I’ll start by introducing myself—who am I?
Hi! My name is Sara, I’m 18 years old, and I’ve been working at Natur-el since May. I recently started my internship here, and I was given the opportunity to write a blog post myself.
Instead of choosing a topic I already knew everything about, I decided to do the exact opposite: write a blog about something I actually knew almost nothing about. The goal? To help not only myself but others learn something new as well.
While writing this blog, I quickly realized that sustainable fashion can be quite a complicated subject. During the writing process, I ran into things where I thought: huh, what does this actually mean? Luckily, I got some help from Vera along the way, which made everything a lot clearer very quickly!
So, see this blog as a bit of a voyage of discovery. As I looked into what the GOTS label exactly entails, I will take you through what I’ve learned, step by step. Enjoy the blog!
The mystery
Nowadays, there are an incredible number of certificates in the fashion world. Organic this, sustainable that, and so on. You’d think you’d need a degree to understand what is truly sustainable. Luckily, in this blog, I’ll explain to you what GOTS means—one of the most important labels for sustainable fashion in our shop.
What does GOTS actually mean?
Worldwide, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is one of the best-known labels when it comes to sustainable clothing. The label was founded in 2006 and was devised by various international organizations that thought: all these different rules are quite confusing, can't we just put that into a clear system?
And so, GOTS was born!
What makes GOTS so good is that it doesn’t just look at the final product hanging in the store. The entire journey of a garment is checked by GOTS. So, from the cultivation of raw materials to the garment that eventually ends up in your closet. Quite a long route, then!
How does a GOTS certification work?
Within GOTS, there are two different certifications. The difference lies mainly in the amount of organic fabric used. The higher the percentage of organic materials, the better.
- GOTS Organic: at least 95% organic fibers
- GOTS made with Organic materials: at least 70% organic fibers
During the cultivation of these materials, genetic modification, synthetic pesticides, and artificial fertilizers are prohibited. No sneaky shortcuts, then.
That is not the end of it, because strict environmental regulations also apply during production, such as:
- No toxic heavy metals or harmful chemicals
- Only biodegradable dyes
- Monitoring of water and energy usage during production
So, GOTS looks not only at what is made, but also at how it is made.
Social requirements
What is important for the people who make the clothing are social requirements. GOTS looks at those, too:
- No child labor or forced labor
- Safe working conditions
- Fair employment terms
- Freedom of association and collective bargaining
Transparency in the production chain
Third-party inspectors check every production process annually. A GOTS label is often accompanied by a certification number. This allows you to see exactly where and how the product was made.
That makes it a lot harder for brands to pretend to be sustainable when they aren't (goodbye greenwashing!).
What does GOTS guarantee and what not?
What GOTS does guarantee
If a garment has a GOTS label, it means, among other things:
- 70–95% organic fibers
- Strict control over the use of chemicals
- Ethical working conditions
- Transparent production audits
GOTS is therefore one of the most comprehensive labels within sustainable fashion.
What GOTS does not guarantee
As good as the label is, it doesn't mean that everything is automatically perfectly sustainable. GOTS:
- Does not measure CO2 emissions
- Provides no guarantee of animal welfare (e.g., for wool or silk)
- Says nothing about the recyclability of clothing
So yes, a GOTS label is a good sign, but it is not a magic solution for all sustainability problems.
Why is GOTS important in sustainable fashion?
Greenwashing is becoming increasingly common in the fashion industry, and it is becoming harder to see what is truly sustainable. It is more about what sounds good in marketing campaigns.
That is why GOTS helps to identify what is actually sustainable clothing; the label doesn't just look at one part, but at the entire production chain!
Conclusion: What does this mean for us shoppers?
Sometimes sustainable fashion can be quite complicated due to all the different labels and claims that other brands use. The GOTS certificate helps consumers like you to see through that better and make more conscious choices.
Because GOTS monitors both environmental requirements and social working conditions, it is among the most reliable certifications in the fashion industry. The label shows that there is a serious commitment to responsible production.
And ultimately: every conscious choice contributes to a fair and sustainable fashion industry.
