OEKO-TEX® is a globally recognized certification that guarantees textiles are tested for harmful substances. It ensures that every thread, dye, and material is skin-safe, making it one of the strictest and most trusted standards in clothing safety.
This certification is a rigorous, third-party safety check for what touches your skin every day.
Vibrant Body Company goes beyond by certifying every component of our First Layer apparel to the highest OEKO-TEX® standards.
If you care about what goes on your body, this guide is your starting point. Let’s dig into why OEKO-TEX® matters, and why your wardrobe deserves it.
Key Points
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OEKO-TEX® is the global benchmark for textile safety. It tests every thread, dye, and component of a garment for harmful substances, going far beyond vague “eco” or “natural” claims to ensure what touches your skin is truly safe.
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Your clothes can expose you to more chemicals than you think. From formaldehyde to phthalates and PFAS, toxic substances are commonly found in garments labeled as “safe”, especially those made from recycled synthetics or bamboo rayon.
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Certification isn’t permanent, and that’s a good thing. OEKO-TEX® certifications are renewed annually, evolving with the latest toxicology research to catch substances that may not yet be banned by governments but still pose serious health risks.
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Vibrant Body Company certifies every product to OEKO-TEX® Level 100, the highest standard. This is the same level used for baby clothing, ensuring that our bras, underwear, and activewear are safe from endocrine disruptors, irritants, and unregulated toxins that could absorb through skin and impact your well-being.
OEKO-TEX®: The Label That Redefines Clean Clothing
We live in a world where “natural,” “clean,” and “eco” are plastered on every label like a security blanket.
Unless a product is tested, it’s not proven. And if it’s not proven, how do you really know what’s touching your skin?
That’s where OEKO-TEX® comes in.
OEKO-TEX® isn’t a fabric or trend, it’s a globally recognized certification that examines every thread, dye, and detail of a textile for harmful chemicals. Founded in Europe in 1992, it’s rooted in science, not marketing.
At its core, OEKO-TEX® is a health filter for your wardrobe.
OEKO-TEX® tests for over 1,000 regulated and unregulated substances that can harm your body, like formaldehyde, PFAS, phthalates, heavy metals, and hormone disruptors. The testing is done in accredited third-party labs, not by brands themselves, so the results are real.
And it’s not just about fabric. OEKO-TEX® tests every part of a garment, elastic, stitching, dyes, even logo ink.
If you’re someone who checks every skincare ingredient, but haven’t questioned what’s pressed against your skin all day, it’s time you did.
Every Thread Counts: Inside OEKO-TEX® Testing Standards
One of the most dangerous myths in fashion is that “natural” equals “safe.”
I’ve seen bamboo marketed as skin-friendly, only to find out it’s been soaked in formaldehyde. Cotton called “clean” but dyed with petroleum-based chemicals.
It’s not enough to trust materials, you have to know what’s been done to them. OEKO-TEX® certification applies to every component of a textile product:
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Threads
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Zippers
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Linings
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Coatings
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Embroidery
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Dyes and finishes
Every. Single. Element.
Not only that. OEKO-TEX® certifications must be renewed annually.
That means companies can’t just get certified once and coast for the next decade. Each year, test criteria evolve to include the latest toxicology research, including substances not yet banned by governments.
That’s how this certification stays ahead of the curve.
The 6 Core Labels Explained Briefly
To the untrained eye, OEKO-TEX® may look like a single label, but it’s actually a family of certifications. Here’s the breakdown:
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STANDARD 100: The most well-known label. It ensures that every component of a finished textile product has been tested for harmful substances.
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MADE IN GREEN: A transparency powerhouse. It confirms not only safety but also that the product was manufactured under socially and environmentally responsible conditions, and it’s traceable all the way back to raw materials.
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LEATHER STANDARD: Applies the same toxicology testing to leather goods, everything from shoes to upholstery.
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STeP by OEKO-TEX®: A facility-level certification that assesses everything from chemical use to worker safety, energy efficiency, and water management.
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ECO PASSPORT: Focuses on chemicals used in the textile manufacturing process. If a dye or finish is ECO PASSPORT certified, it’s been vetted for safety before it even touches your clothes.
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ORGANIC COTTON: A newer label verifying that cotton fibers are truly organic and free from GMOs and synthetic pesticides, backed by real testing, not just paperwork.
Every label serves a purpose. And when you see a brand using these together, especially STANDARD 100, it tells you they’re going the extra mile for your health.
The Hidden Health Risks Lurking in Your Clothes
What’s silently entering our bodies every single day, without us noticing?
We obsess over clean eating. We invest in non-toxic skincare. But clothing? It’s the most overlooked piece of the wellness puzzle.
Your clothes are in contact with your skin for hours at a time, every single day. And your skin doesn’t just block things out, it lets things in. It absorbs. Especially when you're sweating, moving, or your body heat rises.
That’s when textile chemicals don’t just sit on the surface, they sink in.
The Dark Side Of Your Favorite Outfit
Photo Source -> Duke University
Let’s be real: Most of us wear clothes for 8 to 12 hours a day. Some even sleep in them. That’s hundreds of hours a month, wrapped in fabrics that may have been soaked, coated, or dyed with substances your body doesn’t recognize… but still absorbs.
