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Cotton is a versatile crop and is used for a vast variety of products and almost any type of fabric can be made from it. It is also very comfortable and durable. All these uses make it one of the most popular and widely traded commodities on earth.

Cotton is a globally important fibre, providing returns to many small farmers in developing countries. Fairtrade cotton has just been released in the UK providing job security and greater incomes to farmers. But the downfall is that most cotton is produced in a way that causes great damage to the environment as is it is one of the most chemical intensive crops in the world. High productivity comes at great environmental and health costs.

So serious are the negative impacts of chemical-intensive agricultural production, that momentum for change has grown considerably in recent years. The trend toward more environmentally friendly production methods is mainly due to enlightened companies under pressure of increased environmental regulation and competition, and informed consumers calling for greater social and environmental accountability. In many African countries with lax environmental controls, farmers can apply nearly one-third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for every pound of cotton harvested. Some of these chemicals are classified as the most toxic around and the negative impacts can be severe. The simple act of growing and harvesting the amount of cotton fibre needed to make a T-shirt takes an enormous toll on the earths air, water, and soil, and has significant impacts on the health of people in cotton growing areas. These carcinogenic chemicals can leave residues on the skin, and it is now argued that these are associated with allergies. Organic cotton is therefore kinder to the skin. For more information visit the Pesticide Action Network site at http://www.pan-uk.org/.

Organic cotton begins with living soil. This means the soil has not had any chemicals used in it for at least three years and it has been enriched with compost and other organic matter. These replace synthetic fertilizers that are harmful to the health.

Organic cotton production has increased 5-fold in the past 4 years. The UK is among the worlds fastest growing markets. Each year, thanks to organic cotton, more cotton farmers around the world are able to minimise their effect on their health from pesticide exposure.

There are also signs that organic cotton is moving out of its niche market into the mainstream with increased interest on the part of supermarkets and large companies. Marks and Spencers and the Top Shop have recently launched organic and fairtrade clothing ranges to meet the growing market that started with organic food and then moving into non food areas such as cotton and paints.

For those of you that are parents, Clean Slate Clothing has introduced accountability to the clothes which children wear everyday by selling the worlds first Fairtrade and Organic School Uniforms.

Ethical companies also need to move beyond selling organic cotton clothes to ensuring that they are using environmentally friendly dyes and recycled materials with the minimum of packaging and literature.

Find ethical retailers selling organic and fair trade clothes here

Davinos Greeno works for the organic directory . This green directory lists 100s of Organic Food and Drink Companies and Eco Jobs and Campaigning Videos

Different kinds of clothes hangers can be used help to keep our wardrobes tidy and in order. This saves the time and trouble of searching through clothing to find the right blouse, or slacks that match your top.

There are many different kinds of clothes hangers and they have benefits you may not have thought about. For instance, using fancy hangers that are covered with pretty fabric will stop a slippery top sliding off the hanger onto your shoes or the clothing stacked below. It will also prevent stretching the armhole/shoulder seams of garments made from delicate or stretchy materials.

Wire hangers are useful for shirts and T-shirts that you want to hang up quickly, but they are also great for hanging your wet clothing on inside, or on the balcony. Wire will not leave a stain on wet clothing like a wooden hanger. Some people use the bottom strand of the wire hanger for hanging slacks or trousers, but this leaves a crease on them. Instead, use one with a wooden dowel placed over the bottom wire to provide a wider support.

When you have a pantsuit or top and slack set that you always wear together, hanging both top and slacks on the same hanger is a good way to keep it all in one place. Using a dual clothes hanger with clips for the slacks and shoulder rods for the top will enable you to keep both garments together. However for single slacks or trousers, smaller clothes hangers that grip the waistband are sufficient.

Plastic hangers and cheap and useful for lighter garments, but one or two light tops is all they can support without bending. If you have heavier garments such as coats or jumpers that you like to hang up, then choose stronger, wooden coat hangers. Once that is covered will prevent shoulder stretch marks in those jumpers.

Even though most hotels and motels provide hangers for clothing, folding hangers are useful for taking on extended holidays, just in case there are not enough provided. Folding hangers take up less room in the luggage and will not be confused for the hotels hangers when you go to pack up.