Established 1995 · 45,000 m² single site in Nantong, Jiangsu · 1.5 million m finished per month · Audited by Zara and Target gxy@ntboerli.com
HomeCertification guide › OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 explained for apparel buyers
Certification guide

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 explained for apparel buyers

Updated 2026-09

On this page
  • What it actually covers
  • The four classes
  • How to verify
  • What it does not tell you

What it actually covers

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a product safety standard: it limits substances that could be harmful to human skin — regulated chemicals, pH, formaldehyde, certain dyes, and more. It tests the finished article (or its components), not the farm or the factory. That makes it different from organic or recycled standards, which are about how the material was produced.

The four classes

ClassUse
Class IBaby articles — strictest limits
Class IIItems worn close to skin (most apparel)
Class IIIOuterwear, not directly against skin
Class IVDecoration and furnishing materials

How to verify

Every valid certificate carries a number you can check at the OEKO-TEX label check. The number must resolve to the exact legal entity named on the cert — see our verification guide for why the name match is the whole test.

What it does not tell you

We hold OEKO-TEX and list it with our other certificates on the compliance page.

Common questions

Does OEKO-TEX mean the fabric is organic?

No. It is a harmful-substance limit on the finished article. An OEKO-TEX certified cloth can be entirely virgin synthetic.

Which class should my garment be?

Most adult apparel worn against the skin is Class II; baby items are Class I. The class follows the end use, not the fibre.

Talk to our merchandising team Request a swatch card

← All resources