Sniff before you buy cotton clothing

It’s happened a couple of times now so I thought it was worth blogging. India is a major producer of textiles and many of the cotton items we buy are made in that country. But if you have bought clothing from India, have you ever been aware of a chemical, oil-type of scent on the clothing that is more noticeable after washing? I bought a cute cotton cardigan from Old Navy – perfect to wear with jeans – but could not bear the heavy chemical smell that failed to diminish even after repeated washing. Then, I received a lovely cotton scarf for Christmas, cotton with embroidery here and there. And again, the same chemical scent.

I have heard that cotton is the most heavily sprayed crop and these experiences have only served to reinforce a belief that organic cotton is the only way to go. Make that certified organic!