What Oeko-Tex Standard 100 means on a clothing label

Short answer: Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is a label showing that a textile has been tested for harmful substances. The label carries a number and a product class, and you can see what it covers by looking the number up. It says nothing about where the fabric was made.

What Oeko-Tex Standard 100 means

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is a testing and certification system for textiles, where a set of potentially harmful substances is checked for. If a product is approved, it may carry the label, and that means the whole product was tested under the rules.

What the label shows

On the label you will usually find a certificate number, the name of the institute that did the testing and a product class. Keep the number, because it is the key to checking that the label is genuine and applies to the very product you are looking at.

The four product classes

The label is divided into classes, depending on how close to the skin the textile is. Class I is for the youngest users, class II is for products with direct skin contact, class III is for products without direct skin contact and class IV is for decoration. See also bamboo clothing for women.

What the label covers

The label concerns testing for harmful substances in the finished product, and it includes fabric, thread, buttons and other parts. It is, in other words, a test of what a product contains, and it follows set limit values for each class. That makes comparison easier and protects against a poor choice.

What the label does not say

The label does not tell you where the fibres come from, whether the fabric is organic or how the clothes were produced. It is not a guarantee of quality or durability either, so use the label as one piece of information among several, not the only one.

How to check a number

You can look up the certificate number on the Oeko-Tex website and see which products and classes it applies to. If there is no number, or you cannot find it, it is wise to ask the shop before you rely on the label.

How to use the label when you choose

Use the label as a help when you compare, but always read the composition and the care label as well. Look at the range for women and bamboo tops for women and read the details on each product before you decide. Take a moment to do it properly.

Frequently asked questions

Does Oeko-Tex mean the clothes are organic

No, the label concerns testing for harmful substances in the product. It says nothing about how the fibres were grown or whether the fabric is organic.

How do I know the label is genuine

Look up the certificate number on the Oeko-Tex website and see which products and classes it covers. If the number is missing, ask the shop.

What do the classes on the label mean

They show how close the textile is to the skin, from products for the youngest users to decoration. The closer to the skin, the stricter the requirements.

You can find the full range at Copenhagen Bamboo.