Sustainability in the fashion world
Certifications – sustainability in the fashion world
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the fashion industry. Consumers want not only to wear stylish clothes but also to know the conditions under which they were made. Fair trade and various certifications play an important role here. This article explains what fair trade means, which certifications exist and what each of them checks.
What does fair trade mean in fashion?
Fair trade refers to a trading system intended to give producers in countries of the Global South more stable prices and better working conditions. In the context of fashion, this means above all appropriate wages and safe working conditions for the people who grow raw materials and make clothing. The aim is to reduce poverty and support economic development in disadvantaged regions.
Why is fair trade important?
In parts of the fashion industry, low wages and poor working conditions are still a problem. Many textile factory workers receive only a fraction of the price the garment later sells for in the shop. Fair trade addresses this and aims to ensure that people along the supply chain are paid appropriately.
Some Fair Trade standards also encourage the switch to organic farming, for example for cotton. This means doing without synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilisers.
Important certifications in fashion
There are many certifications, each checking different social, environmental or economic criteria. Here are some of the best-known labels in fashion:
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): GOTS is an internationally recognised standard for textiles made from organically grown natural fibres. For the label ‘made with x % organic materials’, at least 70 % of the fibres must come from organic farming; minimum social criteria along the processing chain are also checked.
Fair Wear Foundation: this initiative focuses on improving working conditions in the garment industry. Member companies commit to monitoring and improving working conditions at their suppliers.
Cradle to Cradle Certified®: this certification assesses products on criteria including material health and circularity – that is, whether they can be recycled after use.
What certified fashion can offer
Buying certified fashion can have various benefits for consumers:
Traceability: an independently verified label shows the criteria according to which a garment was made.
Quality: people who look for labels often pay attention to material and workmanship too – and so frequently choose longer-lasting clothing.
Cultivation: certified organic fibres are grown without synthetic pesticides.
Communities: Fair Trade premiums can go towards local projects such as education or healthcare.
Certifications at ORGANICATION
ORGANICATION uses materials such as organic cotton and TENCEL™ Lyocell. Our items are certified to GOTS, OCS, GRS, RCS or RWS depending on the material – you will find the exact details on each product page. Our products are not Fairtrade certified. Our clothing is made in Izmir, Turkey.
Our Essentials collection in particular focuses on minimalist, timeless designs that can be worn for a long time. For an overview of our labels, visit our certificates page.
How can you recognise fair fashion?
In a market as large and often confusing as the fashion industry, it is not always easy to recognise fair fashion. A few tips:
Look for certifications: look for well-known labels such as Fairtrade or GOTS and check which criteria each label covers.
Find out about the brand: many fashion brands provide information about their production. A look at the website often shows how specifically a brand describes its places of production and working conditions.
Check the materials: with organic cotton, linen or TENCEL™ Lyocell, look for a certification that proves its origin.
Second-hand and upcycling: buying second-hand clothing or upcycling old garments extends the life of clothing.
Conclusion
Fair trade and certifications play an important role in the fashion industry. Labels such as Fairtrade or GOTS show you which social and environmental criteria a garment has been checked against. This lets you make informed purchasing decisions – for quality, durability and greater transparency.
