As parents, you always want the best for your children. From choosing the perfect school to a well-balanced meal, you’d want to make sure that they get the best of everything, right?

But it’s much more complicated than one might think. We live in a world where a child is prone to more harmful things than ever before. So, what is the right way to bring them up? While the effects of excessive screen time and junk food have been discussed multiple times at length, there still remains a lesser-known evil, that is, harmful clothing.

Clothes, specifically kids’ underwear made from harmful materials or chemicals can seep into your child’s body over time and raise many health concerns. That’s how the OEKO-TEX® certification comes into being. Established in 1992, the Zurich-based International OEKO-TEX® Association has been responsible for creating strict quality norms and standards for product quality worldwide.

But, before we dive into the technicalities of why it’s necessary, let’s try to understand how OEKO-TEX® was made.

What is OEKO-TEX®? 
The International OEKO-TEX® association was set up after the growing concerns over product quality and safety started spreading at the speed of light, globally. In 1992, the same year that the association was established, they released the Standard 100 certification. 
Any article of clothing that carries this label is known to be free of the 100 chemicals which are extremely harmful to the body as well as the environment.

Most kids’ underwear brands do not take these strict standards seriously which ends up putting your children at risk.

Every component of an OEKO-TEX® certificated clothing item is checked thoroughly. From buttons and fabric right down to a single thread, everything is tested. No matter how large or small a part of the clothing may be, if it’s been compromised by toxic chemicals, it can be unsafe to wear.

Independent OEKO-TEX® partner institutes test fabrics and leather for harmful toxins at all stages of processing and certified production facilities as ecologically and socially responsible.

What are the OEKO-TEX® product classes?
A product class is a collection of different articles that are grouped together based on their intended use. The standards that products must meet and the limit values that must be applied varies between product types.

The standard four product classes for Standard 100 are-

Product Class 1 - Consisting of baby and toddler products, this class contains the most rigorously and strictly tested article group. Babies and young children have sensitive skin that is much more prone to health problems as compared to adults, which is why this product class demands additional requirements such as ‘colour bleeding’ and saliva resistance.

Product Class 2 - T his class contains products that come in direct contact with the skin such as blouses, shirts, underwear, mattresses, etc..

Product Class 3 - Products in this class have minimal to no contact with the skin. Outerwear such as jackets and coats comes under this category.

Product Class 4- This class contains decorative textiles and objects such as furniture, upholstery materials, curtains, and tablecloths.

Are OEKO-TEX® certified clothes organic?
Most OEKO-TEX® certification tests are conducted and the certificates are issued exclusively by neutral and independent OEKO-TEX® test institutes. But, such strict testing doesn’t necessarily mean that the product in question is also organic. The certification only ensures that the final clothing item is free from any toxins. 

To put it simply, if you want to know whether or not kidswear certified by OEKO-TEX® is free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and other harmful chemicals, the answer is yes.

Is OEKO-TEX® certification different from GOTS certification?
While both OEKO-TEX® and GOTS are special certifications given to clothes based on their quality, environmental impact, and end result, they are not really the same thing.

While GOTS certification promises the organic cultivation of crops as well as solving social issues, it’s not necessary for an OEKO-TEX® certified clothing item to do the same. The main purpose of the latter is to ensure that the end product is safe from chemicals, harmful toxins, and more. But both GOTS and OEKO-TEX certifications ensure that no dangerous substances are present in the fabric. GOTS and OEKO-TEX certifications specify that the final fabric contains no flame retardants, carcinogenic and allergy-inducing colours, pesticides, heavy metals, or formaldehyde.

Reasons why you should choose Oeko-Tex for your children:
The OEKO-TEX® hype is real and very fairly so. But if you don’t know why it is necessary for your children, it can be difficult to accept. If not regulated, harmful chemical substances can be absorbed into their bodies via clothing. From girls’ underwear to boys’ shorts, every item of clothing possesses an equal risk to the body.

With the OEKO-TEX® certification, however, it’s easy to let go of this fear. Known for its vigorous safety standards, items certified pass various tests before reaching the final stage.

Given the fact that children are more sensitive and can absorb more toxins compared to adults, such standards make even more sense.

Certification is valid for 12 months, and the International Oeko-Tex Association conducts annual sampling and control testing on at least 25% of all issued certificates. Once a year, OEKO-TEX® inspects the product alongside the product owner to ensure that it continues to meet the requirements.

What is covered in the certification?
Everything that you can see or touch in a garment is eligible for an OEKO-TEX®certification. From the threads to the finished fabrics and finished articles, all of it is tested by independent labs to ensure that nothing toxic or harmful ever reaches your children’s clothing.

Every part of the garment, including stitching, zips, buttons, and coatings have been tested. The skin is permeable, which is why it’s advised to wash new clothes before wearing them. But with an OEKO-TEX® certification, you can ensure that even if you don’t wash your children’s new clothes once, they’ll not be exposed to anything toxic.

The certification is completely independent, so getting it done is an excellent way for a brand to show sincerity towards its consumers and what they want.


The best part is, that you can check whether a STANDARD 100 certificate is still valid based on the certificate numbers.

What type of kids’ clothing can be OEKO-TEX® certified?
If you’re a parent, you must’ve pondered over this question more times than you’d like to agree. Every parent would like for their children to be safe and away from anything hazardous, especially when it comes to innerwear.

Boys’ underwear to girls’ innerwear, everything can be OEKO-TEX® certified. This certification goes beyond just a document and ensures that your children wear safe, chemical-free clothing.

Given the fact that the skin of young children is extremely sensitive, having them wear a thoroughly tested piece of clothing not only keeps them free from unwanted health concerns but also keeps the parents’ anxiety at bay.

A MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® label assures you that the product was created using materials that have been tested for dangerous substances, in environmentally friendly facilities, and in safe and socially responsible workplaces.

Here’s where you can buy OEKO-TEX® certified clothes for your children:
At XY Life, we’ve made sure that all our kids’ garments are OEKO-TEX® certified. Loved and trusted by many parents, our range of kid’s clothing is not only safe and toxin-free but also absorbent, fuss-free, and made without any azo dyes. The Tencel Modal fabric used in these clothes is super breathable, light, and comfortable which ensures your child goes out and about the day without getting irritated or cranky. Enhanced with an antimicrobial finish, it will keep away unwanted odor, no matter what your kid does the entire day.

With this collection of kid’s clothing, you can forget about your child’s discomfort and focus on spending quality time with them. 

OEKO-TEX® is here to stay and here’s why:
Today, we live in a world that is surrounded by way too many harmful things to count. From unhealthy food to excessive pollution, there’s not much you can do to protect your children. But amidst all that, one thing is definitely in your control, that is, picking our safe clothing for your young ones. 

If you are worried about shopping for toxin-free fabrics for kids, allergies, or sensitive skin, you can rely on OEKO-TEX-certified fabrics.

Not only are they good for your kid’s skin but also extremely beneficial for the environment.

Our range of premium certified innerwear for kids come in beautiful designs, impeccable fits, and absorbent fabrics, and are sure to keep words like ‘irritation’, ‘discomfort’, and ‘cranky’ out of your vocabulary.

In a nutshell:
As parents, you want to make the best decisions for your children and grandchildren. This is especially crucial when it comes to clothing because the chemicals and dyes used in textile production can cause allergies, rashes, and other possible ailments in babies and children.This is why OEKO-TEX is the right choice for your young ones.