Family-owned and operated Maryland-based, MOM's Organic Market has required all organic textiles sold in its 14 stores to be GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified as of Jan. 1, 2016. GOTS defines strict environmental and social criteria along the entire supply chain for textiles with organic designation. Its model promotes more responsible manufacturing in the textile industry, the second largest polluter of clean water after agriculture.

To coincide with this switchover, MOM's will launch a campaign, Cotton's Dirty Laundry, on Jan. 22, 2016, to highlight the environmental challenges of the conventional textile industry. MOM's will provide complimentary GOTS certified socks to customers on Saturday, Jan. 23 (while supplies last). The GOTS certified organic items carried at MOM's will include clothing and mattresses.

The MetaWear factory in Fairfax, Virginia—the first and only GOTS certified screen printer in the United States—shared its vision of sustainability and ethical production with MOM's staff and leadership during a tour on Nov. 4, 2015. The existence of MetaWear underscores the accessibility of organic textiles that are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, defoliants, pesticides, or herbicides. GOTS ensures a transparent supply chain that is safe for our natural resources and safe for people—Cotton's Dirty Laundry will demonstrate why the standard is so necessary.

"MOM's Purpose is to protect and restore the environment—this was a logical step to help keep unnecessary pollutants out of the ecosystem and, moreover, drive awareness about an industry that might otherwise seem harmless," says Founder/CEO, Scott Nash.