About
Methow is a luminous 100% organic cotton velvet. Heavy duty residential upholstery fabric and also terrific for drapery or apparel.
Eco Facts
Methow 1 is an organic fabric. It is GOTS certified.
GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard, aims to define a universal standard for organic fabric, from harvesting the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, to labeling, in order to provide credible assurance to consumers. GOTS requires:
- A minimum of 70% fibers used must be organically certified (Ours are 100%);
- Environmentally safe processing requirements, which includes wastewater treatment internally before discharge to surface waters, must be in place. This pertains to pH and temperature as well as to biological and chemical residues in the water.
- Environmentally sound packaging requirements are in place; PVC (vinyl) in packaging is prohibited, paper must be post-consumer recycled or certified according to FSC* or PEFC**.
- Labor practices are interpreted in accordance with the International Labor Organization (ILO) - no forced, bonded, or slave labor; workers have the right to join or form trade unions and to bargain collectively; working conditions are safe and hygienic; there must be no new recruitment of child labor (and for those companies where children are found to be working, provisions must be made to enable him to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child); wages paid must meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmarks, whichever is higher.
More about GOTS: How Can We Make Sure a Fabric is Free of Chemicals of Concern?
The Fabric Name
The Methow River is a tributary of the mighty Columbia in Washington State. Named for the Methow Native Americans, today part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, the watershed is characterized by relatively pristine habitats, as much of the river basin is located in national forests and wildernesses. Seattleites (and others) flock to the area for skiing - especially cross-country skiing as it is home to the nation's largest cross-country ski area - hiking and biking.
Uses
bedding
Specifications
- abrasion test results: 22,000 Martindale
- care: Methow is washable. Iron with a very hot iron on the reverse. Or use a professional green cleaner.
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certification:
GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard
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content:
100% organic cotton
- weight: 10.5 oz yd2 / 515 gm m2
- width: 54" / 137 cm
- *FSC is the Forest Stewardship Council, is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests.
- **PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, is a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems. As an international non-profit, non-governmental organization, PEFC promotes sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.
Methow is designed as an upholstery fabric, so is terrific in demanding conditions, or as drapery. And it's a GOTS (the Global Organic Textile Standard) certified fabric, so you won't have a care in the world about its character.
GOTS (the Global Organic Textile Standard) is your assurance of many important things that can make you feel great about your fabric choice, including:
SAFETY: No known or suspected toxic chemicals have been used in the manufacture of the fabric, so you won't find them residual in the fabric you are using. Among the prohibited chemicals:
- All Flame Retardants: Brominated or Chlorinated
- All Endocrine Disruptors
- Formaldehyde and other short-chain aldehydes
- Halogenated solvents
- Fluorocarbons (PFC's)
- Heavy metals (i.e., lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic)
- Chlorophenols (TCP, PCP)
- Aromatic solvents (benzene, toluene)
WATER TREATMENT: GOTS requires thorough water treatment at each step of the manufacturing process. This is especially important with fabric because the production of fabric uses copious amounts of water, indeed, the textile industry is the #1 industrial polluter of water in the world. And this chemically filled effluent enters our groundwater, circulating around the world. Since, as Gene Lisa says, there is not a no peeing" part of the swimming pool: the toxic chemicals being dumped into the Irawaddy or the Yellow River in China affects us all.
CARBON FOOTPRINT: A GOTS certified fabric is the best choice if you're concerned about carbon footprint issues - even though the GOTS standard does not directly address carbon footprint. Please click HERE for a discussion of that topic.
WORKER SAFETY AND WORKER RIGHTS: GOTS also assures workers of safe and hygienic working conditions in the mills and fair wages. Child and slave labor are prohibited; among many other requirements and prohibitions.
1For a discussion of what the abrasion ratings mean, please click here.
2Cooper, Peter, Clearer Communication", Ecotextile News, May 2007. Please note that some sources say it is #2. Whether #2 or #1, the textile industry uses gargantuan quantities of water. Everyone agrees that agriculture is #1. If you want to count agriculture as an industry then ag is #1 and textiles is #2 - or #3 according to some sources. Here again, at a rank of #1, #2, #3, or #4, the textile industry uses and pollutes gargantuan quantities of water. Please click here to learn more about water use in the textile industry.
