Many parents start thinking about organic baby clothes somewhere in the middle of pregnancy, or shortly after the baby comes home. It's usually not about following a trend; it's about a tiny, new life now sleeping against your skin every day, and you want everything that touches the baby to be as clean and safe as possible.
That's exactly how it was for me, and that feeling is behind every garment I make at By Lelou. In this article, I'll explain why, since starting my company in 2009, I've chosen to use organic and upcycled fabrics, what that means in practice, and how you, as a parent, can navigate all the labels and claims flying around in online shops and stores.
What are organic baby clothes, really?
Organic baby clothes are garments made from fabrics grown and manufactured without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, or harmful chemicals in the dyeing and bleaching process. The most common and comprehensive standard for organic textiles is GOTS, Global Organic Textile Standard, which certifies the entire chain from cotton field to finished garment.
It's not enough for the cotton itself to be organic if it's then dyed with substances that could be harmful to infant skin. GOTS certification covers the entire production chain, including working conditions and chemical handling.
For babies, this plays a huge role. Infant skin is thinner and more permeable than adult skin. It absorbs more of what it comes into contact with, which means chemical residues in conventional fabrics can potentially be absorbed into the body in a completely different way than in adults.
Why I also choose upcycled fabrics
Textile production requires enormous amounts of water and energy, regardless of whether the raw material is organic or not. To sew a single
cotton t-shirt requires about 2,700 liters of water. Choosing upcycled fabrics, which are fabrics that have already been produced and would otherwise have been discarded, is a way to further reduce that footprint.
I work with upcycled fabrics in a way that I believe is honest and well thought out. These are fabrics that get a second life after previously being used as sheets and curtains or similar and have been thoroughly washed again and again. They are of excellent quality and no new production was needed for them to become garments.
It's not a compromise; it's a choice I'm proud of.
But what about the paints I use when printing?
Many prints on baby clothes are those colorful, stiff prints that feel a bit plastic and start to crack after a few washes. I don't want to work with that. My screen prints become one with the fabric, which results in a soft and pliable print, and the colors I have chosen are free from phthalates and PVC, and meet the latest environmental requirements.
Common misconceptions about organic clothing for babies
There's a lot of talk about organic baby clothes, but there are also some common misunderstandings worth addressing.
Some believe that organic automatically means soft. It doesn't. Softness depends on how the fabric was woven and treated after cultivation. A GOTS-certified interlock knit is soft, yes, but it's the process and material choice, not organic farming itself, that determines how the garment feels against the skin.
Another common idea is that organic clothes shrink more or wear out faster. That's not true either. Durability depends on the weave quality and construction. Organic cotton is neither worse nor more fragile than conventional cotton.
And a third misconception is that the price is always very high. Organic garments often cost more than conventional alternatives, and there are certainly reasons for that, but the price varies greatly depending on where and how the garment is produced.
Which garments make the biggest difference to choose organically?
Not all garments need to be organic to be beneficial, but for babies, there are garments worn against the skin around the clock, and that's where the choice of material truly matters.
Bodysuits are worn almost constantly during the first few months. Since they sit directly against the skin, including the sensitive skin around the neck, wrists, and legs, it's one of the garments where organic knitwear makes the biggest difference. Our Body Helga is such a garment, cut to sit comfortably without pulling or rubbing.
Dresses worn directly against the skin in summer fall into the same category. Dress Gulli is an example of a garment where we chose well-washed, upcycled sheet fabric precisely because it is worn close to the body.
Bibs are worn against the neck and cheek, an area that is extra sensitive for infants. Bib Skogen is sewn from a soft, organic material that can withstand many washes without losing its quality, which is important for a garment used so frequently.
Hats sit snugly against the head and forehead. Hat with Squirrel is a garment where the choice of material is especially important for this very reason.
If you want to see the entire range of garments made from organic and recycled materials, you can find them in the category for organic and upcycled.
How long do organic baby clothes last?
A question I often get is whether organic garments really last as long as conventional ones. The answer is yes, provided they are well-made.
What I usually emphasize is that durability in children's clothing is doubly important. Partly because clothes that last can be worn by siblings or sold on, which further extends their lifespan and reduces the need for new production. And partly because it's better economics for the family in the long run.
I design my garments to withstand real everyday use: crawling, many washes, and the fact that babies are surprisingly good at getting dirty. Furthermore, the designs are often created to fit for a long time, with generous cuffs that can be folded up and down, and styles that can be used in different ways over an extended period.
A practical guide to washing organic baby clothes
Organic fabrics don't require any special treatment, but there are a few things that extend the garment's life:
- Wash at 40 degrees unless otherwise specified. Lower temperatures are gentler on the fibers and the environment.
- Choose a mild detergent without optical brighteners or perfume, especially for the baby's sake.
- Avoid tumble drying if possible. Tumble drying is the most common reason knitted garments lose their shape.
- Hang garments to dry instead of tumble drying, preferably in a pretty pile that you photograph and post on Instagram and tag @bylelou 😘
That last part was perhaps mostly a joke, but the rest is serious and important to consider.
Why I'm telling you this
There's a lot of greenwashing in the textile industry. Words like "natural," "environmentally friendly," and even "organic" are sometimes used without certifications or concrete choices behind the claims.
I want to be clear and honest about what I actually do and why. For me, since starting By Lelou, it's been obvious to choose organic fabrics because they are better for babies' skin and for the ecosystem of the farming landscape; after all, we want to hand over a planet in the best possible condition to our children.
I choose upcycled fabrics because they reduce the need for new production, and because they have been washed many times, any chemicals that might have been in the fabric from the beginning have long since been washed out.
I hope this article helps you feel confident in your choices, whether you're shopping with me or elsewhere.
If you have any questions about my use of organic and upcycled fabrics, you are always welcome to contact me.
Want to explore the assortment? Feel free to look at organic and upcycled at By Lelou for a comprehensive view of the garments I am most proud of.