Material claims attract scrutiny. If you intend to say something about your fabric publicly, you need documentation behind it.
Certification verifies a chain, not just a fibre
Recognised standards typically certify custody through the supply chain rather than testing the final garment. That means the certification has to be maintained at each step, including at your manufacturer, for the finished product to carry the claim.
Questions to ask a supplier
- Which certification applies, and to which stage
- Can you provide transaction certificates for this specific lot
- Is the certification current
- Does the certification survive dyeing and finishing
Recycled content
Recycled fibre content is a percentage, not a binary. State the percentage and the standard rather than describing a garment simply as recycled.
Claims to avoid
Unqualified terms such as sustainable, eco friendly and green are difficult to substantiate and increasingly scrutinised. Specific, documented statements are both safer and more persuasive.
Keep the paperwork
If you make a public claim, keep the certificates that support it, tied to the specific production lot. A claim you cannot document is a liability rather than an asset.