GOTS, Fair Trade, SA8000, BSCI, Sedex, Higg. What each certification actually audits, how they're different, and which one your factory needs.
The certification landscape is the part of ethical manufacturing buyers most often Google at 11pm the night before a sourcing call. Every acronym sounds similar; most aren't. This pillar explains what each audit actually measures so you can ask sharper questions.
Most apparel-adjacent certifications fall into three buckets: social compliance (how workers are treated), environmental compliance (what the factory does to air, water, land), and material chain-of-custody (can the fiber be traced from farm to finished garment).
Ask to see the audit report and its expiry date. A valid, recent audit report (12 months or less) from any credible body is a stronger signal than a dozen logos on the footer of a factory's website.
Brand compliance leads, sourcing managers, and founders who need to put a certification logo on their hang-tag and want to know what they're claiming.
In this pillar
What GOTS actually audits, how the "organic" and "made with organic" grades differ, what it costs to get certified, and how to use the label on product.
Every apparel factory says it's audited. The frameworks differ more than the marketing suggests — here's what each one measures and which fits your brand.
Ready when you are
We work with emerging and established apparel brands on ethical, women-led production in India. If you have a tech pack or even just a concept, we can walk you through what's possible.