More and more buyers, e-commerce platforms and end customers ask brands to prove what goes into a garment. Textile certifications exist for this, but they are not all the same and they do not guarantee the same things. Here is a practical guide.
GOTS: organic fibres and a responsible supply chain
The Global Organic Textile Standard certifies textiles made with organic fibres and checks the entire supply chain: from fibre to processing, with environmental criteria, limits on chemicals and social requirements for workers.
Silk Lab Italy is GOTS certified for dyed and printed fabrics in organic silk, organic cotton and their blends: certificate no. GOTS-29946, issued by ECOCERT Greenlife. You can verify it in the official GOTS database. If you want to use the GOTS label on your products, ask when ordering: the supply-chain documents for that specific delivery are required.
OEKO-TEX: harmful substances under control
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX certifies that a textile product has been tested for a broad list of harmful substances, with stricter limits for products in contact with the skin. It is not about the origin of the fibre, but the safety of the finished fabric.
REACH: the European legal requirement
REACH is the European regulation on chemicals (Regulation EC 1907/2006). It is not a voluntary certification: it is an obligation for anyone placing products on the European market, restricting or banning certain substances. For a brand it means being able to show, with a supplier declaration, that its fabrics comply with the restrictions.
FSC: man-made cellulosic fibres from responsibly managed forests
Viscose, modal and lyocell are made from wood cellulose. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification guarantees that the wood comes from responsibly managed forests, along the whole chain of custody.
Which one do you really need?
- You want to communicate an organic collection: GOTS.
- You sell garments worn next to the skin and want to guarantee their safety: OEKO-TEX.
- You sell in Europe: REACH, always.
- You use viscose or other cellulosic fibres: FSC strengthens your sustainability communication.
What we provide with our fabrics
Besides GOTS certification, for dyeing we can provide Oeko-Tex, REACH and FSC documentation. Tell us in advance which documents you need, so we can prepare them with the order.
Certifications are only one part of quality. The other is control, colour by colour and roll by roll: we explain it in our article on quality and colour control.
Do you have a collection that requires certified fabrics? Write to us from the Contact page.