Textiles are often treated with:
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Formaldehyde to make them wrinkle-resistant
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BPA from recycled plastics in synthetic blends
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Phthalates to soften prints or add stretch
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PFAS (forever chemicals) to repel water, stains, and sweat
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Azo dyes linked to carcinogenic compounds
None of these chemicals, formaldehyde, phthalates, PFAS, belong on your body, let alone in it. Yet they’re common in garments labeled “natural” or “eco,” especially those made from recycled polyester or bamboo rayon, which require heavy chemical processing.
And yes, this is serious. These aren’t just “bad-for-you” substances, they’re hormone disruptors, immune irritants, even potential carcinogens.
Worst of all, they often show up in the clothing we wear closest to our most vulnerable areas: bras, underwear, leggings.
What Materials And Garments Does OEKO-TEX® Certify?
One of the biggest myths I hear is that OEKO-TEX® only applies to “natural” fabrics.
Not true. This certification is material-agnostic, what matters isn’t where the material comes from, but whether it’s safe to wear in its final form. That includes:
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Cotton
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Wool
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Linen
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Viscose
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Bamboo (after processing)
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Polyester
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Nylon
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Elastane
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PU foam
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Leather
OEKO-TEX® tests synthetics and blends just as rigorously as organics because it's the chemical residue that counts.
If the final product isn’t tested, softness can be deceiving and potentially harmful. That’s why OEKO-TEX® is one of the few certifications that truly protects what touches your skin.
Everything that touches your skin:
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Bras and underwear
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Leggings, camisoles, and sleepwear
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Babywear and children’s clothing
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Bedsheets, towels, and pillowcases
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Socks, hosiery, and activewear
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Furniture upholstery and curtains
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Even plush toys and mattress covers
Vibrant Body Company zeroes in on what we call the First Layer, the garments closest to your most sensitive skin.
If it hugs your lymph nodes, cradles your breasts, or rests along your hips, it deserves the highest level of scrutiny.
That’s why we certify every element of our products to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, the strictest level originally designed for baby clothes.
Bottom line: if a textile touches your body, it should be clean. OEKO-TEX® makes that possible. Vibrant makes it comfortable.
What OEKO-TEX® Means For Brands
Any brand can throw around words like “safe” and “non-toxic.” But unless they’re certifying every single element of their garments with OEKO-TEX®, and renewing that certification every year, they’re just hoping you won’t ask questions.
I built Vibrant Body Company so that you could ask the questions. And so we’d have the answers.
Vibrant’s Certified Clean Commitment
At Vibrant, Certified Clean isn’t a marketing slogan, it’s our internal standard rooted in OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.
That’s the strictest level of certification available, originally developed for babies, because infants are most vulnerable to chemical exposure.
But guess what? Grown women are vulnerable, too, especially when synthetic materials rub against our most sensitive areas for 12+ hours a day.
Every single component in a Vibrant product, every thread, dye, label, elastic, print, and stitch, is tested and certified.
Why Vibrant Chose OEKO-TEX®
The U.S. currently restricts fewer than 40 textile chemicals. Europe restricts over 1,000. OEKO-TEX® keeps pace with the strictest global benchmarks, and then some.
When I found out that a third of women’s underwear in the U.S. contains chemicals banned in other countries, I knew something had to change.
I didn’t start Vibrant to make just another bra, I started it to make the first health-first bra. One that fits well and protects your body, your skin, and your cells.
OEKO-TEX® helps us deliver that promise with confidence.
Why I Walked Away From The Fashion Norms
Most people assume their clothing is safe, especially when it says “natural,” “eco-friendly,” or “sustainable.” But unless it’s OEKO-TEX® certified, you’re gambling with your body’s largest organ.
And if you’re a health-conscious woman who reads her skincare labels and shops clean beauty, it’s time to read your clothing tags too.
Because the truth is this:
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What touches your skin every day doesn’t just sit there, it soaks in.
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Harmful substances don’t ask for permission. They enter through friction, heat, sweat, and time.
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While the fashion industry keeps prioritizing style over safety, your body is left paying the price.
You deserve clothes that don’t leach hormone disruptors, irritate your skin, or compress your lymphatic system for the sake of style.
I didn’t start Vibrant to sell bras, I started it to challenge the system, protect women’s health, and put your body first, where the industry never has.
🌿 Certified Clean EveryWear Bra: Wire-free, clean, and built for breast health. This patented bra offers soft support with OEKO-TEX® certified materials.
✨ OEKO-TEX® Certified Underwear: The Hikini, Thong, and Boy Short are made for your most sensitive areas, using fabrics certified to meet one of the strictest global safety standards for skin contact.
💦 Sweat Smart Activewear Collection: Performance meets peace of mind. OEKO-TEX® certified and made to move with you, safely.
About The Author: Michael Drescher, Founder of Vibrant Body Company.
An unlikely messenger in women’s health, he’s speaking truths the industry has long buried beneath sleek silhouettes at the expense of women’s health. After losing loved ones to cancer, he uncovered the toxic reality of intimate apparel and set out to create a truly health-first alternative. Michael’s work challenges assumptions about who gets to lead wellness conversations, blending radical transparency with science-backed design. He started Vibrant Body Company to rewrite the standard, because comfort shouldn’t come with a chemical cost, and health should never be an afterthought.
