We've all heard the sentimental ads, "Cotton, the fabric of our lives". I am a tee shirt and jeans kind of girl and love my soft cotton clothing. What you might not know is that cotton has a dark side.

Conventionally grown cotton uses a great deal of insecticides and pesticides. In May 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report "Agricultural Chemical Usage 2005 Field Crops Summary" for the major U.S. crops. It found that 4.486 pounds of pesticides were used per acre of cotton. This is twice the dosage of chemical pesticides as corn, the next highest consumer. Conventional practices not only use dangerous chemicals to keep away pests and weeds, chemicals are also used to defoliate the plants to make picking easier.

Organic cotton is grown without pesticides. Instead, beneficial insects and 'trap crops' are used for weed and insect control. Additionally, many farms employ workers to pull weeds. Defoliation is achieved from freezing temperatures and water management. Bleaching practices in organic cotton use peroxide rather than chlorine bleach.

Starting a business is not an easy feat and we are always looking for ways to cut costs. The question I've asked myself is, "At what price?" It is my belief that humans need to take better care of our Earth. For this reason, B's Tees is migrating toward offering organic cotton products whenever possible.

Beginning in 2011, B's Tees will begin using organic cotton and bamboo clothing whenever possible. While there is no completely environmentally safe solution when it comes to clothing manufacturing, we feel that these options are the best available.

B's Tees is also committed to putting Americans to work. For this reason, we pledge to purchase clothing from U. S. wholesalers at every opportunity. The majority of our new tees are made in South Carolina and meet fair trade practices. We will discontinue some of the items we have carried in the past as soon as our stock runs out. We are confident that you will love our new merchandise.