they say.

We hope you enjoy the t-shirts! Spread the word to your friends about us. Eventually, we hope, everyone will at some point or another buy a t-shirt from us. Why not; it’s something you can always use, right? You can’t do wrong buying from us, and you can do the world good!

And lastly, we have to lay our brilliant marketing plan on you: Please buy our t-shirts!

FAQ

Are you guys for real?

Yes. That’s really us in those boring videos. We’re as real as it gets. Contact us anytime and you’ll actually get an answer.

What’s the red stapler for?

It reminds us to not act, think, or behave corporately. We’ve both had enough of that in our lives. So have you, probably. So we try not to have "policies" or inflexible rules. We just try to do the right thing at all times. We also refuse to be faceless, anonymous corporate drones.

Where does the artwork come from?

That’s all Rob. He studied formally at San Diego State University, but he’s been drawing Green Man related art for a long time. Originality is the driving force behind his work, so you won’t see the usual grunge skulls and splatter-punk artwork here. His work is always themed-out in several ways; sometimes it’s clear, sometimes it very subtle. If you buy one of his designs and want to know more about it, send along an email. He’ll tell you the inside story on the piece.

What’s with your videos?

Pretty bad, eh? But we’re trying to get better. Maybe one day we’ll surprise everybody and make one of those YouTube videos that go viral….yeah, right. The idea, as far as it is possible, is to be face to face with our customers. The videos allow people to not only see our products in better detail, but also to see us.

Personally, we get tired of the "mega-behemoth corporate faceless all-things-to-all-people and we will crush all competitors brand of business" we see out there. And we think we are not alone in feeling that way. So we make our dumb little videos and do our best to communicate who we are and what we are doing.

I looked at the art gallery, but not all the designs are on the shirts. How come?

The art gallery is just sort of a knocking around place for Rob. He’ll be the first to criticize his own art, and sometimes he’ll just toss things out to get a reaction. He picks and chooses what he wants to go on the shirts in his own good time.

Generally speaking, we shoot for a new design each month. In fact, we’ll probably never be offering more than a dozen designs at any one time; which means we’ll “retire” designs in favor of new ones as we go.

Why is your free overseas shipping minimum so high?

Because we can’t figure out the overseas online shipping cost calculator. It doesn’t seem to want to work for International First Class, which is less than International Priority. So we set the bar high to protect ourselves. But look, if you are overseas, contact us with what you want to buy and give us your location. We’ll get an exact quote on International First Class shipping and see what we can work out for you.

If I want to return something, can I?

Of course. Just contact us and we’ll figure out the best way to do it. Usually, the best way to return an order is to use the original box and mark it “Return to Sender.” When we get it we’ll credit your account, or re-ship if it’s a case of wrong sizes and you just want an exchange. If it’s a partial return, contact us and we’ll advise the best the way. No matter what, though, we’ll take care of you.

How long does shipping take?

The majority of the time you'll get your shirts within a week. If it will be much longer, we'll send you a note. But generally we ship the next business day of receiving the order.

What got you guys into this?

Both Rob and Dave have enjoyed many great adventures over the years. Bicycling from San Diego to Canada, rowing down the Baja coast, motorcycling all across the Southwest, backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, climbing Mt. Whitney, hiking Death Valley, and many others. After a while both felt the urge to give something back to this wonderful world, even if it was in a small way.

Neither one should really be here, after all: Rob survived a terrible motorcycle accident, and Dave survived cancer. So with the time granted to them by good fortune, they're trying to make a difference. With your help, it can be done.