OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is an independent test showing a textile meets set limits for harmful substances. On curtain fabric the certificate can run to yarn and finished lots. REACH is legal chemical compliance; FR is fire performance. None of the three replaces the others.
What is OEKO-TEX Standard 100?
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is an international testing and certification system used since 1992. Limit values change by product class (baby, skin contact, decoration). Curtain fabric is usually treated as decorative textile; the buyer should still name the class on the order. The label does not mean “natural fibre” or “organic”. It means listed harmful substances sit below the limits.
Why do curtain programmes ask for OEKO-TEX?
- European retail and hotel groups ask for a certificate number on supplier forms.
- Interior textiles — especially children’s rooms and healthcare — will not take a chemical claim without paper.
- An export file prefers a numbered certificate over the word “ecological”.
Ayhan Denizci states on the site that yarns used in Marinero Home collections meet OEKO-TEX Standard 100. Buyers should still attach a valid copy and the covered article group to the order file. Certificate date and class are checked lot by lot.
OEKO-TEX vs REACH vs FR
| Paper | What it measures | What it does not measure |
|---|---|---|
| OEKO-TEX 100 | Harmful-substance limits | Fire, tensile strength, an “organic” claim |
| REACH | EU chemical-law compliance | Hand, light transmission |
| FR / flame retardant | The named fire test | Chemical toxicity on its own |
Questions buyers should ask the mill
- Which legal entity and article group does the certificate cover?
- What is the expiry date, and is renewal planned?
- Does it cover yarn, or dyed and finished cloth?
- Does an FR finish change the OEKO-TEX scope?
For us, quality does not start at final inspection. It starts at the first production step.
Ayhan Denizci Tekstil, quality statement
Badge, PDF, and lot: they are not the same thing
The OEKO-TEX badge on the site means the mill can supply that certificate family. The PDF a buyer drops into a tender carries a number and an expiry date. What actually binds the shipment is whether that lot sits inside the scope. Locking an order on a screenshot of a badge, then arguing “this roll is not on the paper”, is the most expensive quality fight.
An FR finish or a special dye can change the previous scope. Last year’s PDF does not carry this year’s hotel job. A European retail chain wants a REACH statement; a Northern European hotel wants FR plus OEKO-TEX; some African and Middle East buyers still do not ask. Marinero Home keeps three badges because markets mix — not because every roll ships with all three.
- Write the certificate number on the quote and the invoice.
- Read the scope line: yarn, finished cloth, which article group?
- Check the date and ask about the renewal window.
- Re-match the paper if FR or a new colour is added.
Frequently asked questions
Does OEKO-TEX 100 mean organic sheer fabric?
No. Standard 100 tests harmful-substance limits. Organic farming or recycled content needs other proofs. A polyester voile can be OEKO-TEX certified; that does not make it cotton.
Does REACH replace OEKO-TEX?
No. REACH is EU chemical law. OEKO-TEX is a voluntary test and label system. Many European buyers ask for both.
Do curtains need the baby class of OEKO-TEX?
Curtains usually sit in the decoration class. A nursery programme or a textile-toy hybrid may raise the class. Do not assume it; write it in the spec.
Is a PDF of the certificate enough?
For a first review, yes. On the order, certificate number, scope, and date should match the invoice or quality annex. Tenders often want an original or certified copy.
Is the OEKO-TEX mark printed on the selvedge?
Use of the mark and label language follows the licence. The buyer should write what they want on the order: document copy only, or a hangtag. A logo on every roll is not the default.
Can sheers ship to Europe without the paper?
Some buyers run their own lab test; some will not buy without a certificate. The realistic path is to ask for the target chain’s vendor list. Ayhan Denizci talks papers to your market; it does not claim every buyer takes the same pack.
