Certificates
Clothing made in Europe? What really matters about origin
"Made in Europe" sounds like good working conditions and short transport routes. It's not quite that simple. The country of origin alone says little about how a garment was made. Here you can read what really matters about origin, and where our clothing comes from.
At a glance
- A "Made in" label usually only names the last substantial processing step, such as sewing.
- In the EU, an indication of origin is not mandatory for clothing, but the fibre composition is.
- More meaningful than the country are a specifically named place of production, independent certificates and traceable supply chains.
- Our clothing is made in Izmir, Turkey.
What "Made in" really means
A T-shirt passes through many stages: growing the fibre, spinning, knitting, dyeing, cutting, sewing. These steps often take place in different countries. The "Made in" on the label follows the rules of origin, which focus on the last substantial processing step. For clothing, that's usually garment making, i.e. sewing. So a shirt labelled "Made in Portugal" may be made from cotton from India that was spun and dyed in a third country.
On top of that: in the EU, stating the country of origin is not mandatory for clothing. What is required is the fibre composition. Whether and how a brand provides information about its production is therefore largely voluntary. That's exactly why it's worth taking a closer look.
Why the country alone says little
European countries have binding labour laws and minimum wages. That's a good framework, but no guarantee for every single facility. There are reports of violations in Europe too, for example at subcontractors. Conversely, many facilities in countries outside the EU work to high standards and have themselves independently audited.
Turkey is one of the major textile producers close to the European market and has a long tradition in cotton growing, spinning and knitting. But how good the conditions in a factory are is decided by the individual facility, not by the map. So the better question is not "Which country?" but "Which facility, and how is that proven?".
What matters about origin
A specific place of production
"Made in Europe" or "in selected partner facilities" is vague. It's more meaningful when a brand names the city and the facility and explains which steps take place there.
Independent certificates with social criteria
Some standards check working conditions as well as the material. GOTS, for example, requires minimum social criteria based on the ILO core labour standards at all certified processing facilities, and the GRS also contains social requirements. What matters is that the certificate applies to the specific product and can be verified. More on this in the article on the GOTS label.
A traceable supply chain
Certified goods are traced from stage to stage via transaction certificates. This shows that the material really has passed through certified facilities, and beyond the last sewing step.
Specific rather than general statements
Reliable information can be verified. Terms such as "fair" or "responsible" without proof won't help you. You'll find more questions to check in our guide Checking fashion labels: 6 questions before you buy.
| Information | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| "Made in …" | country of the last substantial step, usually sewing |
| Specific place of production | exactly where and by whom the item is made |
| Certificate with licence number | independently verified criteria for the material and, depending on the standard, working conditions |
| Fibre composition | which materials are contained and in what proportion |
Where ORGANICATION produces
Our clothing is made in Izmir, Turkey, by our production partner Akçakaya Tekstil. The company behind the brand is ORGANICATION Europe GmbH, based in Nürtingen. We say this so clearly because the question deserves an honest answer: our products are not made in Europe or Germany.
What we show you for every item: the exact material composition and the certificate that applies to that item, i.e. GOTS, OCS, GRS, RCS or RWS. You'll find both on the product page in the "Production" tab, and an overview on the Certificates page. If you'd like to know more, write to us. We're happy to answer questions about production.
FAQ
Is clothing from Europe automatically made under good working conditions?
No. European labour laws are a good framework, but they don't replace checking the individual facility. Look for specific information and independent certificates.
Does clothing have to say where it was made?
Not in the EU. The fibre composition must be stated; the country of origin is voluntary.
Where is your clothing made?
In Izmir, Turkey, by our production partner Akçakaya Tekstil. The company is based in Nürtingen.
