FAQ

We use a range of different materials for our products. You can read about our materials here.

“Organic” is a legally controlled term: a farm must be certified to a government-recognized organic standard before its cotton can be sold as organic — grown from non-GMO seed without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. After harvest, our cotton enters a certified chain of custody, so the “organic” on our labels is verified at every step from farm to finished product, not self-declared.

Conventional cotton production can be chemically intensive — synthetic pesticides and fertilizers can affect soil, water and surrounding farmland. Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and from non-GMO seed, using practices designed to sustain soil health and ecosystems. Many of our products are certified to GOTS or OCS, which keep track of the organic fibre through the supply chain. GOTS products are labeled separately — look for the GOTS label on the product and product page.

Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, but non-certified products can still be processed using conventional dyes and processes. GOTS-certified products are free from harmful chemicals: GOTS sets strict requirements for chemical inputs used during textile processing, including the prohibition of dyes classified as skin sensitizers (allergenic dyes). GOTS products are labeled separately — look for the GOTS label on the product and product page.

GOTS or OCS certified products keep track of organic fibers as they move through the supply chain, all the way to the finished product. We are certified by Control Union. License number: CU 1067589 GOTS certification: GOTS-20447 TE-ID: TE-00112196 Certifying body: Control Union Certification number: GOTS-20447 License number: CU 1067589

You can verify our GOTS certification here (https://global-standards.org/suppliers/certified-suppliers) and our OCS certification here (https://textileexchange.org/find-certified-company/).

You can find the exact fibre composition on every product page. Many of our products are certified by GOTS, GRS, RWS or OCS (certified by CU 1067589). Certified products are labeled separately. You can see the product certification on the product page.

Yes, we use recycled fibers. We list the exact product composition on every prodcut page. We use at least 50% GRS-certified recycled nylon in our Active, Bare, Mesh, Naked Rib, Smooth and Swim collections. Our Track collection is made with at least 50% GRS-certified recycled nylon or recycled polyester.

TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers are made from wood, a natural and renewable raw material carefully sourced from responsibly managed forests. The wood taken from nature is purposefully balanced with forest growth rates, to ensure the continued availability of this valuable resource. TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers are USDA Certified Biobased Products and contain 100% USDA Certified Biobased Content. For the production of TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers wood is used for its high cellulose content. Timber from thinning or damaged wood can be used, so Lenzing is not in competition with other industries for high-quality wood. We use TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers as they are naturally soft and smooth to the touch. TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers support a natural dry feeling through moisture control.

Cotton absorbs moisture into the fibre itself and releases it slowly, so it feels dry and airy at rest. Synthetics absorb almost nothing — they move sweat along the surface, which suits high-output sport. Effective moisture control ensures TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers support a natural dry feeling. For everyday wear we choose absorbent fibres like organic cotton and TENCEL™ Lyocell; for performance styles we use recycled synthetics. Exact composition is on every product page.

Usually not. The bamboo fibre used in textiles is almost never the natural fibre from the plant’s stem — it is cellulose from the bamboo plant regenerated through a viscose/rayon process, so the resulting fabric cannot be considered a natural (or organic) fibre, even if the plant itself was certified. That process distinction is why we lead with organic cotton, in addition to TENCEL™ Lyocell and other fibers.

Certified organic fibre costs more to grow, with lower yields and certification costs. Every step in the chain is audited, which costs money. What you get for it: verified fibre, restricted chemistry, and a product made to feel good.

GOTS products are labelled separately. Always look for the GOTS label on the product page or reach out to us if you're unsure! GOTS producs certified as 'organic' contain 95-100% organic cotton. GOTS products certified as 'made with organic' contain 70-94% organic cotton.

We are certified by Control Union. License number: CU 1067589. GOTS certification: GOTS-20447. TE-ID: TE-00112196. You can verify our GOTS certification at global-standards.org and our GRS, OCS and RWS certifications at textileexchange.org/find-certified-company/.

GOTS sets strict requirements for chemical inputs used during textile processing, including the prohibition of dyes classified as skin sensitizers (allergenic dyes).

GOTS sets requirements for chemical inputs used in certified textile processing, including restrictions and prohibitions relating to specified substances. GOTS chemical approval provides a defined framework for assessing chemical products against these applicable requirements.

GOTS prohibits, among others: AZO dyes that can release carcinogenic arylamines; formaldehyde; PFAS ("forever chemicals") as an input; genetically modified inputs; aromatic solvents; and functional nanoparticles. It also sets strict heavy-metal limits through its "Heavy Metal-Free" criteria. Every dye and auxiliary used on a certified product must be assessed and positively listed on the GOTS Positive List before it may be used at all. GOTS products are labelled separately.

GOTS sets requirements for the entire textile value chain. This allows traceability starting with the raw material and continuing through all processing stages; spinning, weaving and knitting, wet-processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling and trading until the final distribution of the product. For the end product to carry a GOTS label, every company that is part of the process must be certified.

