GOTS: What It Actually Certifies

Most brands mention GOTS somewhere on their website. Few explain what it means. Here is what it actually certifies — and where it stops.

What GOTS covers

GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. It is the most comprehensive certification available for organic textiles. Unlike most labels, GOTS does not just test the finished product. It audits the entire supply chain — from the harvesting of raw cotton through spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing to the final garment.

To carry the GOTS label, a product must contain at least 70% certified organic natural fibres. For the “organic” grade, the threshold is 95%. Every facility in the chain must be independently certified and undergo annual inspections. Unannounced audits are part of the system.

GOTS also sets strict rules for chemical inputs. Toxic heavy metals, formaldehyde, aromatic solvents, and genetically modified organisms are prohibited. Only dyes and auxiliaries from an approved positive list may be used. Wastewater must be treated before discharge.

The social side

GOTS is one of the few textile certifications that includes social criteria. The standard aligns with International Labour Organization conventions: no forced labour, no child labour, safe working conditions, and the right to collective bargaining. These are mandatory, not optional.

Where GOTS stops

GOTS does not certify wage levels. A facility can be GOTS-certified while paying the legal minimum wage — which in many producing countries is not a living wage. GOTS also does not cover the farming stage directly. Organic farming certification comes from separate agricultural standards (IFOAM family). GOTS picks up after harvest.

And GOTS does not make a product “sustainable” by itself. Sustainability is a system, not a label. GOTS is one strong building block within that system.

Why AVE uses GOTS-certified fabric

All AVE pieces are built on Stanley/Stella blanks — certified under GOTS from raw material to finished garment, audited by Control Union. We chose this because we wanted the strongest available assurance for the fabric that touches your skin. Not as a marketing claim. As a starting point.

Transparency is not a selling point. It is a minimum standard. — AVE

Further reading

global-standard.org — Official GOTS website, including the certified suppliers database and the full standard documentation.

controlunion.com — Certification body responsible for Stanley/Stella’s GOTS and GRS certification.