At Green Label Organic (GLO), we know that a sustainable lifestyle transcends the clothing you wear. We are aware of the importance of nourishing your body with physical activity. Much of our customer base includes outdoor enthusiasts like hikers and cyclists that also know the benefits of living an active lifestyle. GLO is headquartered at the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Floyd, Virginia and our community is fortunate enough to experience some of the best hiking that North America has to offer. In the spirit of wellness, we have put together some of the top day hikes in Southwest Virginia (Figure 1) that you can take advantage of in 2023 and beyond!

Figure 1: Areas highlighted in pink indicate the Southwest region of Virginia

Source: Plant Virginia Natives

Day Hikes in Southwest Virginia

1. Buffalo Mountain Trail

With 360° panoramic views, Buffalo Mountain Trail is a perfect hike for the entire family. The two-mile loop is easily accessible and can be completed in as little as an hour! This is a well maintained trail that is dog and child friendly. This short hike has a quick 587 foot elevation gain to get your heart rate pumping. If you’re looking for an afternoon hike with phenomenal views of the Southwestern Blue Ridge Mountains, Buffalo Mountain is a great option.

2. Rock Castle Gorge Trail

If you’re looking for something a little more strenuous than a two-mile loop but still get the stunning vistas of rolling blue mountains, the Rock Castle Gorge Trail might just be the wander that you’re looking for. While there are many starting-points to the Rock Castle Gorge Trail, the entire hike clocks in at 10.7 miles and takes about six and a half hours to complete. If you start from the parking area, be prepared for a steep 1100 foot elevation gain within the first mile. With the toughest part of the trail completed, you’ll traverse a few miles of scenic pasture and enjoy a meandering downgrade for most of the duration thereafter.

Why is it Called Rock Castle Gorge?

As is inherent to the region, this is a hike that’s rich with history. Indigenous Americans, including the Cherokee, lived and hunted in Rock Castle Gorge. Western families settled in the area in the 18th century, before the American Revolution, to farm the hillside. They named the region after the colorless six-sided quartz crystals that occur here. As you hike the trail, you’ll encounter some of area’s historical sites including an old Appalachian Trail shelter, chimney remnants of an early homestead, and the Austin House – the last remaining home in the gorge. Experience stepping into the past as you trek the Rock Castle Gorge Trail.

3. Cascade Falls

Appalachia is home to hundreds of named and unnamed waterfalls. Many don’t know that the southern Appalachians have the highest annual rainfall of the southeastern United States. Waterfalls are abundant in Southwestern Virginia, and Cascade Falls should be your choice if you’re in the mood for a hike with one heck of a destination. Located in Giles County, the Cascade Falls Trail is a four mile loop with an upper and lower trail that features a picturesque 66-foot tall waterfall. Rated as moderately difficult, the hike up to the falls is rife with stair-stepping fun as you make the 663 foot ascent to the falls. Arguably the best feature of this hike is most enjoyed in the heat of the summer when you can enjoy cooling off by jumping into the cold, clean pool beneath Cascade Falls.

4. McAfee Knob Trail

One of the biggest draws to Southwestern Virginia by outdoors enthusiasts is the world-famous Appalachian Trail (AT). We would be remiss to not include one of the most photographed section hikes of the AT, McAfee Knob. Rated as a moderately difficult hike, the McAfee Knob trail entails a total ascent of 1700 feet. While that may sound daunting, the entire trek is 7.7 miles of meandering elevation gain up Catawba Mountain – there’s no steep ledges or rock scrambling. The hike can be completed in as little as four hours and is a great way to get an AT adventure in a limited timeframe.

Angel’s Rest Trail

Marked as the most difficult trail on our list, the view makes the “punishing incline” well worth the effort. As another section hike of the AT, Angel’s Rest is a scenic 5.3 mile out and back trail with a whopping 1600 foot elevation gain. Experience two ancient rockslides, a large boulder scramble, hardwood forests, and panoramic views of the New River on Angel’s Rest Trail.

