Snug as a bug in a rug

One of the most fiercely defended sectors of garment decoration is babies and childrenswear; this is reflected across the garment industry by parents and buyers alike.

Danielle Park and Natalie Greetham of Madeira UK explain further.

We all want the assurance that our children are safe within their clothing, and as garment providers it makes the difference between gaining the order or not and forms a key aspect of buying components for the garment that warrant careful consideration.

Where have the textiles come from? How have they been made and which chemicals have been used? Does the manufacturer heavily pollute their area?

When you ask yourself these questions, the subject begins to seem more important.

But when you learn that APOs (Alkyl phenol Oethoxylates/Ethoxylates) have been discovered in some fabrics and threads, serious alarm bells should ring. These chemicals are highly toxic, have been shown to affect the growth of cancer cells and cause oestrogenic development , increasing female hormone production in male and female animals and often affecting gender assignment.

These chemicals are not something the industry will tolerate, particularly for childrenswear and the only way to know your embroideries are safe is to ensure they are sourced from an Oeko-Tex certified provider. Look for Oeko-Tex class 1 certification on your threads such as Madeira Classic and Polyneon threads to ensure it is a suitable product for babies wear.

So what do these certifications mean?

• ISO9001 (International Standards Organisation) – Recognised worldwide and means all processes are thoroughly monitored and audited.

• Oeko-Tex Certification means that the textiles supplied have been tested for and do not contain harmful substances. Their label shows ‘Confidence in Textiles’ supplemented by the certification of environmentally friendly production facilities according to Oeko-Tex Standard 1000. Be aware though and check certification is authentic by looking on www.oeko-tex.com.

• Reach (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of Chemicals) means exactly what’s on the tin! It is a European Union Regulation which addresses the production and use of chemical substances. It is the strictest law to date regulating chemical substances and regulates industries throughout the world. Only accept Class I or Class II as a minimum for your textiles products

Check with the accrediting body to make sure the certification is genuine, after all most people can use Photoshop these days!

Brands and larger customers are often very selective when it comes to choosing suppliers and will only buy from accredited ‘safe’ manufacturers because they are aware of the consequences. Being able to provide such assurances to larger potential customers will broaden the horizon of your customer base and increase your profit margins too.

So if your supply chain offers valid certifications you can rest assured you are not coming into contact with or selling on toxic chemicals.