sustainable clothing certifications and what they mean | no. 15
When shopping for sustainable clothing, it's easy to get confused by all the tags, certifications, and jargon. I found, while researching in my early years of shopping slow fashion, it can be very overwhelming to find definitions on what each certification means.
So, instead of writing a book on how to tell different certifications apart, I'm going to keep this simple and just list out a few things to know about the most common sustainable clothing certifications.
Fair Trade
Fair Trade America is an organization that certifies all kinds of products but when it comes to their clothing certifications you can know that their "Standards protect farmers’ health and safety, ban hazardous pesticides, and don’t allow the use of GMO seeds. Fairtrade cotton fields in India and Western Africa are also rain-fed, reducing the region’s water footprint." You can find fair trade fabric, companies, and other products on their website HERE.
OEKO-Tex 100
This one might be familiar to you if you’ve shopped with us before. Many of our small-batch bonnets are made with OEKO-Tex 100 certified linen. According to the company, "If a textile article carries the STANDARD 100 label, you can be certain that every component of this article, i.e. every thread, button and other accessories, has been tested for harmful substances and that the article therefore is harmless for human health." This is a wonderful certification to look out for if you want to reduce your chemical exposure through clothing (which is a lot more than I ever realized.)
Organic
Organic clothing is clothing made from fibers that have not been sprayed with synthetic pesticides, hormones, or herbicides. In the case of organic cotton, it also means it takes less water to grow. The soil health isn't destroyed from synthetic chemicals and it is able to hold more water, i.e. less water is needed to raise the cotton plant! It's a win.
Recycled
This one is simple, a garment made from recycled materials is just that! Old textiles get shredded and respun into threads that can be woven into a whole new fabric. Giving new life to clothing in this way is so amazing! When shopping for clothing made from polyester, nylon, or another synthetic material, it's best to find a recycled (or thrifted) option instead of buying new, as these synthetic fibers are harmful to the environment, the people that manufacture the fibers, and even the end wearer.
Don't be overwhelmed by the certifications. If you are unsure what something means, look it up or ask the company! When companies make an effort to produce things in a sustainable and ethical way, it's usually their joy to talk about it. You can never go wrong by asking questions. I hope this helps as you search for sustainable fashion!
love, makayla