Anvil Knitwear, a major supplier to the imprintable T-shirt industry, announced the launch of its affordable 100% organic cotton tee shirts. AnvilOrganic tee shirts are available in ten colors in sizes XS through 4XL.
“We monitor our markets closely and we determined that organic apparel is no longer a fad, it's a trend, and there is sufficient long-term demand to justify taking it mainstream at prices that are attractive to the overall market,” said Anvil CEO, Anthony Corsano.
“The time is right to bring an affordable 100% organic tee to the market. Corporations are looking at everything they do and everything they buy in order to make smart business choices that are also sound environmental choices. Likewise, organizations, retailers and individuals are looking for options that are both affordable and environmentally conscious. Anvil has always been an innovator in the market and while some of our competitors are offering an organic product, it is safe to say that no one is offering the variety that Anvil is at anywhere near our price point,” Corsano added.
From 2001 to 2005, organic cotton product sales increased an estimated 35 percent annually, from $245 million in 2001 to $583 million in 2005, according to Oakland, California based Organic Exchange. In their 2006 market report, they project global product sales will grow to almost $2.6 billion by the end of 2008.
Organic cotton is produced by a system of farming that avoids the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers and genetically modified seeds. Anvil 100% organic tees are also colored using organic dyes, and will be certified “organic”. This initiative complements Anvil's long-standing environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. Cardboard is recycled instead of discarded, scrap materials are used to generate steam power, and waste water is cleaned beyond the standards set by government regulations.
According to Corsano, “Many companies are embracing 'green' standards, which is wonderful to see. However, our research indicates that companies often don't consider purchasing organic tees because of the perceived prohibitive cost increase associated with switching from non-organic to organic and also because until now there hasn't been a wide range of colors and sizes available from which to choose.”
