Importance of Certification in Textile and Fashion Industry

Shubham Anil Jain
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited
Bangalore, India
Email: shubhamajain125@gmail.com

Introduction:
Every industry strives to be successful in its particular niche. But only if the first three criteria—economical, social, and environmental—are met can success be claimed. These requirements are assessed in a number of ways. These assessments serve as the foundation for textile industry certifications. The maintenance of proper standards is ensured by certification, which also expands customer reach and evaluates the quality management system. One of the procedures used to examine various textile materials globally in accordance with requirements is textile testing. Through textile testing, businesses, consumer advocacy organizations, and the government can ensure that textile materials are cost-effective, high-quality, and safe to use.

Importance of Certification in Textile and Fashion Industry:

You must obtain certification in order to be recognized as one of the top textile companies in India working with DMI. Cotton purchasers are now paying more attention to the calibre and standards of the providers as a result of the dynamic changes in the textile trading sector.
A global certification can assist providers like you in demonstrating to your customers that you uphold the industry’s quality standards and do business in compliance.
Yet, the textile value supply chain has access to a large number of standards and certifications. You can raise the profitability of your company by being aware of these standards and certifications. These are a few of the most important ones that you can use for your firm, whether you run a textile business in India or somewhere else.
It can be difficult to investigate a manufacturer from abroad and make sure that the ethical commitments they have made to you are being kept. It is advised to arrange for a reliable party to check out their facility. However, a good first step towards guaranteeing compliance is to only use manufacturers who have been certified by the pertinent recognized body or bodies.
Additionally, it offers independent third-party confirmation of your company’s approach to ethical business practices, which is crucial in a society where consumers are becoming more demanding and socially and environmentally conscious.

List of Important Certification for Textile and Garment Industry:

1. ISO 9001 (2015):
One of the most commonly used quality management systems developed by the International Organization for Standardization, the largest standards body in the world. A manufacturer must prove that it can consistently create goods that satisfy consumer and legal standards in addition to providing assurance that it will use the described quality management system in its operations in order to acquire this certification. As a brand, you are aware that a manufacturer that has received ISO 9001 certification will have a quality control system that is intended to guarantee a high level of quality.

2. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS):
GOTS accreditation enables businesses to conduct international business. Industries have assurance to use the term “organic” in combination with the GOTS emblem thanks to the organic certification provided by a certification organization. Before marketing their products, any industry with a GOTS certificate is subject to scrutiny, ensuring a guarantee all the way down the supply chain to the end user. Apart for leather products, GOTS is applicable to items made of fibers, wool, textiles, clothing, and upholstery. For textile items to be referred to as GOTS certified, organic agriculture must account for at least 70% of their composition.

3. Fair Trade:
The World Fair Trade Organization, which aims to assist producers in developing nations establish equitable and sustainable trade connections, produced this certificate. It applies to finished goods that are frequently exported from developing to industrialized nations. Fair trade cotton is the main component of fair trade textiles. It guarantees fair and secure working conditions for everyone in the supply chain. This Fair Trade accreditation is available for application by producers, grower cooperatives, processors, importers or exporters, brands, and distributors.

4. Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP):
WRAP was formally founded in 2000, and the first Board of Directors was established in 1999. WRAP was created with the express purpose of being financially and politically independent of the garment sector. With certification and instruction, it promotes safe, legal, ethical, and moral manufacturing throughout the world. An acknowledged sign of a dedication to respect social and ethical norms is the WRAP certificate. Businesses with WRAP certificates abide by the laws and regulations of the nation in which they conduct business.

5. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED):
The green building rating system most frequently used worldwide is LEED. Buildings made with LEED are more affordable, greener, and more energy-efficient. It is available in 165 nations and territories. A corporation with a LEED certification is known for its environmentally friendly structures all over the world. These structures promote human health while conserving resources including water, electricity, and waste.

You may also like: List of LEED Certified Green Garment Factories in Bangladesh

6. Eco Passport by Oeko- Tex:
An independent testing and certification programme for chemicals, colorants, and other materials used in the production of textiles is called ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX. The International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology (commonly known as Oeko-Tex) issues company certifications, issues product labels, and offers additional services under the Oeko-Tex trademark.

In the textile value chain, Oeko-Tex marks and certifications attest to the human-ecological safety of textile and leather items at all stages of production (raw materials and fibres, yarns, fabrics, and finished goods).

7. Bluesign:
The phrase “Bluesign” refers to resource management that has the least possible negative effects on both humans and the environment. Consumer safety, water and air pollution, occupational health, and minimal usage of dangerous compounds are all included in the certification standard. Manufacturers and brands must follow the terms and conditions and act ethically and sustainably in regard to people, the environment, and resources. Bluesign guarantees a perfect production process and that the finished textile product complies with the most exacting consumer safety standards in the world.

8. Organic Content Standard (OCS):
The use of organic material is permitted during all stages of processing thanks to OCS certification. Verification of the quantity and presence of organic material in a finished product. At least 95% of the fibre in OCS 100 is organically certified. Apart for leather products, anything made of fibres, wool, textiles, clothing, and upholstery belong under OCS. The bulk of approved facilities have been certified by Control Union, the top certification agency.

9. Recycled Claim Standard (RCS 100):
To follow recycled raw materials through the supply chain, a chain of custody standard called the RCS (Recycled Claim Standard) is employed. Materials are recycled according to need to achieve minimal waste during processing stages. RCS examines a finished product to determine whether or not it contains any recycled materials.

10. Responsible Wool Standard (RWS):
Farmers have the chance to grow wool that is of the highest quality and adheres to the international standard according to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). RWS is committed to treating sheep humanely and preserving the integrity of the area that they graze on. The advantage of having a RWS certificate is that it offers proof of the farm-level procedures, giving companies a clear answer that will allow them to make claims about the origin of their wool.

Others list of certification for the textile and fashion industry:

Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
Fair Wear Foundation (FWF)
Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA)
Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) Higg Index
SA8000
Social Accountability Accreditation Services (SAAS)
Leather Working Group (LWG)
Textile Exchange Organic Content Standard (OCS)
Textile Exchange Content Claim Standard (CCS)
Textile Exchange Recycled Claim Standard (RCS)
Textile Exchange Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
Cradle to Cradle Certified
The Global Fashion Agenda’s (GFA) 2020 Circular Fashion System Commitment
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative
Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI)
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)
Alliance for Responsible Denim
Greenpeace Detox Campaign
ZDHC Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Programme
Textile Sustainability Coalition (TSC)
Carbon Trust Standard
Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards (CCB Standards)
Fair Labor Association (FLA)

Conclusion:
Several sectors of the textile and garment industries believe that certifications are solely important for exports. But, the major point of worry in textile manufacturing is that an imperative relation exists between the quality of the materials and the quality of the end output. By improving the quality of the raw materials used, the industry can improve the quality of the finished product and this can be done through many of the certifications. This will lead to a methodical approach to management, continuous performance improvement, a factual approach to decision making, and a relationship with suppliers that benefits both parties.

References:

https://www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk/content/features/what-certifications-are-important-for-the-garment-industry
https://www.onlineclothingstudy.com/2022/03/20-popular-certifications-and-standards.
https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/3746/iso-certification-for-textile-and-apparel-industries.
https://damodarmenon.com/certifications-are-important-for-the-textile-industry/

You may also like:

Mazharul Islam Kiron

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.