Ecological textiles

There is a whole lot of fuss over organic food, and justifiably so, but we hear very little about the details of "organic" or "eco-friendly" textiles. While in India exploring various interests, from jalebi (a far-from-organic-or-healthy sweet treat) to organic farming to Tollywood film (yes Tollywood, not Bollywood), I found myself a guest at a textile company just outside of Ahmedabad.

The city is a textile-producing center of the country famous for its beautiful fabrics, and the industry provides jobs for hundreds of thousands of locals. While these jobs help keep their families fed - though on little more than rice and milk - their employees spend their days soaking their hands, arms, and bodies in chemical dyes or bleach to produce a product that, in turn, poisons everything it touches. These fabrics are, of course, not only used in India, but all over the world, and the U.S. is one of its biggest customers. So while we sweat, our pours open up, and the dyes in our clothes seep into our bodies, we're making ourselves susceptible to skin cancer, among other things. But of course, this is nothing compared to the deformities and illnesses that result from the contaminated water, soil and air in and around the city of Ahmedabad.

However, the company where I took a tour, Aura Herbal Wear, has made an in-depth and life-long study of how to create clothes that, from the first thread to the last button, are completely human- and earth-friendly. Based on research of various "organic" companies, there are plenty of producers who claim to do the same but cut all kinds of corners, mixing dyes and fabrics, to create a more salable product. Aura however, is among a small crowd uncompromising in its commitment to the planet and, in its last 6 years of existence, has found a market for everything from clothing to curtains to yoga mats not just in India, but all over the world. ABC Carpet in the heart of New York City has recently began merchandising Aura's products and the owners of Aura, Arun and Sunil, the husband-and-wife team who showed me around and took the time to explain a bit of their company's history, have their eyes on a much bigger goal. The plan is to spread the word and the reach of truly eco-friendly textiles, and to transform its production from harmful to effective and holistic for the earth, the consumer, and employee alike.

To learn more about the effects of textiles in your body and the earth, visit auraherbalwear.com.