Mareco: Ethically made organic cotton T-shirts

Cotton tees are the wardrobe staple and as such they are made, sold, and worn by millions of people everyday. However, with such an abundance of brands, styles, colours, and materials it can be difficult to find something original. Our recent discovery of Mareco is a beautiful exception of how the cotton tee can continue to inspire through a blend of art, sustainability, and craftsmanship.

Organic cotton vs Conventional cotton

To underscore the benefits of organic cotton production let’s quickly compare a few statistics between conventional and organic cotton. 

Conventional cotton production requires the use of an abhorrent amount of pesticides, which devastates the environment. Globally, 24% of all insecticides (and 11% of all pesticides) are used for just one crop: cotton. Cotton production also drains (and pollutes) precious water resources, with nearly 11,000 litres of water used for every kilogram of cotton harvested. Considering that the average t-shirt uses ~400g (.9 lbs) of cotton this equates to almost 5000 litres of water per garment!

On the contrary, organic cotton’s production sustains the health of the soil, ecosystems, and people by using natural processes rather than artificial inputs and reduces CO2 by nearly 50%. Furthermore, organic farming does not use toxic chemicals or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Instead, organic farming relies on integrating traditional knowledge with innovative scientific methods for the long-term benefit of our environment and for an enhanced quality of life for all involved.

About Mareco

Mareco believes that a better world is possible and is making this a reality through their numerous social and environmental certificates (Living Wage, Global Organic Textile Standard - GOTS, Soil Association Organic, Fair Wear Foundation, Sedex) as well as producing locally and adhering to the highest UK production standards.

Materials

The recently launched T-shirt line is 100% organic cotton and Mareco is planning to expand with other eco-friendly materials such as - Tencel, Modal, Eco vero and Recycled polyester in future collections.

Design approach 

The majority of Mareco’s products are elegantly embroidered in vivid colours, which transform your basics into stand alone pieces. This attention to artful detail is then further accentuated through the draped effect of their loose cut tees. Also, and exemplary of their environmentally conscientious ethos, Mareco operates on a ready-to-order model, which significantly reduces their waste and footprint. Furthermore, unlike fast fashion, Mareco actively discourages impulse shopping through their six week delivery time. 

Sustainability, honesty, and transparency are at the forefront of Mareco’s mission. In this way, they are quick to inform customers that although at present their embroidery threads are polyester, they are working towards sourcing recycled and natural embroidery threads for future collections.

Packaging

Mareco's packaging is 100% biodegradable and their tissue paper is made from 99% recycled pulp fibres with approximitly 35% of the electricity coming via renewable sources. Their polybag, swing tags, and stickers are all made from a strong 60mu recycled plastic, which are all 100% recyclable.