Why We Prefer Organic Cotton
What is organic cotton?
“Made from 100% organic cotton”. You’ve probably heard us use that sentence before. But what does it mean exactly when we say organic cotton? And why is it so important to us? Well, the answer is actually quite simple: organic cotton is less harmful for the environment.
First things first: cotton is a fibre that grows on the cotton plant. But before you can use it, just like all crops, it first needs to grow. During that process, many cotton farmers protect their crops from insects by using pesticides.
Often, they also create bigger and more numerous crops using genetically modified organism (GMOs), fertilisers, and artificial irrigation methods.
But besides creating a strong and beautiful cotton plant, these methods all have one thing in common: they have a negative effect on the planet in terms of water usage, soil depletion, carbon emissions, and energy usage.
Organic cotton is grown under more sustainable conditions with a far less harmful impact on all the factors listed above. It does not use any pesticides, artificial fertilisers, or GMOs, nor is the field irrigated with anything other than rainwater.
Goal: 100% organic cotton
We aim to switch the last product in our collection - The Originals - to organic cotton instead of conventional cotton. Why? The answer is easy; organic cotton is much less harmful to the environment than “conventional” cotton. Thanks to the methods used while growing the cotton, or better: the methods that were NOT used, organic cotton is much more sustainable than conventional cotton. And that’s exactly why we are phasing out conventional cotton from our collections, whilst looking for organically produced alternatives with the exact same or even better qualities. Because that’s what our mission states: creating iconic designs while making conscious decisions for people and planet.
Green Disclaimer
Since we’re talking facts here, let’s be honest about the full picture. Organic cotton does show considerable ecological benefits over conventional cotton, but it’s not the end of the story. It’s much less harmful, but it still impacts the planet. Changing all our collections to organic cotton is a first big step towards being a truly sustainable fashion brand. But to reach our goal of becoming net zero by 2030, we realise we need to do more. That’s why we invite you to have this conversation with us. We’re also eager to learn how we can improve.
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Read moreBe, Feel and Stay Marvellous: Our 2024 Action Report
When we say we use our business as a force for good, we mean it. That’s why we publish an Action Report every year, covering everything you need to know about our sustainability efforts – including milestones, challenges and ambitions. This year’s report is our most extensive one to date. Curious about our growth and impact over the last year? Check out the full report via the link below.
Here’s a sneak peek of some of the highlights shared in the report:
- We extended the lifespan of 15,827 garments through reconditioning, refurbishing and repairing, saving them from ending up in a landfill.
- We're switching The Originals to organic cotton. Once our current stock runs out, the new style will gradually be phased in. The switch saves 1.1 KG of CO₂ per pair! This equals charging 89 smartphones.
- In 2024, our efforts to capture our emissions by supporting regreening projects with Justdiggit reached new heights. To date, MR MARVIS has helped restore over 41,000 trees and regreen 1,215 hectares of land.
- We donated €85,060 to charitable causes such as KiKa and Dress for Success.
- We co-founded the B Corp Fashion Circle: a collective for Dutch B Corps in the apparel industry, fostering collaboration and shared progress.
- We improved the scope and accuracy of our impact data by onboarding Vaayu as our impact measuring tool. This helped us gain a clearer picture of our CO₂ emissions and water usage, and will guide us in setting concrete reduction goals going forward.
The Action Report highlights the progress we’ve made in fostering a more responsible future, both in and outside our company. But this is just the beginning. We’re excited to continue evolving our strategies and actions to drive meaningful change.
Do you want to know more? Or do you have a marvellous idea to share with us? Get in touch via sustainability@mrmarvis.com. We're always eager to learn!
Here you can check out our new action report.
Read moreNew: The Airy Knit Shirt
Meet The Airy Knit Shirt: MR MARVIS' structured short-sleeved shirt. This light and breathable knitted shirt, made of 100% organic cotton, strikes the perfect balance between comfortable and polished. The subtle weighted texture ensures it holds its shape and adds extra interest to your warm-weather looks.
The Airy Knit Shirt is soft and light without being see-through: ideal for sipping an espresso on a terrace or soaking up the local culture in style.
You can pair this men's classic with summer trousers like The Longs or The Easy Chinos or go vacay all the way with shorts like The Originals and The Short Linens. The Airy Knit Shirt comes in five colours: dark blue Cosmics, blue Mavericks, light beige Coconuts, gray-green Defenders and dark beige Baristas. In addition, two striped versions are available: the yellow and off-white Splits and light and dark blue Strikes. Available now online and in MR MARVIS stores in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
Read moreNew: The Buttonless Polo
Meet The Buttonless Polo – a new member of MR MARVIS' extended polo family. Playful, refined and versatile, it's perfect for moments that call for something effortless and elevated.
The Buttonless Polo is a lightweight, short-sleeved polo that doesn't play by the rules. Sometimes less is more. That's why we decided not to add buttons this time, for a subtly eye-catching look. The light merino quality adds an elevated feel, making it the perfect option for more fancier events.
This menswear staple can be worn with summer shorts like The Piqués, The Short Easies, The Short Classics and The Short Linens. You can also pair it with trousers like The Longs, The Five-pockets, The Classic Chinos and The Seersuckers. The Buttonless Polo is available in 8 marvellous colours: black blue Deeps, blue Mavericks, off white Coconuts, dark burgundy Reserves, beige Baristas, green Goodwoods, light blue Avenues and blue green Astons. Now available online and in MR MARVIS stores in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.