GOTS vs OEKO-TEX vs GRS: Certification Guide for Fashion Brands
Brands mix these three up constantly, and the mix-ups are expensive — either paying for certification you don't need, or making a claim your paperwork doesn't support. Here is what each standard certifies, what it lets you say, and how the paperwork actually flows to your order.
GOTS: the organic standard
The Global Organic Textile Standard certifies that fiber is organically grown and that every processing stage — ginning, spinning, knitting, dyeing, manufacturing — meets environmental and social criteria. It is the gold standard for organic textiles.
- What you can claim: "organic" / "made with organic cotton" (with the required percentages)
- How it reaches you: a chain of transaction certificates (TCs) from certified farm to certified mill to your production lot
- Watch-out: buying "GOTS fabric" alone does not automatically make your finished garment claimable — the chain of custody matters. Ask your manufacturer exactly what documentation your order will carry.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100: the safety standard
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is not about organic farming or recycling at all — it certifies that a textile has been tested against a list of harmful substances (formaldehyde, heavy metals, certain dyes) and found within strict limits. Think product safety, not production ethics.
- What you can claim: "tested for harmful substances" — a reassurance claim, especially valued for babywear and skin-contact garments
- How it reaches you: the fabric mill's certificate, validatable by number on the OEKO-TEX website
- Watch-out: it says nothing about organic content, recycling, or labor conditions. It complements GOTS/GRS; it does not substitute for them.
GRS: the recycled standard
The Global Recycled Standard verifies recycled content (like recycled polyester from bottles, or recycled cotton from cutting waste) plus chain of custody, social and environmental processing criteria, and chemical restrictions.
- What you can claim: "made with X% recycled materials", backed by transaction certificates
- How it reaches you: like GOTS — TCs following your actual production lot
- Watch-out: "recycled polyester" without GRS (or the lighter RCS) documentation is an unverifiable claim — increasingly risky under tightening green-claims regulation in the EU and elsewhere.
Which one does your brand actually need?
Cost reality: certified fabrics typically price 10–30% above conventional equivalents and sometimes carry mill MOQs. We quote conventional and certified side by side so the premium is a decision, not a surprise.
- Selling on an organic story → GOTS, with TCs for every lot
- Selling on a recycled story → GRS (or RCS for content-only verification)
- Selling baby, kids, or sensitive-skin products → OEKO-TEX Standard 100 fabric at minimum
- Just want responsibly made, safe basics without label claims → certified fabrics are still worth it; the marketing claims are optional
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