What is "Organic Cotton"? How does it differ from normal cotton?

Cotton is probably the most widely used textile fibre in the world and is grown in over 60 countries. Whilst perceived by the consumer as being a “natural” product, the fact that cotton production uses vast quantities of pesticides and fertilizes is frequently overlooked. These chemicals can have a massive impact on both the environment and on the health of the cotton growers.
There are various regulations covering what makes a product “organic”, but as a minimum, the definition of a cotton crop being organic is that it must have been “grown without pesticides, insecticides and defoliants on land that’s certified free from these synthetic chemicals for at least 3 years”.