One way to become more sustainable when buying children's clothing is to buy organic clothing where you can.
Organic cotton is definitely better for the planet. There are no bleaches or harsh chemicals used in the production process which makes it kinder to children’s skin and production is often fairer to workers too.
But not all organic clothing is created equal, which is why it is important to look for a certification that the organic clothing you are buying is what it says it is.
Is Certification Important?
My previous blog posts have spoken about the importance of looking for either the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or the Organic Content Standard (OCS) when buying organic children’s clothing.
By checking for a proper organic certification, you can be sure that the cotton really is organic and, if it has the GOTS label it has also been produced in fair conditions as this certification covers social factors as well as environmental factors.
READ MORE: What to Look for when Buying Organic Children’s Clothes
What is the Difference Between Oeko Tex and Organic Fabric?
Sustainable Children's Clothing: More Than Just Organic Fabric
Standards and certifications are one way of showing that the brand really cares about sustainability. When you see the GOTS logo for example you know that the product is a good quality organic product.
But getting accreditation is harder than you might think – and is one of the reasons that small businesses don’t always have the certifications you are looking for.
Is Tutti Frutti Clothing a Certified Organic Brand?
Sadly not. Unfortunately, Tutti Frutti Clothing is currently not able to be certified organic brand.
I would love one day to get Global Organic Textile Standard accreditation but to maintain the quality of the GOTS standard there are strict rules surrounding who can, and who cannot claim to be GOTS certified.
The rules and criteria include paying a license fee which is a little out of reach for me at the moment (maybe one day!).
The rules also state that if any GOTS certified components are used (in my case the fabric) but the seller (i.e. me!) are not certified then they cannot be labelled as GOTS certified.
I will admit it has taken me quite a while to get my head around it all but essentially as I am not a certified retailer, I cannot claim to use GOTS certified fabrics.
And this is the same for many other small businesses – including the fabric retailers and wholesalers that I buy my organic cotton fabrics from.
In many cases the fabrics are manufactured in GOTS certified factories but as the fabric retailer is not certified they are not allowed to sell it as GOTS certified fabrics -and so it goes on!
What This Means for Me as a Brand
All Tutti Frutti Clothing is made from organic cotton.
But as I am not a certified GOTS retailer I cannot list any logos or certifications on my website - even if I am using certified materials. So my products all state they are made with organic cotton.
Currently the majority of my clothing is made using GOTS certified fabric such as the grown-up sweatshirts and rainbow leggings. Except because I am not a GOTS certified retailed I am not allowed to mention in my product listing that I use GOTS fabric.
Other pieces, such as the dinosaur and rainbow sweatshirts, are made from organic cotton that is not certified with the GOTS standard. However, it comes from a small retailer that uses organic cotton and the fabric is printed in Germany using eco water-based dyes and printing methods.
I do my very best to make sure that I am using on the best quality organic cotton cloth from retailers and brands. I email suppliers and ask to see certificates where available before purchasing any cloth.
So whilst on one hand looking for a logo is a quick an easy way of making sure the organic children’s clothing, it doesn’t mean that brands without the logo are not organic or not what they say they are.
In the absence of a certification or logo the best way to find out is the ask.
Please feel free to message me and I will happily tell you which of my clothing has come from an Global Organic Textile Standard certified seller and which has come from another small business.
I am passionate that we learn as much as we can about where our clothes come from and would love to hear from you!
If you have any questions or have something to add to the discussion please do leave a comment! I am always learning about this and would love to hear from you!
Shop our AWARD WINNING organic cotton leggings below...!!
Thank you – that was really helpful I am trying to navigate through the certification or not decision as a small clothing business and I was wondering how other retailers handle this considering the paperwork and the cost of a license!
Catherine on