Sustainable Apparel & Textile Certifications
Sustainable Apparel and Textile Certifications
Certifications can help fashion brands evaluate organic fibers, recycled content, chemical safety and other sustainability requirements when sourcing apparel and textiles.
However, certification claims should always be checked against the specific certificate holder, product scope, material and validity period. A certified fabric or yarn does not automatically mean that every finished garment, supplier or production facility carries the same certification.
April Su works with material suppliers and production partners to source certified material options according to individual project requirements.
GOTS Certification for Organic Textiles
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is widely used for textiles made with certified organic fibers. Its requirements cover fiber processing as well as environmental and social criteria within certified operations.
For apparel development, GOTS may be relevant when sourcing organic cotton fabrics, yarns or other eligible textile materials.
Before making a certification claim, brands should confirm:
- Certificate holder
- Certificate validity
- Certified product scope
- Fiber/material covered
- Relevant supply-chain documentation
When GOTS-certified material is requested, we can check available supplier documentation for the specific material being considered.
GRS Certification for Recycled Materials
GRS (Global Recycled Standard) is used to verify recycled content and includes additional requirements related to processing and chain of custody.
It may apply to recycled polyester, recycled nylon and other eligible recycled textile materials used in activewear, outerwear and general apparel.
Certification availability depends on the selected supplier and material. Documentation should therefore be reviewed for each sourcing project rather than assuming that all recycled fabrics carry the same certification.
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is a testing and certification system for textiles that evaluates products and components for harmful substances.
Depending on the supplier and product, certification may apply to fabrics, yarns, trims or other textile components.
For custom apparel development, OEKO-TEX® documentation can be considered alongside fiber composition, performance requirements, color, weight and other technical specifications.
Material Certification vs Finished Garment Certification
This distinction is important for sustainable apparel sourcing.
A fabric supplied with a valid certification does not automatically certify the finished garment or the company purchasing that fabric.
Certification claims depend on the relevant standard, certificate scope and supply-chain requirements.
For this reason, we distinguish between:
- Certified material options
- Supplier certification
- Supporting material documentation
- Finished-product certification requirements
If your project requires a specific certification claim for the finished product, this should be discussed before material sourcing and production planning begin.
Certification Documents for Apparel Sourcing
Depending on the material and supplier, available documentation may include certificates, scope information and other supporting records.
The certification images shown on this page are provided as reference documentation for specific material or supplier options. They should not be interpreted as universal certification covering every April Su product or production facility.
Before placing an order that depends on a specific certification, we recommend confirming the current documentation and applicable scope for the selected material.
Sourcing Certified Materials for Custom Apparel
April Su supports B2B brands with sustainable material sourcing, technical development, sampling and production coordination.
Learn more about our Custom Sustainable Apparel Development for material sourcing, product development and customization options.
Available options may include organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled nylon and other materials with relevant supplier documentation, depending on the project.
For projects requiring original product development, see our Custom Apparel OEM/ODM Services for more information about technical development, sampling and production coordination.
If certification is an important requirement for your collection, share the required standard, product type, material composition and estimated quantity with our team so that suitable sourcing options can be evaluated.
Discuss Your Sustainable Apparel Requirements
For custom apparel projects requiring certified material options, contact our apparel development team to discuss your product specifications and documentation requirements.
Reference documentation: Certification shown below applies only to the specific certificate holder, material/product scope and validity period stated in the document. It does not represent universal certification of all April Su products or production facilities.
