Sure, we could tell you we’ve got it all figured out, but that wouldn’t be honest. We wish though😉... Doing things differently sometimes means taking the long road.

Sustainability is an ongoing conversation, not a destination. It’s a series of researching, balancing trade-offs and tough decision making. What’s happening on an (inter)national- and industry level and why? What are the norms? And evenly important: how do we position ourselves against all of it. Who or what do we want to be? How can we stand out? This means in practice that one of our promises is a transparent supply chain. Because let’s be honest, your favorite piece just feels better when you know it carries no trace of tragedy.

We don't pretend to have all the answers, we will never claim perfection, we are going to make mistakes. Sustainability is a commitment, a constant process of learning, evaluating, and improving. But what we can promise is this: we want to lead by example in this field, and that means we will always do our best, always remain transparent, always be open to feedback and take you along with us.

Does this make us a ‘sustainable brand’? You tell us. The extra mile is what we’re going for. towards the ‘Make It Look Easy’-state. If you can picture it, it’s within reach. And mama didn’t raise a quitter. The future of fashion deserves nothing less.

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is a global certification that ensures a textile product is tested for harmful substances. Every component of the fabric, threads, labels, prints, and accessories must meet the same safety standards.

What the certification tests for

• Substances that may be harmful to human health and can remain in the finished textile.
• Chemicals that could be released through skin contact, body heat or moisture.
  Both regulated and non-regulated substances, following the OEKO-TEX® Restricted Substances List (RSL).

Testing includes parameters such as:

• formaldehyde
• heavy metals
• pesticides
• allergenic and banned dyes
• volatile compounds
• pH balance
• plasticizers and solvents

How testing works

• Samples of the textile are analysed in independent OEKO-TEX® laboratories.
• Components are tested separately to ensure all parts of the product meet the criteria.
• Certification is renewed annually, with requirements updated regularly to reflect new scientific findings and legal regulations.

What OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 does not cover

• It does not assess the environmental footprint of the production process.
• It does not evaluate working conditions, wages or social compliance.
• It does not guarantee that fibres are organic or sustainably sourced.
  

In short:
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 confirms that the product itself is safe to wear, but it does not certify the environmental or social impact of how it was made.

1. OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN (context)

• Combines Standard 100 chemical safety with requirements for environmentally friendly and socially responsible production.
• Offers full traceability through a unique QR code.
• Goes beyond Standard 100, but is less commonly used.

2. GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard

Focuses on:

• Organic fibres (minimum 70% or 95%, depending on label).
• Environmental requirements during processing (e.g., water treatment, restricted chemicals).
• Social criteria (no child labour, safe working conditions, fair wages).
• Full supply-chain traceability, from cotton field to finished product.
  
  

How it differs from OEKO-TEX®:

• GOTS evaluates the entire supply chain; OEKO-TEX® focuses on the end product.
• GOTS guarantees organic materials; OEKO-TEX® does not.
• GOTS includes social standards; OEKO-TEX® does not.
• OEKO-TEX® can be applied to non-organic materials; GOTS cannot.

3. Fair Wear / Fair Trade

Focuses on:

• Working conditions: wages, safety, reasonable working hours.
• Fair trade principles and community impact.

How it differs from OEKO-TEX®:

• Fair Wear / Fair Trade focus on people and labour conditions, not on chemical safety.
• OEKO-TEX® evaluates material composition, not social standards.

4. Bluesign®

Focuses on:

• Chemical and environmental management across the entire production process.
• Reducing harmful substances, water use, and emissions during manufacturing.
• A strict system for safe and sustainable chemical inputs.

How it differs from OEKO-TEX®:

• Bluesign® evaluates the production process; OEKO-TEX® evaluates the end product.
• Like OEKO-TEX®, Bluesign® does not guarantee the use of organic materials.

5. B Corp Certification

Focuses on:

• Overall social and environmental performance of the entire company.
• Governance, worker well-being, community impact, environmental stewardship, and transparency.
• Certification is based on the company’s operations and policies, not on individual products.

How it differs from OEKO-TEX®:

• B Corp certifies the business as a whole, not the product.
• It does not test materials for chemical safety.
• OEKO-TEX® is product-specific; B Corp is organization-wide.

1. Cotton Farms - Uzbekistan

• Location: Tashkent region, Uzbekistan
• Process: Cotton growing and harvesting
• Party: Not disclosed
• Website: Not available

Note:
Notenboom Textiles does not share the specific cotton farms or companies involved in Uzbekistan. We want to be fully transparent, so we find this very disappointing, but with the relatively small production volumes we currently operate at, we simply have limited leverage.

As a result, we have noticed that suppliers are less willing to fully cooperate or disclose deeper supply-chain details.

2. Spinning & Weaving - Turkey

• Location: Izmir region, Turkey
• Process: Spinning raw cotton into yarn; knitting/weaving the fabric
• Party: Not disclosed
• Website: Not available

Note:
The exact spinning and weaving mills are not shared with us. Notenboom Textiles acts as a gatekeeper here as well. Again, our small volumes mean suppliers are less inclined to provide deeper levels of transparency, something we aim to improve as we grow.

3. Fabric Import & Wholesale - Netherlands

• Location: Tilburg, The Netherlands
• Process: Importing the fabric, storage, quality control
• Party: Notenboom Textiles
• Website: https://www.notenboom.nl

4. Garment Production - Netherlands

• Location: Groningen, The Netherlands
• Process: Pattern cutting, sewing and assembling the T-shirt, attaching the neck label and care label
• Party: Kleerlijk
• Website: https://www.kleerlijk.nl

5. Embroidery - Netherlands

• Location: Groningen, The Netherlands
• Process: Embroidery on the back artwork
• Party: De Borduurmeesters
• Origin threads: Still under investigation
• Website (insertion): https://www.borduurmeesters.nl

6. (Care) Labels

• Material: Recycled polyester
• Process: Inserted during finishing garment by Kleerlijk
• Origin labels: Still under investigation
• Website (insertion): https://www.kleerlijk.nl

Specifications

• Color: Off-white (not-dyed).
• Fabric: 240 GSM, 100% OEKO-Tex certified cotton (Uzbekistan).

Care Instructions (Recommended)

Wash

• Machine wash at 30°C (86°F) on a gentle cycle.
• Wash inside out to protect the surface of the fabric.
• Use mild, pH-neutral detergent (no optical brighteners; avoid bleach).
• Wash with similar light colours to prevent natural fibre discoloration.

Drying

• Do not tumble dry. Air-dry flat or on a hanger to maintain shape.
• Avoid direct sunlight when drying, as undyed cotton may yellow over time.

Ironing

• Iron on medium heat while the fabric is slightly damp.
• Do not iron directly over the embroidery.

Additional Notes

• Undyed cotton may show small natural variations; this is normal.
• Avoid prolonged soaking, as natural fibres may lose strength when over-saturated/
• Do not use fabric softener. it can coat fibres and reduce breathability.

This item is undyed

• Nature’s original colour: The fabric’s tone comes directly from the cotton fibre
• No dyes, no dye baths: Eliminates one of the most water- and energy-intensive steps in textile production.
• Zero chemical colorants: No synthetic dyes or fixatives; reduces chemical discharge into waterways.
• Lower CO₂ impact: Skipping dyeing significantly reduces overall emissions.
• Naturally gentle: Fewer chemical processes mean even fewer potential skin irritants.