Did any of these adventures make your list? We'd love to hear more about your outdoor adventures. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and tell us more about how you’re hiking Southwest Virginia! And remember, the trek is always more comfortable in a Green Label Organic certified organic cotton t-shirt. Find your next trail shirt at GreenLabelOrganic.com

When we founded Green Label Organic: Sustainable Threads more than Seventeen years ago, ‘green’ was still just a color in the minds of most people on the planet. Before long, organic and natural food industries began to blossom as more people grew concerned about their personal well-being and the health of our planet. This growing awareness was the beginning of the "Green" revolution.

GLO Climbs the Green Revolution Ladder

My years of experience in sourcing and manufacturing in the conventional clothing industry taught me that traditional clothing is not environmentally beneficial. My partner, Rain Lipson, and I set out to generate accessible forms of sustainable, eco-friendly clothing when we started Green Label Organic (GLO) in 2005. We were dedicated to making organic cotton clothing, particularly T-shirts, that were created in the most environmentally sustainable and socially responsible way that we could. As the green wave started to build, we helped forge new American-made supply chains. We had a reliable source of certified organic cotton and a sweatshop-free manufacturing supply chain firmly in place.

Supply Chain Disruptions Hit Sustainable Clothing Movement Hard

In 2005, no one outside of the manufacturing world even thought about "Supply Chains.” Today, however, we are all too familiar with that phrase. As organic cotton became the next "must-have" thing, the industry began to explode with energy, enthusiasm, and supply. We had to work hard to meet increasing demand. Just before the pandemic, the industry became concerned that demand issues would create "holes" in organic certification processes. Fortunately, several new initiatives and certification processes were launched to protect the consumer and the industry from greenwashing.

The global pandemic sent every aspect of supply chains, including organic certifications, into a tailspin. The industry is still trying to recover. At GLO we rely on GOTS certification, as we believe GOTS is the best organic certification organization overall to secure what we stand for across the board; certified organic cotton fiber, responsible production practices, and a safe, sweatshop-free working environment. At GLO, we have always believed that when it comes to organic cotton and fair working conditions, "walking the walk" was a whole lot more important than "talking the talk." It's far more difficult to walk that walk than ever before, but we do the best we can every day.

The Future of Green Label Organic

As we begin our 18th year, GLO continues to evolve. At the height of the pandemic three years ago, we transitioned from a wholesale-centric business to a "Direct to Consumer'' focused brand. We have overcome numerous hurdles as we navigated how to make our extensive catalog of designs available to our growing fan base without the support of retail holders. Thanks to a fantastic new garment printing technology, we will soon be able to offer nearly all of our most requested designs directly to you! 

Stay informed as our direct-to consumer designs become available by subscribing to the GLO Insider Email List and following us on social media!

About the Author

George Lipson is the Co-Founder of Green Label Organic. He is an apparel professional with more than 40 years of industry experience. In addition to establishing two companies of his own, George held management positions in apparel design, manufacturing, merchandising, and production. Specializing in the development of the “Great American T-Shirt,” George was a merchandiser and designer of merchandise for prominent American and British Rock ’n Roll bands like The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin.

In 2005, George and his wife, Rain, a passionate environmentalist and organic grower, set out to make an impact on the sustainability of apparel production. During George's many years in the clothing business, he witnessed firsthand the complete lack of regard for the environment at every level of apparel production. George and Rain are committed to amending the incredible amount of pesticides, toxic dyes, and harsh chemicals used in apparel, particularly t-shirt, production. George and Rain launched Green Label Organic: Sustainable Threads in 2005 and were one of the first companies dedicated to making structural changes, using organically grown cotton, and insisting upon sweatshop-free goods.

Living in an era where health is a more central topic than it ever has been before is a double-sided coin. On one hand, it’s great that so many have finally started making their mind, body, and spirit a priority. On the other hand, there are those looking to take advantage of this trend through a practice known as  greenwashing. It’s more important than ever that consumers are knowledgeable about the goods they purchase and interact with on a daily basis. When it comes to knowing the source of the clothing you wear, you can feel confident about Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification.

What is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)?

Figure 1: Look for the GOTS logo on the apparel you wear. 

