Organic cotton as a material - properties and care instructions of organic cotton

Organic cotton is increasingly seen as a replacement for conventional cotton. Organic cotton is known as a more ecological and ethical alternative to conventional cotton. Gugguu's products widely feature organic cotton - patterned jersey and sweatshirt products, spring-released cotton knits, and patterned fabric hats, such as caps and bucket hats, are all made from GOTS-certified organic cotton.

In this article, we tell you more about the properties of organic cotton and the differences compared to conventional cotton. You will also find additional information about where the cotton used by Gugguu comes from and its journey from plant to fabric. We also provide tips for caring for clothes made from organic cotton. 

• About cotton in general
• How does organic cotton differ from regular cotton?
• How do I know that it is really organic cotton? 
• How to care for clothes made from organic cotton?

About cotton in general

Cotton is a natural fiber collected from the seed hairs of cotton plants. Cotton plants grow in warm conditions, and the largest cotton producers are the United States, China, India, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Brazil, and Turkey. Most of the cotton used worldwide is Texas cotton, but there are dozens of species of cotton plants around the world. These species have their own characteristics, which may determine their use in certain products.

Cotton is one of the most widely used materials in textiles. Its properties make it perfect for many uses. It is a soft fiber that does not itch or irritate the skin like wool and is non-allergenic, making it an excellent choice for clothing. Cotton takes dye very well and has a good ability to retain color. The strength of cotton is also an important feature, whether in clothing or home textiles. Although it is a more breathable material than many synthetic fibers, cotton easily absorbs moisture. For this reason, cotton is less commonly seen in, for example, outdoor base layers designed to keep the wearer dry. Cotton's thermal conductivity is good, meaning it feels cool in summer and warm in winter. Clothes made from cotton often withstand washing well, making it a practical material for children's clothing.

How does organic cotton differ from regular cotton?

In terms of physical properties, organic cotton and regular cotton are the same. The difference lies entirely in cultivation and material processing. Organic cotton is a more ethical and ecological choice.

Organic cotton cultivation is done using natural methods. It aims to use rainwater for irrigation, which reduces the need for artificial watering and thus the amount of water consumption. Additionally, the soil is kept healthier through crop rotation and by avoiding traditional pesticides. Often, this also reflects in the lives of field workers, as the chemical load in the work environment is lower. 

How do I know that it is really organic cotton? 

Certificates ensure that organic cotton is truly organic. You can read our article discussing various textile certificates here. Organic cotton has two common certificates, GOTS and OCS.

GOTS

GOTS or Global Organic Textile Standard is a leading third-party certificate ensuring organic quality. A product receives the GOTS label if at least 70% of its material is organic. In addition to the amount of organic material, the certificate requires certain ecological and ethical practices throughout the entire production process.

The organic cotton yarn used by Gugguu is cotton approved by the GOTS standard (Global Organic Textile Standard). GOTS is a comprehensive certificate of ecological and ethical standards that covers the entire production chain process organically. The standard guarantees that the yarn is made of at least 95% organic material and that the production of the yarn is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner while bearing social responsibility. For cotton knitwear, we use BIO quality, which has the GOTS certificate. The cotton we use is grown in Turkey and India.

OCS

OCS or Organic Content Standard is an international third-party certification that guarantees the product is organic either fully or partially. 

OCS offers two certification options: OCS 100 and OCS Blended. OCS 100 requires more from the product; it must contain at least 95% organic material. OCS Blended, on the other hand, accepts products where at least 5% of the material used is organic and the rest are other natural or synthetic fibers.

Organic cotton in Gugguu products

We have systematically increased the amount of organic cotton in Gugguu products. - Our goal is to increase the total amount of GOTS-certified cotton in our products to 90%. We are well on our way to this - the share of GOTS-certified cotton in our products has grown to nearly 30% in a couple of years. 

Knitted accessories

In spring, we bring to market knitted accessories made from organic cotton. The knitted accessories are made in Finland and are 100% organic cotton. 

Washing instructions

Wash at 60℃. Wash with similar colors. If the product has a pompom, it should be removed during washing. Tumble drying prohibited. Use of bleach and stain removers containing bleach prohibited.

Printed jersey

We gradually switched the previous traditional cotton patterned jersey fabric to an organic cotton version in 2020 and 2021, and now all Gugguu's patterned jersey products are made from fabric containing 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane. 

Washing instructions

Wash at 40℃. Wash with textiles of the same color. Multicolored products should be washed according to the lightest color. Wash inside out. Dry hanging indoors, no tumble drying. Use of bleach and stain removers containing bleach prohibited. No dry cleaning. Iron on low to medium heat.

Printed sweatshirt

Like with printed jersey, we switched from the previous traditional cotton patterned sweatshirt fabric to an organic cotton version. Now all Gugguu's patterned sweatshirt products are made from fabric containing 95% organic cotton and 5% elastane. 

Washing instructions

Wash at 40℃. Wash with textiles of the same color. Multicolored products should be washed according to the lightest color. Wash inside out. Dry hanging indoors, no tumble drying. Use of bleach and stain removers containing bleach prohibited. No dry cleaning. Iron on low to medium heat.

Patterned caps and hats

The patterned fabric used in Gugguu's popular bucket hats and caps is also organic cotton. This durable material is also used in the spring 2022 new product, the Print Backpack. The material is 100% organic cotton.

Washing instructions

Do not machine wash. Tumble drying prohibited. Use of bleach and stain removers containing bleach prohibited. Iron on low heat.

Finally

Increasing the amount of organic cotton in Gugguu products is an important part of our sustainability strategy. So far, we have received positive feedback from our customers about the softness and comfort of the new fabrics, and we continue to search closely to find organic cotton fabrics that meet our quality standards for our other products as well.