Our goal is to provide your company quality organic fiber textiles on-time accompanied by good service.

Our Mission is:

1. Ordering
   1. Do you sell only to businesses?
      Yes. To companies registered with the pertinent State and/or Federal agencies.
   2. What if I need less than a roll?
      We offer bolt quantities, 10 to 15 yards, on some of our better selling fabrics and featured new fabrics. Check them out!
   3. What are your minimums to custom knit a fabric?
      On new styles we have reduced minimums to 400 to 700 yards based upon the weight of the knit. Otherwise it’s usually 1,000 yards.
   4. What are your minimums to dye a knit fabric?
      On new styles we have reduced minimums to 400 to 700 yards based upon the weight of the knit. Otherwise it’s usually 1,000 yards.
   5. What are your minimums to custom weave a fabric?
      1,000-5,000 yards depending upon the fabric construction and the equipment used.
   6. What are the minimums to dye a woven fabric?
      The minimum would depend on our dye machinery at the finishing facility location. It ranges between 500 to 1,200. Weaving minimums may first apply. The cost to dye the smallest amount will translate to higher price per yard.
   7. What are the minimums to print a knit or woven fabric?
      We offer rotary printing and digital printing. Expect a minimum of 1,000 yards per print for rotary. Preferred minimums are 2,000 yards. Surcharges will be assessed on 1,000 yard orders. Minimum on digital printing is 60 yards. Pricing is $20 to $40 per yard.
   8. What is involved in print design?
      For rotary printing, the design needs to be formatted with the repeat and submitted in the ready for print format. For digitial prints this is not necessary. Cost to format or set up a design may apply to both rotary and digital.
   9. How can we offer color now in our line and grow into the minimum dye lot?
      There is the coop buyng option. Given you are willing to share someone else’s color and are flexilble as to time of delivery, we can combine the interest of several companies in a common color and pool commitments to meet the minimum. This requires flexibility on your part to order when the other pool partners order and be ready to commit in paying deposits.
   10. What is the procedure to order a custom fabric?
       First see fabric minimums. Given you are ready to financially commit to the investment, send us complete written specifications or a sample of a full width, minimum one yard piece of the model fabric. Make sure the sample is made of cotton. Rayon, tencel, acrylic and polyester have unique properties that will not be replicated with natural fiber. We analyze the fabric and return with a yes or no. If yes, we quote a price and estimated delivery time. Given that we can reproduce the fabric, you will sign a contract with our company to produce it. Prepayment or a 50% deposit may be required.
   11. What is the industry definition of first quality?
       The quality of a textile is measured on defects per 100 yards on a 100 point scale. Defects are assigned 1 to 4 points. Major flaws are assigned 4 points. Minor flaws are assessed 1 point. A first quality textile may have 6 to 12 points of defects. Please refer to the Worth Street Textile Market Rules for how the points are applied to determine the quality. The WSR, codified in 1926, is the frequently cited standard in procedures and customs for purchase, sale, and use of textiles. Defects may exist in first quality fabric. With dyed fabric there may be variations in shade.
   12. We are an overseas business and found your web site. How can we do business together?
       Because exporting requires additional time to handle details, we focus our attention serving overseas companies who are ready to do business. That means you have decided on fabrics, know your import costs and if ordering open stock styles, order a minimum of 300 yards of a style. To order fabric and swatches, you will need an account open with a courier service such as Fedex or UPS.
2. Definition of Organic and Certification Standards
   1. What is the current definition of an organic fabric?
      Until 2006, different countries and certifiers had different definitions of an organic textile. A working group of organic agriculture non profits and certifiers convened, developed and agreed to a Global Organic Textile Standard. The U.S. Organic Trade Association was party to its creations and support. The Global Standard touches on every detail of manufacture but leaves out detail. The historical standards such as the OTA American, JAS, Skal will continue to be utilized in certifying organic textiles. Organic textile standards address all phases from farming to the garment manufacture.
   2. Are the organic textiles on the market certified from field to finishing?
      Some are, most are not. The market has not always borne the cost of certifying each stage of the manufacture. Today there is one certified U.S. spinning mill but zero weaving or knitting mills. Overseas there are mills who pay the cost of certification of the spinning and weaving or knitting. In lesser frequency there are overseas dye houses and finishing facilities that are certified. Today we offer textiles made of certified organic cotton fiber and yarn. Our woven terry toweling is certified from fiber to finishing.
   3. How is organic cotton grown differently than regular cotton?
