When is a T-Shirt More Than a T-Shirt?

Back in March, my very first blog posting detailed my surprise at my inability to find a basic organic cotton v-neck t-shirt. In the months since, I’ve been scouring green boutiques and on-line retailers looking for one, with no success.

But I just finally found what I’ve been looking for at prAna (www.prana.com/002181-V-Neck-T.aspx). And, for $28, I can afford to get more than one. When the t-shirt image—and price—appeared on my laptop screen, I just blinked, unbelieving.

This might not seem like a big deal—it’s just a plain tee, right?—but I think it’s a very big deal. Not only is an organic cotton v-neck t-shirt a much-needed green staple for my wardrobe, but it’s a sign that green is going Mainstream.

Here’s a note to designers: People who care about the environment don’t always need our t-shirts to sport silly messages and cartoon-ish images supporting our cause (although I have my fair share of those). Sometimes we’re looking for classic basics like a pair of tailored black organic cotton pants or a white organic cotton button-down shirt with Princess seams.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to order several v-necks . . .

Question of the blog: Is there a green item on your Wish List that you can’t seem to find?

Wanna Know What PETA Said?

Earlier this week, I wrote about my surprise in finding that PETA’s line of t-shirts isn't exclusively (or even mostly) organic. In addition to sharing the news with you, I sent an email to PETA. And I got a response. Here it is (unedited):

Dear Kristyn,

Thank you for your comments and for the information you have provided. Currently we have one organic cotton product, the Unisex yellow “Happy Families” tee and we hope to carry more organic apparel in the future.

Unfortunately, just about anything we do has some adverse effect on the environment. As you already know, this is compounded when we consume products derived from animals since we are hurting the animals themselves, in addition to the environment, and that is why we promote a vegan lifestyle.

We, like you, would like to see the use of all animals and animal ingredients eliminated. We also recognize that, unfortunately, it is impossible to be a total vegan. Although changes are taking place with almost everything, there are animal products and/or animal tests wrapped up in our wallboard, paints, car tires, the asphalt we drive on, printing fluid, you name it. Ultimately, we encourage people to make choices that will have the most positive impact for animals.

While we will consider your suggestion, perhaps you will take comfort in knowing that we currently purchase T-shirts made by American Apparel which are screen printed by a nonprofit screen printer who employs people in the US.

We hope this information is helpful. Thank you for caring and all that you do for animals.

Kindest regards,
PETA Customer Service Staff

I was pleased to get a response, but I’m still surprised that they only carry one organic shirt (note: If you follow the link, it’s only the yellow “Happy Families” shirt that’s organic; all the other shirts with the same design are not organic . . . figure that one out). I’m also surprised they “hope” to carry more in the future.

I’m a total animal rights activist—I even waited for a frog to cross my path while I was mowing the lawn yesterday—but I think we all need to take a global, green, and vegan approach to life. Meaning, we should make the best possible choices for Mother Earth, which includes her animals and her humans.

Question of the blog: Since “Made in the USA” and animal-friendly organic t-shirts are available—and are now more affordable than ever—why use/wear anything else?