Sustainable luxury is a popular claim and a hard one to check. Certifications help, but each covers something different.
GOTS
The Global Organic Textile Standard covers the processing, manufacturing and trading of organic fibres. Labelled products must contain at least 70% organic fibres, and independent auditors check environmental and labour standards.
OEKO-TEX
The consumer-facing MADE IN GREEN label tests product components for harmful substances and looks at chemical management, worker safety and supply chain transparency. STeP is a separate standard used within the industry rather than on labels.
Fairtrade
The Fairtrade Textile Standard aims at better wages and working conditions across the supply chain. Fairtrade cotton comes from certified producer organisations that receive a fair, stable price, audited by the independent body FLOCERT.
Read the label with care
Good On You notes that no certification is perfect and that standards differ in what they cover: a product, a factory or a whole supply chain. Treat a certificate as a useful indicator, not a guarantee, and look for the specific standard named rather than vague words such as “eco” or “conscious”.
Buy fewer, better pieces
The most reliable sustainable choice is a piece you will wear for years and look after well.
Source: Good On You: ethical fashion certifications.
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