Parents buying baby clothes increasingly look for statements about material safety, and the best known of these is OEKO-TEX Standard 100. For a workshop or small brand, certification is both a selling point and a tool for controlling suppliers. But a claim placed carelessly on a label or website can cause trouble. Here is how it works, briefly and practically.
What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is
It is an independent testing and certification system for textiles, focused on harmful substances. Certified articles are tested by authorised laboratories against a list of regulated and non-regulated substances: certain dyes, heavy metals, formaldehyde, pesticides, phthalates, pH values and more. The criteria and limit values are updated regularly, so we do not reproduce them here; they are in the standard's official documentation.
The certificate is issued for an article or group of articles belonging to a company, not for the company as a whole. That is the single most important point to remember.
Product classes and why class I matters
The standard groups products into classes according to how intense their skin contact is. Product class I covers articles for babies and toddlers up to three years old and carries the strictest requirements. Beyond the general tests it includes, for example, colour fastness to saliva, because babies put clothing in their mouths.
Fabric certified only for a lower class, such as articles worn next to adult skin, cannot be presented as suitable for class I. When buying fabric for babywear, ask explicitly for class I documentation.
How to check a certificate
- Ask for a copy of the certificate and its number.
- Check the holder's name: it should be the supplier you buy from or the declared manufacturer of the fabric.
- Check the product class and the validity date. Certificates are renewed periodically.
- Check the scope: which articles, compositions and colour ranges are included.
- Use the verification tool on the official OEKO-TEX website and enter the certificate number.
If the documents do not match what appears on your invoice, ask for clarification in writing before you cut.
Certified fabric is not a certified garment
A common mistake is for a brand to state on its label that the product is OEKO-TEX certified simply because the main fabric is. The finished garment also contains thread, snaps, labels, prints and trims from other materials. To use the official label on a finished product you need your own certification, or clear permission under the OEKO-TEX label rules. Otherwise you can only say, accurately, that the fabric used is certified, quoting the supplier's certificate number where the rules allow it. Check your wording with the certification body.
How it relates to EU law
OEKO-TEX is voluntary. Legal obligations come from elsewhere: REACH, which restricts certain substances in textiles; the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), which requires consumer products to be safe and traceable; and the EU Textile Regulation 1007/2011 on fibre names and composition labelling. An OEKO-TEX certificate helps demonstrate due diligence, but it does not replace the safety assessment of the finished product, which remains the responsibility of whoever places it on the market. For advice specific to your business, consult a compliance specialist or an accredited laboratory.
Document checklist for your fabric supplier
- The certificate for the exact article, with its product class.
- The technical data sheet: composition, GSM, width, finish.
- A REACH restricted-substances declaration, if the supplier provides one.
- The lot number for every roll, for traceability.
- Colour fastness test results, where available.
Keep all of these in each product's file, together with the tech pack and the approved sample. When a buyer or an inspector asks, you can then answer in minutes instead of days.
Which fabric we would choose and how to ask
For a baby bodysuit or sleepsuit we would start with our 220 g optic white interlock in 100% combed cotton, a simple base with no synthetic fibres and an enzyme and silicone finish, well suited to the strict checks expected for class I. Optic white also reduces the number of dyes involved, which keeps the paperwork simpler.
When you send us a quote request, say that the fabric is for babies and list the documents you need, and ask for written confirmation of which documents are available for the chosen article and colour. The interlock is made to order at our group mill in Kahramanmaraș from 150 kg per colour, and every lot is checked against the approved sample.
Frequently asked questions
Is OEKO-TEX class I mandatory for baby clothing?
No, OEKO-TEX is a voluntary standard. What is mandatory is product safety under EU law, including REACH and the GPSR. Class I is, however, a widely recognised way to show that materials were tested for use by babies, and many wholesale buyers ask for it.
Can I put the OEKO-TEX logo on my product label?
Only under the conditions set by OEKO-TEX. A certified fabric does not automatically entitle you to label the finished garment as certified. Check the label-use rules with the certification body before printing labels or publishing claims.
How long is an OEKO-TEX certificate valid?
Certificates have a limited validity period and must be renewed regularly with fresh testing. Check the expiry date with every order and ask your supplier for the current version of the certificate rather than an archived one.