As a textile processing standard, GOTS does not set its own criteria for organic farming but rather requires that the materials used must be of certified organic origin according to a recognised farming standard. Only textile products made frmo at least 70 percent (label grade "made with organic") or 95 percent (label grade "organic") certified organic raw materials can become certified to GOTS.

GOTS is a processing standard for products made with organic fibre: it sets requirements for chemical inputs and for the facilities in the chain, including environmental and social criteria such as wastewater and emissions management and workers’ rights. OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is a different scheme that tests finished fabrics against substance limit values. Many of our products are GOTS certified. GOTS products are labelled separately.

Traceability is a key value of our certification standards. When a product carries the GOTS label, it must include: the GOTS logo; the label grade — Organic (95–100% organic content) or Made with organic (70–94% organic content); a reference to our certifier (Control Union); and the certification number (GOTS-20447). The GRS logo verifies the recycled material content (min. 50%) of the full-product or component. The OCS logo verifies organic material content (OCS 100: 95–100%, or OCS Blended: min. 5%). The RWS logo verifies wool is sourced from farms meeting animal welfare and land management standards. The 1% for the Planet logo is a company commitment. We donate 1% of annual sales to environmental nonprofits. We are a proud B Corp™, meaning the company meets verified standards for social and environmental business practices.

Note: GOTS, GRS, OCS, and RWS are product-level certifications with certification numbers. 1% for the Planet and B Corp apply to the company as a whole.

Organic Basics is certified to the GRS, CU 1067589. The purchase of Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified products demonstrates demand for recycled content and best processing practices in the supply chain.

Products certified to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) contain recycled content that has been independently verified at each stage of the supply chain, from the recycler to the final product. In addition, facilities from the recycler to final supplier have met social, environmental, and chemical requirements.

GRS certified products are made with at least 50% recycled content. Our Active, Bare, Mesh, Naked Rib, Smooth and Swim collections are made with at least 50% GRS-certified recycled nylon. Our Track collection is made with at least 50% GRS-certified recycled nylon or recycled polyester. We list the exact product composition on every product page.

Microplastics come from synthetic fibres, not natural fibers. Products made with natural fibres can shed microfibers. Where products contain synthetics — like elastane for stretch or recycled nylon — we recommend washing with a GUPPYFRIEND washing bag to try avoid or reduce microfiber pollution. Our exact product composition is on every product page

At Organic Basics, the safety of our products & workers throughout our supply chain is a priority.

Within our quality assurance process, we distribute our chemical requirements including our Restricted Substance List (RSL) to all our supply chain partners. We then perform testing and audits to ensure safe practices and chemical use compliance. Our procedures meet or exceed local and international standards such as, but not limited to: AFIRM, CPSIA, CHCC, REACH, and CA Prop 65.

GOTS has strict chemical criteria aimed at protecting the health of workers, the environment and the end consumer. GOTS prohibits allergenic and carcinogenic chemicals, and those that don’t meet rigorous conditions, including flame retardants, PFAS and toxic dyes.

At Organic Basics, the safety of our products and of workers throughout our supply chain is a priority. Within our quality-assurance process we distribute our chemical requirements, including our Restricted Substance List (RSL), to all supply-chain partners, and we perform testing and audits to ensure safe practices and chemical-use compliance. Our procedures meet or exceed local and international regulations. In addition, GOTS prohibits per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) as inputs in certified processing.

GOTS products are labelled separately.

At Organic Basics, the safety of our products and of workers throughout our supply chain is a priority. Within our quality-assurance process we distribute our chemical requirements, including our Restricted Substance List (RSL), to all supply-chain partners, and we perform testing and audits to ensure safe practices and chemical-use compliance. GOTS additionally prohibits dyes classified as skin sensitizers (allergenic dyes) in certified processing.

GOTS products are labelled separately.

Every production batch passes durability testing as part of quality control: colour fastness (to washing, to chlorine and non-chlorine bleach), dimensional stability to washing, appearance after 3 washes, and seam stretchability. See “How should I wash my basics so they last” for care instructions.

You can find the exact recommendations on the inside of your garment and on the product page.

We recommend washing all your basics on a low temperature using a gentle detergent. Modern laundry detergents are designed to clean your garments at low temperatures, some even work as low as 20ºC. Just check your laundry detergent to know exactly what temperature it is designed to work at.

When washing your products made more than 50% recycled synthetic materials, we recommend using a GUPPYFRIEND bag to try avoid or reduce microfiber pollution.

Natural fibres move a little. Our garments are cut to accommodate normal wash behaviour at the recommended care (30°C, no tumble dry); machine-drying at high heat can shrink cotton beyond that. If an item shrinks under recommended care, that’s not normal — contact us. [pending Production/QC check]

We recommend washing new garments before first wear, as is good practice for anything worn against skin. Please note our return policy: items can only be returned unwashed and unworn — so make sure the fit is right before that first wash.

The outer packaging which has all your shipping information can be recycled with cardboard. The small glassine bags inside the package which contain your clothing can be recycled with paper by peeling or cutting off the stickers. Both packaging bags are made from FSC-certified paper and do not contain plastic.