Pure cotton clothing for women has become much more widely available over the last few years, as have silk and linen clothes at more reasonable prices. This section first gives advice on finding relatively safe sources of cotton clothing. Details of silk and linen clothing follow at the end of the section.
Cotton Clothing
Some items of clothing can be hard to find in pure cotton, such as cotton swimwear, pure cotton tracksuits, or unusual or stylish fashion clothes. The sources provided are chosen therefore because they sell unusual clothes, as well as being better tolerated by people with allergies and sensitivities.
Of the High Street suppliers, Benetton pure cotton clothes are generally well tolerated, once they have been washed – especially their corduroy, cotton jersey and tracksuit fabric clothes. They are a very useful source for warm winter clothing if you can tolerate nothing but cotton. Mixed reports are received of Marks and Spencer and Laura Ashley cotton clothes, in cotton poplin and drill in particular. Some people tolerate these very well; others find they do not. Proceed with caution!
While Next’s clothes for children are relatively trouble-free, some of their women’s cotton jersey fashions have higher levels of fabric finishes and cause more problems, even after washing. Again, handle with care! Next now sell a range of formaldehyde-free organic clothes.
Look out for soft cotton Indian or Third World fashions, which are usually relatively untreated. Cotton voiles and cotton lawns are also often better tolerated than stiffer cotton drill or poplin.
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