      Organic farming nurtures the soil’s biological life. Conventional cotton deadens the soil, kills everything in the name of controlling pests. Organic farming fosters the health of a diversity of insects, birds, soil microbes, and worms. Insects injurious to cotton are held in check by this diversity. Organic farmers rotate crops to allow the soil to rest. Cover crops are grown and natural fertilizers are applied to improve the soil for the long term.
      Chemicals commonly applied to conventionally grown cotton are neuro-toxins, contact bird killers, carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens. For more information on distinctions read below, Incorporating Organic Into Your Line.
   4. How about the manufacturing of organic textiles?
      Manufacturing to standard requires mills to special order, educate themselves and sometime retool to utilize different sizes, oils, detergents, scours, dyes, and auxiliaries. Mills shut down lines and clean equipment prior to running the organic. Goods must be segregated to avoid contact with everything else in the mill. Paperwork is generated to track materials and goods. Organic standards mandate responsible wastewater disposal systems be in effect.
   5. What is certification, and who are the certifiers?
      Certification involves on-site inspection, inspector’s reporting, review of the report by the certification administrative board in light of the standard, and a certifier’s decision to certify or not the operations of the farm, gin, spinner, mill, dye house, or finishing facility. Certifiers are independent non profit and for profit companies that inspect the fiber farming, each step of the manufacture, and all record keeping according to the designated organic fiber standard.
   6. Are the standards of organic fabric codified under the Organic Food Act, or other U.S. Federal law?
      The growing of organic fiber is regulated per the Federal organic law as it relates to the growing of crops. There is no organic law regulating organic fiber textile manufacture and labeling in the U.S. The aforementioned standards are voluntary
3. Claims and Returns
   1. How are claims and returns handled?
      We represent the fabrics of several manufacturers in addition to our own goods. Each company has its own policy. Make sure you inspect your goods upon arrival. The policy is stated on the invoice and in any contract you execute. It is the responsibility of the buyer to examine the goods upon receipt and notify the seller of variation immediately. There is a time limit on making claims that begins upon notice of delivery. Sew Eco-Logical’s policy is to stand behind the product we manufacture. We must be notified immediately of problems. We will ask for documentation from our buyer. We will need access to claimed fabric. A review of the fabric is a requisite to any action on our part.
      On program / custom orders, the contract covers how claims will be handled.
      On open stock orders, a return authorization must be issued prior to a return. Only uncut, unwashed goods may be returned. If a return authorization is issued on first quality goods, the buyer will pay for the return freight. Again the claim must be made within the period stated on the invoice. It is the buyer’s responsibility to know the terms with regard to claims and returns.
4. Payment Options
   1. What are the payment options?
      Cash, Mastercard or Visa. Credit is not extended on first order or orders of minimum quantities. Credit will be extended based upon a good credit report. Credit investigations may slow processing and shipping of an order. On program orders, deposits may be required. On overseas manufacture and delivery, expect requirement of prepayment.
   2. Who pays for color matching?
      This is dependent on the line. Generally the cost of color matching the first time and, if necessary, the second time is included in the price of the fabric. Should your company not order the fabric, Sew Eco-Logical and its associates reserve the right to receive reimbursement for the lab costs plus handling for the completed color matches, a minimum of $49.00. We reserve the right to charge for the cost of the 3rd color match.
5. Incorporating Organic Into Your Line
   1. Where do I find more information about the benefits of organic cotton?
      Visit the following web sites:
      • Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)
      • Beyond Pesticides
      • Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP)
      • Organic Trade Association (OTA)
      • Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK)
   2. How can you assist me in making the case to my company’s management to go organic?
      We can arrange for an invitation to one of two farm tours, either the Sustainable Cotton Project’s annual tour of cotton agriculture or the TOMC field day. The tours are held in late September/early October in the San Joaquin Valley and northwest Texas respectively. These are eye opening experiences and key to understanding the severe problems associated with cotton agriculture and the opportunities for your company to be part of the solution!
6. Confidentiality
   1. Will my name and address be shared?
      No. We do not sell or exchange customer information.
   2. Will you keep in confidence information I share with you regarding my business plan and products?
      Yes. What you share with us will stay with Sew Eco-Logical and our production associates.

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