In these times, the search to be more energy efficient and environmentally aware is constantly accelerating. This has led to the huge popularity of the organic culture that has seen specialist foods on the supermarket shelves, organic skin and body care products and now a range of completely organic clothing.

Produced by Mantis, the Tender Loving Clothing - 'TLC' - range was launched at the beginning of 2005 under the banner of it being made from '100% certified organic cotton from farms in Uganda in East Africa, which have been certified by the internationally accredited organisation EcoCert International.'

The Tender Loving Clothing collection was launched with an initial seven garments across its three garment ranges - Mantis, Humbugz and the Babybugz range that was also launched for 2005. As it is made from 100% cotton, the TLC range benefits from a comfortable feel to the wearer, and as the fabric has also been pre-treated for shrinkage there is no danger of the garment shrinking.

However there is still the majority of people who believe that the 'natural' quality of organic means it will be coarse and uncomfortable. Mantis' Managing Director Prama Bhardwaj said, 'When a product is described as "organic" some people mistakenly believe this to mean that they have to compromise on the comfort of the garment.

This is not the case with our organic range which has the same softness and stretch as all other 100% cotton Mantis styles.'

As no chemicals have been used in the production of the fabric, and garments have not been dyed, all seven garments are offered in the unbleached natural 'Earth' colour and are available in a range of sizes.

So what are the benefits of the TLC range? Well there is a number of reasons that Mantis cite for the creation, introduction and production of the garments. This range gives an option to people who are environmentally aware and organically conscious who can now add an organic garment to their wardrobe.

This is also beneficial to decorators, who are now able to offer an organic range to their customers as a selling point of their business. This is especially beneficial to printers who use environmentally friendly water-based inks rather than plastisol, and people who switch off machines, unused lights and computers when they are not being used.

So what does organic mean? Organic farming's main feature is severe restrictions on the use of artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Instead, organic farmers rely on developing a healthy, fertile soil and growing a mixture of crops, Animals are reared without the routine use of drugs, antibiotics and wormers common in intensive livestock farming.*

Mantis is a company who is very environmentally sound with a number of support and aid initiatives under its belt. It also pays fair wages to its overseas manufacturers that are in line with government recommendations and working practises are monitored by a local trade union whom Mantis work alongside.

Mantis is a company who is very environmentally considerate with a number of support and aid initiatives under its belt. It also pays fair wages to its overseas manufacturers that are in line with government recommendations and working practices are monitored by a local trade union whom Mantis work alongside.

Also, Mantis is a brand that believes in the practise of 'trade not aid' and helping the development of third world countries. Prama explained that what is deemed to be ethical in the western hemisphere may not be the case in the developing countries, and importing from poorer countries helps local farmers trade and generate an income as a result.

The level of ethics adhered to by the company has seen the certification by Oeko Tex of a class one award - the most stringent recognition available. The TLC range has also been certified by the internationally accredited organisation EcoCert International, who verify the conformity of organic products against the organic regulations of Europe, Japan and the United States.

In addition to the organic Mantis styles (M1 and M2), the TLC range incorporates two styles in the Humbugz range, a girls and boys T-shirt (HM1 and HM2) and three styles in the Babybugz range - a hat (BZ01), T-shirt (BZ02) and Kimono Bodysuit (BZ05). These kids and babies' ranges in particular are greatly saught after by parents, for their organic qualities and no chemical residue, which can be the cause of skin allergies such as excema in young children and babies.

So what are the benefits to you, the decorator, of the TLC range? While the clothing companies of the promotional industry strive to produce an ethically-aware garment and achieve higher and higher accreditation, one company has taken a further step and brought ethics and organics to the forefront in clothing production.

For further information about the TLC range call Mantis on 0204 224 8991, email : info@tenderlovingclothing.com or visit the website at www.tenderlovingclothing.com. Contact your usual distributor for further information on the Tender Loving Clothing range.

* Source - www.soilassociation.org

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