Oekotex vs. GOTS — which certification do your customers demand?

Oekotex 100 and GOTS are not the same – and it can cost you orders if you choose the wrong one. Oekotex 100 certifies that a finished fabric is tested and free of harmful substances. GOTS — Global Organic Textile Standard — goes further and certifies the entire production chain, from field to finished fabric, including labor conditions and environmental impact. If you know your customers’ requirements before you order, you can avoid costly detours.

What does Oekotex 100 actually cover?

Oekotex 100 is a product certification. It confirms that the fabric has been tested for harmful chemicals — heavy metals, pesticides, formaldehyde and the like — and is within the permitted limits. The certificate says something about the end product, not how it was produced.

For many clothing manufacturers and fabric stores, Oekotex 100 is sufficient. It’s easy to communicate to the end customer, it’s widely used in the industry and it covers the health requirements that most retail buyers demand. If you are producing children’s clothing, workwear or sportswear for a market that does not require certified organic cotton, Oekotex 100 is usually the right solution.

At Jydsk Stoflager, all fabrics that are not GOTS-certified are covered by Oekotex 100 — this applies to our bamboo jersey, rib fabric and french terry.

What does GOTS require — and when is it necessary?

GOTS sets requirements on two levels: at least 70% certified organic natural fibers in the fabric, and documentation for the entire production chain — spinning mills, weavers, dyeing, printing and any intermediate stages. It is a pervasive standard that requires annual auditing of all stages.

Customers who demand GOTS typically do so for one of these reasons:

• They sell under a certified organic brand and must document the entire chain to their own customers
• They produce baby items or children’s clothing for markets with strict documentation requirements
• They export to markets — primarily Northern Europe and DACH — where GOTS has become a real purchasing criterion in the trade
• They participate in tenders, public procurement or retail agreements that specify GOTS as a minimum requirement

The majority of our digital print jersey fabrics are GOTS-certified. This means that you as a clothing manufacturer or brand owner can document the entire chain from fabric to finished product — provided that your own production is also GOTS-certified.

The practical difference — what to ask before you order

Many buyers assume that GOTS and Oekotex 100 are interchangeable. They are not. Ask yourself these questions before you place an order:

• Does your end customer or retail partner specifically require GOTS? If so, Oekotex 100 is not sufficient — regardless of fabric quality.
• Is your own production GOTS-certified? If not, you cannot pass on the GOTS documentation to your finished product, even if the fabric is certified.
• Do you sell under your own brand to the trade? Then it’s the brand positioning that determines which certification makes the most commercial sense.
• Is it about children’s or baby clothing? Here the requirements are typically stricter — but Oekotex 100 is legally sufficient in most EU countries. GOTS is a market requirement, not a legal requirement.

Knowing the answers to these questions before you contact your supplier will save you time – and avoid ending up with a batch of fabric that doesn’t match your customer’s specifications.

Digital printing and certification — what applies at Jydsk Stoflager?

Our digital print jersey is a special case because printed fabrics require extra documentation for GOTS purposes. The printing process and the colors used must meet GOTS requirements — and ours primarily do. The majority of our exclusive digital print jersey is GOTS-certified, and all designs are AI-generated and then manually refined in Photoshop. You won’t find them anywhere else.

Technically, we work primarily with 220 g/m² jersey in 160 cm width with 95% cotton and 5% lycra — a fabric with good cross-elasticity and dimensional stability, suitable for the production of children’s wear, everyday wear and light sportswear. Consistent color reproduction from roll to roll is crucial when producing in series and is something we prioritize in our production.

Our 230 g/m² bamboo jersey in 150 cm width is Oekotex 100 certified. It’s a versatile fabric with a soft surface and good drape — suitable for garment manufacturers who want to differentiate themselves on material choice without necessarily having to get into the GOTS documentation.

What you need to do before next season

Certification requirements change as the market and legislation evolve. Here are three concrete steps you can take now:

1. Review your current customer contracts and retail agreements. Do they specify Oekotex 100, GOTS or neither? This is where you’ll find the actual requirement.
2. Clarify your own production certification status. If you’re not GOTS certified, it rarely makes sense to pay extra for GOTS fabric — you can’t pass on the certification anyway.
3. Plan your inventory based on the upcoming season’s order book. Our fabrics are in stock and can be delivered within 1-3 business days across Europe — giving you the flexibility to order close to the start of production rather than tying up capital in large pre-orders.

Minimum per order is 10 meters regardless of fabric type — this applies to both our digital print jersey and the solid color variants.

Conclusion

The choice between Oekotex 100 and GOTS is not about which is better per se — it’s about what your customers and your production actually require. Oekotex 100 is well documented, widely used and sufficient for the vast majority of productions. GOTS is necessary when certifying the chain from field to brand.

At Jydsk Stoflager you can find both. See our full range of jersey fabrics for wholesale, or contact us directly to clarify which certification is right for your next collection. In stock — ready to ship within 1-3 business days.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell GOTS-certified fabric as a GOTS product even if my production is not certified?
No, it isn’t. To market a finished product as GOTS certified, the entire production chain — including your production — must be certified. A GOTS fabric alone is not sufficient.

Is Oekotex 100 mandatory in the EU?
No, Oekotex 100 is a voluntary certification. The EU REACH regulation regulates chemical substances in textiles, but Oekotex 100 typically goes beyond the legal requirements and is primarily used as market documentation for customers and retail partners.

What is the minimum order at Jydsk Stoflager?
Minimum 10 meters per order regardless of fabric type. We deliver throughout Europe within 1-3 business days from our warehouse in Ikast.