About OEKO-TEX
OEKO-TEX is a network of 17 independent textile and leather research institutes headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The association was founded in 1992 and today operates several certification standards for the textile industry — best known is STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX, a product-level harmful-substance test. Other standards include STeP (Sustainable Textile & Leather Production, facility certification), Made in Green (consumer label combining harmful-substance testing and sustainable production) and LEATHER STANDARD.
Facts:
- Founded: 1992 by the Austrian Textile Research Institute (ÖTI) and the Hohenstein Institute (Germany)
- Headquarters: International OEKO-TEX Association, Zurich, Switzerland
- Test scope STANDARD 100: >100 harmful-substance parameters incl. azo dyes, pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates
- Product classes: Class I (babies/toddlers), II (skin contact), III (no skin contact), IV (home textiles)
- Validity: certification per product for 12 months; annual re-test required
- Wikipedia: Oeko-Tex (en.wikipedia.org)
- Official site: OEKO-TEX International
- Certificate verification: OEKO-TEX label check
What is OEKO-TEX Standard 100?
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is the world's leading certification for harmful substances in textiles. Developed in 1992 by the OEKO-TEX Association (Zurich, Switzerland), today represented through 70+ member labs worldwide. The certification tests finished textiles (fabrics, threads, accessories) for:
- Banned dyes (e.g. carcinogenic azo dyes)
- Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel, mercury)
- Formaldehyde, pesticides, chlorinated phenols, phthalates
- PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
- Allergenic and sensitising dyes
- More than 100 additional parameters
Important: OEKO-TEX only tests for the absence of harmful substances — NOT organic origin or fair-wear supply chains. For GOTS organic see Organic Cotton, for fair supply chains Fair Trade Textiles.
The Four Product Classes — What's the Difference?
OEKO-TEX distinguishes four product classes with progressively stricter limits:
| Class | Application | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Babies + small children (up to 3 years) | Baby bodysuits, kids' blankets, baby clothing |
| Class II | Direct skin contact | T-shirts, shirts, trousers, underwear |
| Class III | No direct skin contact | Jackets, coats, vests, upholstery fabrics |
| Class IV | Furnishing materials | Curtains, tablecloths, upholstery |
Relevant for ShirtStore orders: Class I (kids' sizes, baby bodysuit sets) and Class II (standard T-shirts, hoodies, polos). Class I fabrics have the strictest limits — for example tenfold stricter on formaldehyde than Class II.
OEKO-TEX-Certified Brands at ShirtStore
These brands in our portfolio are OEKO-TEX-certified (selection):
Stanley/Stella — Class II + Class I for Kids
GOTS organic cotton + additionally OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. Creator T-shirts, Cruiser Hoodies, Rocker kids' sizes — all Class II or Class I for kids' models.
Mantis World — Class II
Superstar T (M68), Essential Hoodie (M03), Heavy Hoodie, Women's Loose Fit Tee — all main models OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
Russell Europe & Fruit of the Loom — Class II
Classic Cotton Polo 539M, Heavy Duty Polo 599M, Authentic Sweat 762M plus Valueweight T, Premium T, Iconic line — all Class II certified.
For kids' orders: we recommend Stanley/Stella Rocker — Class I for direct skin contact with small children.
When Does OEKO-TEX Certification Matter?
OEKO-TEX is important for any application involving skin contact — which covers almost all textile printing orders. Particularly relevant:
- Employee polos in hospitality — sweat contact, long wear time, frequent industrial laundering
- Kids' orders — class shirts, school hoodies, sports club shirts for U10 teams
- Hotel crew wear — worn directly on skin, frequent industrial laundering
- Allergy sufferers — OEKO-TEX excludes sensitising dyes, significantly lower allergy risk
- B2B sustainability reporting — many corporate buyers require OEKO-TEX as a minimum
- EU REACH compliance — OEKO-TEX certification meets typical REACH requirements
OEKO-TEX vs. GOTS vs. Standard 100 — Differences
| Standard | What's certified | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | absence of harmful substances in finished product | consumer safety |
| GOTS | complete organic supply chain + fair working conditions | sustainability + social |
| Made in Green by OEKO-TEX | harmful substances + fair production | combination |
Practical recommendation:
- Pure harmful-substance safety: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is enough.
- Organic + harmful-substance + fair wear: GOTS (e.g. Stanley/Stella).
- Both verifiable: Made in Green by OEKO-TEX.
More background on Organic Cotton and Fair Trade Textiles.
Related Material Topics
- Organic Cotton (GOTS) — complete organic supply chain
- Fair Trade Textiles — fair working conditions
- Recycled Textiles — recycled polyester, recycled cotton
- Material Hub — all material topics
Ready for your order with OEKO-TEX-certified textiles, e.g. from Stanley/Stella or Mantis?
Design now → · Request consultation →
ShirtStore supplies OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified textiles for skin-contact applications — such as hotel employee polos (Class II). OEKO-TEX-certified brands in our portfolio include: Stanley/Stella (organic + OEKO-TEX combined, Class II + I for kids), Mantis (Class II, Superstar T M68 and Essential Hoodie M03) and Russell Europe (Class II, Classic Cotton Polo 539M and Heavy Duty Polo 599M). At Fruit of the Loom, OEKO-TEX Class II applies to the Valueweight T and Premium T incl. the Iconic line. OEKO-TEX certifies absence of harmful substances in the finished product on 100+ parameters incl. heavy metals, formaldehyde, carcinogenic azo dyes, sensitising allergens and PAH. Important to distinguish from GOTS (complete organic supply chain) and Fair Wear Foundation (fair working conditions) — with Stanley/Stella all three standards are present. For B2B orders with sustainability reporting we provide original certificates of the certified brands as PDFs on request. Our printing inks and embroidery threads are themselves OEKO-TEX-certified (Class II Plastisol inks, Class II Madeira embroidery thread, Class II water-based inks), so the end product remains free of harmful substances. For kids' orders we switch to Class I-compliant inks without surcharge.
Further Reading
- Oeko-Tex — Wikipedia — association, standards and test scope
- OEKO-TEX International — official site with all standard definitions and limit values
- OEKO-TEX Label-Check — certificate verification via test number