Specifically geared towards the textile industry, GOTS is the world’s leading textile processing standard that ensures, verifies, and certifies organic fibers used in apparel and textile manufacturing. Organic standardizations for the textile industry are especially important because, according to Grand View Research, the global textile market was valued at a whopping $993.6 billion in 2021. Consumers should choose clothing made of organic materials to support the environment. As a subset of the textile market, the fashion industry is currently responsible for 10% of the planet’s carbon emissions. 85% of textiles go into landfills every year and most clothing nowadays is made with synthetic fabrics that don’t break down the way organic fibers do. In a landfill, it takes cotton 5 months to decompose whereas it can take 20-200 years for polyester to degrade.

GOTS’ vision is for organic textiles to become a significant part of everyday life in hopes that it will enhance the lives of people and the environment. Additionally, GOTS understands that to accomplish accessibility around organic fashion focus must be paid to organic farming practices. Any item with a GOTS label (Figure 1) must be made of at least 70% of organic fibers. Items with fully organic labels are made out of 95% organic materials. GOTS utilizes a fortified network of partnerships to ensure their standard from production to certification:

• GOTS uses IFOAM’s Organic Guarantee System to ensure organic production methods. The IFOAM family of standards (Figure 2) has their own accreditation system that relies on local private and government regulations to endorse fully organic goods.
• GOTS also works with the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) and the Textile Exchange (TE) to ensure organic cotton is in accordance with ISO IWA 32:2019 protocol for GMO presence.

GOTS vs USDA Organic Certification

In addition to the organic guarantee that comes with GOTS certification, the other significant benefit is the social and ecological assurance that comes from GOTS labeled items. Unlike USDA certified organic products, GOTS is dedicated to upholding and improving worker conditions. While the USDA provides guidelines regarding pesticides and chemicals used in organic production, there is nothing in their bylines regarding labor conditions and worker rights. When consumers purchase goods that have been GOTS certified, they’re ensuring:

• Worker employment has been freely chosen
• Child labor has not been used
• Collective bargaining and association allowance
• Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) are upheld
• No discrimination is practiced
• Workers are free from harassment and violence

One would hope that the USDA certification would mean that worker rights are accounted for. Afterall, the virtue of less pesticides and chemicals used in organic practices might provide better base working conditions, but currently the USDA does not have standards in place to ensure the welfare of workers employed by farms. The GOTS label, on the other hand, means that all all processors, manufacturers and traders have met their strict social criteria.

How GOTS Certification Protects Consumers from Greenwashing

Greenwashing is the practice of falsifying eco-friendly messaging in hopes of making a profit. The International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) found that in Europe, 42% of green claims were exaggerated, false, or deceptive. GOTS has been working against greenwashing for over 20 years. GOTS puts an end to greenwashing through its all stages processing system in which the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading and distribution of all textiles is verified and upheld to their strict social and organic standards. Consumers can protect themselves from greenwashing practices by purchasing GOTS labeled products.

Are you interested in making ethical clothing choices? Green Label Organic is proud to label all of their t-shirts and garments as GOTS certified. Our clothes are made from certified organic ring spun cotton and are colored with eco-friendly, low-impact dyes. Printed without the use of PVCs and harsh chemicals, our tees are super soft, pre shrunk, and make statements about the issues you care about. To view our wide selection of t-shirts with a point of view, visit GreenLabelOrganic.com today!

From sportswear to businesswear, the global apparel market encompasses everything that consumers wear and use as clothing. Most everyone in westernized society partakes in at least some portion of the apparel supply chain. In fact, the retail fashion industry accounted for $1.5 trillion U.S. dollars in 2021 and is forecasted to increase to $2 trillion by 2026.While this is good news for apparel manufacturers and retail fashion businesses, it’s not great news for the planet. The fashion industry has some significant negative effects on the environment and it’s more important than ever to shop ethically and consider the source you are purchasing clothing from.

The Negative Environmental Impacts of Retail Fashion

The global apparel manufacturing market is the fifth largest industry on the planet. Unfortunately, it also comes with some detrimental environmental impacts. Utilizing more energy than shipping and aviation industries combined, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the planet’s green-house gas emissions and accounts for 20% of global wastewater accumulation. Additionally, the byproducts of apparel manufacturing have some nasty environmental consequences. The textile dyeing process utilizes toxic chemicals that leach into water sources. Textile dyeing accounts for 17-21 percent of industrial water pollution.

