#Sustainability

2018-09-06

Trendy children’s clothing without a guilty conscience

Possible harmful substances in clothing and textile articles for babies and children are often a concern for parents when they are selecting products for their children. Children's skin is delicate and, especially in the early years, still very permeable, which makes them particularly vulnerable to substances that are harmful to health and can cause allergic reactions. © PhotoAlto / Anne-Sophie Bost / Getty Images

Should I order that cute romper suit in red or blue? For many parents today, this is definitely not the only question they ask. Instead, clothing and textile products that are harmless to health and manufactured in an environmentally friendly and socially acceptable manner are much more in demand. Of course, most parents still like to dress their children in trendy clothes. Independent product labels such as the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® or MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® make the buying decision much easier and prove that children’s clothing can be fashionable, child-friendly and sustainable.

At the leading international trade fair Kind + Jugend held in Cologne from 20 to 23 September 2018, OEKO-TEX® will show how transparency, product stewardship and trust go hand-in-hand when parents shop for textiles. The findings of the international OEKO-TEX® consumer study “The Key To Confidence” will be presented during a lecture event held at 11:00 a.m. on 21 September 2018 in the Trend Forum (hall 11.1, E-050/F-059). The finding that parents represent the most demanding consumer segment of all with regard to product safety and responsible production of textiles is hardly surprising. The study also shows what consumers think about textile sustainability and how certifications and labels can help them make informed buying decisions with a clear conscience.

MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® is a traceable consumer label for sustainable textiles. Each product awarded the label has a unique product ID that gives consumers visibility to the product’s origins including the countries in which the textiles were produced. © OEKO-TEX®<br /> — MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® is a traceable consumer label for sustainable textiles. Each product awarded the label has a unique product ID that gives consumers visibility to the product’s origins including the countries in which the textiles were produced. © OEKO-TEX®

The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® label offers consumers effective protection from unwanted harmful substances in textiles. The OEKO-TEX® label is one of the world’s most widely used and best-known certifications of its kind and sets the standard for textile product safety around the world. © OEKO-TEX®

According to the international OEKO-TEX® consumer study “The Key To Confidence” conducted in 2017, parents represent the most demanding consumer segment of all with regard to product safety and the responsible production of textiles. © Ramiro Olaciregui / Getty Images<br /> — According to the international OEKO-TEX® consumer study “The Key To Confidence” conducted in 2017, parents represent the most demanding consumer segment of all with regard to product safety and the responsible production of textiles. © Ramiro Olaciregui / Getty Images

At the exhibition booth in hall 10.1, E070, experts from several OEKO-TEX® institutes will be available to explain how the OEKO-TEX® system can support brands, manufacturers and retailers as they implement product responsibility strategies and build more sustainable supply chains.

More and more, brands are helping their customers choose sustainable textiles that are safe in terms of human ecology in an easier and more well-informed way. The fashion company C&A, for example, relies on OEKO-TEX® certifications to reassure consumers who want to make more sustainable purchasing decisions. Especially with the baby and children's collections, it is important for C&A that many of their clothing items are certified according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®.

OEKO-TEX® chooses TextileGenesis to advance digital traceability for organic cotton

OEKO-TEX® today announced a full collaboration with TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, to digitally trace and authenticate organic cotton, strengthening fraud prevention across the supply chain. This announcement follows a successful pilot and brings together OEKO-TEX®’s certification expertise and closed testing system with TextileGenesis’ digital traceability platform to deliver a secure, end-to-end solution for managing certified organic cotton flows.

OEKO-TEX® - New regulations 2025

Fostering trust within the textile and leather industry remains the mission of OEKO-TEX®. Since trust relies on consistently high standards, the OEKO-TEX® Association has released the updated testing criteria, limit values and guidelines for its certifications, based on the latest scientific research and legal developments.

OEKO-TEX® Annual Report 2023/2024 mentions 50,000+ valid certifications

The international OEKO-TEX® association has continued to demonstrate positive business growth, highlighting the critical role of close collaboration and shared commitment in accelerating sustainable change. More than 35,000 textile and leather companies depend on the certificates and product labels issued by OEKO-TEX®’s independent testing institutes. OEKO-TEX® issued more than 50,000 certificates and labels between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024 – an increase of 22% over the previous financial year.

OEKO-TEX® New regulations 2024

Creating trust within the textile and leather industry and for its customers is the mission of OEKO-TEX®. Since trust is based on consistently high quality, the OEKO-TEX® Association is again publishing updates to the applicable test criteria, limit values and guidelines for its certifications. Based on new scientific findings and legal developments, the OEKO-TEX® Association has published the annual updates to its test criteria, limit values and guidelines.

Hohenstein publishes 2025 Sustainability Report

The testing and research service provider Hohenstein has published its latest sustainability report, outlining key progress and strategic initiatives. The report focuses on ambitious CO₂ reduction targets, the company’s new mission statement and the systematic expansion of sustainable services for customers worldwide.

Global Standard gGmbH launches second public consultation for GRTS Draft 2 for the textile industry (1–30 April 2026)

Global Standard gGmbH is pleased to announce the release of Draft 2 of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS) for its second public consultation. The consultation will be open from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026, inviting stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to provide input and contribute to the further development of this new Standard.

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

ECCO, in partnership with Spinnova, announces the launch of the limited edition ECCO BIOM® 720, a first-of-its-kind shoe utilising an often overlooked leather by-product, transformed into a protein-based fibre. The fibres are produced using patented technology that advances material innovation while reducing waste and supporting full resource use across the leather and textile industry.