#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

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

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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

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

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Textile Exchange publishes cotton Life Cycle Assessment study to strengthen impact data

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Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

Italian Textile Machinery heads to Geneva for Index 2026

An important delegation of Italian companies will exhibit at the upcoming INDEX 2026, the world’s leading event for the nonwovens sector, taking place from May 19 to 22 in Geneva (Switzerland). Numerous Italian exhibitors will be present within the Italy Pavilion, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT, an exhibition area of over 140 square meters dedicated to the latest innovations proposed by the Italian industry.