Many consumers are also naive to the amount of plastic found in the clothes they wear. Spandex, acrylic, nylon, and polyester are synthetic fabrics made from plastic. Synthetic fabrics are used to make many of the industry’s trendiest athleisure clothing. However, when synthetic fabrics are washed, they shed fragments of plastic, microplastics, into waterways. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) holds synthetic fibers accountable for 71% of the total number of microplastic particles found in samples of river water.

3 Simple Ways to Shop Ethically

While it may seem that there is no stopping the negative effects of big fashion, there are ways to easily implement ethical ways of shopping in our individual lives and homes. Here are three simple ways to make more ethical purchases.

1. Buy Organic

Colloquially coined as the world’s dirtiest crop, cotton is notorious for pest invasion and, to mitigate infestation, farmers dump $2-3 billion worth of pesticides annually. Cotton crops are responsible for 16% of all insecticides used worldwide. The cotton industry’s toxic agrochemicals contain hazardous carcinogens that are linked to birth defects, infertility, cancer, and more. In addition to a more ethical way to shop, consumers should strive to buy organic for the sake of their own health.

However, in a world throwing the term “organic” on almost everything, consumers need to consider the actual organic practices behind the goods they purchase. For example, when it comes to farming and food, many consumers believe that the USDA Organic stamp is second to none. However, upon further examination they would see that USDA certified organic foods may still have been grown with herbicides and pesticides that were “okayed” by the standard board.

When buying organic as an attempt to shop more ethically, consumers should try, to the best of their ability, to ensure that the product they’re purchasing was created with the most organic practices available. Purchasing organic goods means supporting increased biodiversity and trying to lower the number of toxic chemicals encountered on a daily basis.

2. Support Small Local Businesses

When you support small local businesses, you’re supporting your individual community. Not only does supporting local mean keeping your money within your neighborhood, it also means job creation. Michigan State University found that small local businesses are the largest employers nationally.

Another benefit of supporting mom & pop shops is the increased transparency that they provide. In comparison to corporate retail establishments, small businesses oftentimes have much less complex supply chains. Many of the products that small local businesses sell are likely created by local makers and use materials found in the surrounding area/s. And, a simplified local supply chain is beneficial for the environment as fossil fuel resources are reduced when goods have less distances to travel.

3. Consider Worker Conditions

The negative impacts of the global apparel market extend past detrimental effects on the planet. The garment industry also has negative social implications. A growing action of support for employees in the apparel industry is calling for improved working conditions. Extreme temperatures, harmful chemicals, and physical violence are just a few of the workplace hazards being brought to light. Some instances transcend unsafe working conditions to total violations of human rights. In 2020, two garment worker parents from Bangladesh were forced to sell their newborn baby after their wages couldn’t cover their hospital bills.

Initiatives like the Clean Clothes Campaign are working to uncover and ratify unsafe working conditions for apparel workers across the globe. It’s imperative that consumers consider the working conditions of employees at the businesses they purchase their apparel from.

Conclusion

Luckily, there is a way to ensure that the clothes you’re buying are made to ethical standards that you can get behind. Clothing that is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) removes the guessing game behind shopping ethically in retail fashion. GOTS certification ensures:

• Textiles consist of at least 70% certified organic materials
• Fabric is colored with only approved dyes and colorants
• Chemical inputs are evaluated for biodegradability and toxicity
• Child labor is not used
• Worker employment is freely chosen
• Workplaces are free from discrimination

Green Label Organic (GLO) is a small organic clothing company specializing in GOTS certified t-shirts. GLO tees are made of super soft, GOTS certified ring spun cotton. With a deep respect for the environment and ethically produced fashion, GLO goods are produced in the USA and India. GLO designs provide positive, eco-friendly messages about the planet, fair trade, sustainability, and so much more.

To browse our full selection of t-shirts with a point of view, visit GreenLabelOrganic.com today!