What the standard covers
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a certification for textiles tested for harmful substances. A certified article has been tested against a list of substances and limits set by the scheme, and the certificate covers that specific article or group of articles from that specific holder. It applies at any stage of the textile chain: yarn, fabric, trims or finished products.
For activewear, the appeal is straightforward. Leggings, bras and tops sit directly against the skin, often warm and damp, for long periods. A harmful-substance certification on the fabric gives a buyer and their customers a documented reference point, rather than a general statement that the fabric is safe.
Product classes
The standard groups articles into product classes according to how they are used, with stricter requirements for more sensitive uses. Two classes are the ones activewear buyers usually meet.
| Class | Covers | Relevance to yoga apparel |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Articles for babies | Relevant only for baby lines; the most demanding class |
| Class II | Articles used with skin contact | The usual class for leggings, bras, tops and most activewear fabrics |
When you read a certificate, check which class it states. A certificate for a class that does not match the product use is the wrong document, even if the fabric is identical. For children's lines, also read the CPSIA requirements in our kids' yoga clothes note, because an OEKO-TEX certificate does not replace US children's product rules.
Who holds the certificate
The certificate belongs to the company that applied for it: a yarn spinner, a fabric mill, a trim supplier or a garment maker. It covers the articles listed in its scope. This has two practical consequences.
- A mill's certificate covers that mill's fabrics in scope. It does not cover the elastic, thread, logo print or pad sewn into your garment by someone else.
- A garment can only be described as certified if the finished article is in the scope of a certificate. A certified fabric sewn into a garment with uncertified trims is a garment made with a certified fabric, which is a different statement.
When we source materials, we say a certificate is available on request where the mill or factory holds it, and we verify it by certificate number lookup. Neither SutraKnit nor any partner factory is presented as holding a certificate unless the document checks out for that exact scope.
Checking a certificate in four steps
- Get the certificate number and the holder's name from the supplier.
- Verify it with the scheme's online certificate lookup. Confirm the holder name and that the certificate is current.
- Read the scope. Check that the article description covers your fabric type, composition and, if stated, colors or finishes.
- Check the class. For adult activewear, the scope should include skin-contact use.
Components to map in an activewear garment
A simple legging has more components than buyers expect. Mapping them is the first step toward a defensible claim.
| Component | Typical source | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Main fabric | Fabric mill | Is this fabric code in the scope of a current certificate? |
| Lining, gusset fabric | Same or different mill | Is it the same certified article or a separate one? |
| Waistband elastic | Trim supplier | Does the trim supplier hold its own certificate? |
| Sewing thread | Thread supplier | Is the thread in scope, if your claim covers the garment? |
| Logo print or transfer | Print supplier or factory | Are inks or transfers covered? |
| Bra pads | Pad supplier | Are pads certified separately? |
Many buyers start by requiring certification on the main fabric and then extend it to trims over time. That is a reasonable path, as long as the marketing claim matches what is actually covered.
What OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 does not cover
The standard is about harmful substances in the textile. It is not a statement about other things buyers often bundle with it:
- It is not an organic or recycled content claim. Those are covered by schemes such as GOTS and GRS, explained in GOTS and GRS claims.
- It is not a social or labor audit. Factory working conditions are assessed through audits such as amfori BSCI, SMETA or WRAP.
- It is not a mill-level chemical management system. bluesign addresses chemical management at mills.
- It is not a performance test. Colorfastness, pilling and stretch recovery are separate tests.
- It does not by itself answer state-specific US rules such as California Proposition 65 or PFAS restrictions, which should be reviewed with a compliance adviser.
Using the label on your product
If you plan to print the OEKO-TEX label or certificate number on hang tags or product pages, the scheme has its own rules for label use, and the claim must match a certificate that covers the article as sold. Confirm the current label rules with the certificate holder and the scheme before printing. Wording such as "made with fabric certified to OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100" is more accurate than a general "certified" if only the fabric is covered.
Keep the claim consistent across every place it appears. The hang tag, the product page, wholesale line sheets and marketplace listings should all say the same thing, and each should point back to the same verified certificate. A claim that is precise on the hang tag but broader on a listing written later by someone else is a common way for an accurate program to end up with an inaccurate statement.
Common gaps buyers find
When buyers review certificates for the first time, the same few problems come up. The certificate has expired and the renewal is still in progress. The holder is a trading company rather than the mill that actually makes the fabric. The scope lists a fabric family that does not include the composition on your fabric sheet. Or the document is for a different class from the one your product needs. None of these mean the fabric is unsafe; they mean the document does not yet support the claim you want to make, and the gap should be closed before bulk fabric is ordered.
Putting it into your program
Write the requirement into the fabric sheet and the purchase order: which components need a certificate, which class, and that the certificate number must be supplied for verification before bulk fabric is ordered. Then keep the verified record with the program file, and check it again on reorders, since certificates are renewed periodically.
Our compliance page sets out how we handle documents and claims, and the sustainable yoga wear hub covers material choices. To check certification availability for a specific fabric list, send the desk your fabric and trim requirements.