Fashion certifications explained
Labels and seals are how shoppers verify sustainability claims — but only when the label means something. These are the certifications that carry real weight in the apparel industry, and what each one actually checks.
- Certification
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
GOTS is the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres, covering every step from fibre processing and spinning through manufacturing and trading. It combines strict environmental criteria with social requirements, verified by independent third-party certification.
- Certification
Fair Trade Certified
Fair Trade Certified verifies that products are made under fair labor conditions, with fair wages and safe working conditions for farmers and workers. Brands must meet rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards across the supply chain.
- Certification
Certified B Corporation
B Corp certification assesses the company itself — not individual products — on social, environmental, and governance impact, verified by independent audit. It signals that a business meets high standards of accountability and transparency.
- Certification
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifies that every component of a product — thread, buttons, linings — has been laboratory-tested for harmful substances. Note it is a product-safety label, not a sustainability certification.
- Certification
Bluesign
Bluesign verifies safer chemistry and responsible production across the textile supply chain, approving inputs like dyes and chemicals before manufacturing begins rather than only testing finished goods.
- Certification
Cradle to Cradle Certified
Cradle to Cradle Certified assesses products across five categories — material health, circularity, clean air and climate, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness — verifying goods designed for safe, continuous reuse.
A note on greenwashing: vague words like "eco," "green," and "conscious" on a hangtag mean nothing by themselves. A recognized third-party certification is the difference between a claim and proof.