How to Tell If Clothing Is Sustainable: 8 Practical Checks

Table of Contents

• The Quick Answer
• Eight Checks for Sustainable Clothing
• Understand What Certifications Cover
  • Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
  • OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
  • WRAP certification
  • Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
  • Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)
• Verify a Claim Before You Rely on It
• Look at Materials in Context
• Check Durability, Care and Repairability
• How to Spot Greenwashing in Fashion
• How This Applies to Cotes of London
• Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: September 12, 2026

The Quick Answer

To tell if clothing is sustainable, look for specific, verifiable information rather than a single green word or logo. Check the full fibre composition, what each certification actually covers, where the garment was made, whether the environmental claim is supported by evidence, and whether the product is designed to be worn and cared for over time.

No material or certification makes an entire garment automatically sustainable. A label might verify one part of the story—such as harmful-substance testing, animal welfare, organic content or factory working conditions—without assessing every environmental and social impact. The most useful question is not simply “Is this sustainable?” but “Which part of this product has been verified, by whom, and against what standard?”

The UK Competition and Markets Authority advises fashion businesses to make environmental claims clear, specific and supported by current evidence. That same approach gives shoppers a practical way to assess what they see on product pages and labels. Read the CMA guidance for fashion claims.

Eight Checks for Sustainable Clothing

1. Look for a precise claim. “Contains 100% recycled polyester” is more useful than “eco-conscious”.
2. Check what the claim applies to. It may cover the outer fabric, lining, insulation, factory or packaging—not necessarily the whole garment.
3. Read the complete composition. Percentages help you understand blends and prevent one highlighted material from overshadowing the rest.
4. Identify the exact certification. Different standards verify different issues; they are not interchangeable.
5. Look for a certificate or licence number. Where a standard provides a public label checker or directory, use it.
6. Check manufacturing information. Country of manufacture, facility certification and supply-chain information add useful context.
7. Assess expected use. Construction, versatility, care requirements and repair options affect how long a garment can remain useful.
8. Be cautious with comparisons. Claims such as “lower impact” should explain what is being compared, which impact is measured and what evidence supports the result.

Understand What Certifications Cover

Third-party standards can provide valuable evidence, but only within their defined scope. Seeing a recognised name is the beginning of the check, not the end.

Responsible Down Standard (RDS)

The Responsible Down Standard, managed by Textile Exchange, addresses the welfare of ducks and geese and provides chain-of-custody requirements for certified down and feathers. It prohibits live-plucking and force-feeding. RDS does not certify a jacket’s warmth, fill power, longevity or overall environmental footprint, and it is not designed to reveal every farm to the consumer.

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 verifies that a tested textile article and its components meet limits for harmful substances. It is principally a product-safety label. It should not be described as proof that a factory meets standards for water consumption, wastewater, labour conditions or the garment’s total environmental impact. Other OEKO-TEX programmes, such as MADE IN GREEN and STeP, have different scopes.

WRAP certification

WRAP is a facility-based certification programme for sewn-product manufacturing. Its 12 Principles cover areas including forced and child labour, harassment, discrimination, compensation and benefits, working hours, health and safety, freedom of association, environment, customs compliance and security. Compensation and working-hours requirements are tied to applicable law, so “WRAP-certified” should not be casually translated into an unsupported promise of a particular wage level.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

GOTS covers certified organic fibre content and requirements across textile processing and manufacturing. A business or factory appearing in a directory does not mean every product it makes is GOTS-certified. Look for correct product labelling, the label grade and certification details. Review the official GOTS labelling guidance.

Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)

For wool, the Responsible Wool Standard addresses animal welfare, land-management requirements and chain of custody. It is distinct from RDS, which applies to down and feathers. Always match the certification to the material and claim being assessed.

Verify a Claim Before You Rely on It

Start with the product page or sewn-in label. Note the full name of the standard, which component it applies to and any certificate, label or licence number. Then use the standard owner’s official checker or certified-company directory when one is available.

Remember that certification can apply at different levels. A facility may be certified to perform certain processes, while a particular finished product may require separate documentation or approved labelling. A brand-level statement should therefore not automatically be applied to every item in a collection.

Supply-chain disclosure is also useful, but avoid treating one missing detail as proof of wrongdoing. Look for the country of manufacture, named production standards, material percentages and a clear explanation of scope. If information is unclear, ask the brand which product component is certified and whether it can provide the relevant current documentation.

RDS is a good example of this distinction: its chain-of-custody system verifies the movement of certified material through the supply chain, but Textile Exchange states that the standard is not intended to give consumers the identity of every source farm. Verified custody and full public transparency are related ideas, but they are not the same.

Look at Materials in Context

There is no universally sustainable fibre. Impacts vary with farming or extraction, processing, dyeing, transport, garment construction, use, washing and end of life. Broad claims that all natural fibres are better than all synthetics—or the reverse—ignore those differences.

Performance claims also need context. Down can offer excellent warmth for its weight and compressibility, but actual jacket warmth depends on fill power, fill weight, construction, coverage and fit. Certification status does not change those physical measurements.

Recycled content can reduce demand for virgin raw material and divert existing material into another use, but it does not make durability irrelevant. Examine stitching, fabric, fastenings and the likely frequency of wear alongside the fibre claim.

Check Durability, Care and Repairability

Keeping clothing in use can reduce the need for replacement, but lifespan cannot be predicted accurately from the fibre name alone. Look for practical indicators:

• Seams and stress points suited to the garment’s intended use.
• Reliable zips, snaps and fastenings.
• Clear care instructions that you can realistically follow.
• A design you expect to wear repeatedly and across more than one setting.
• Repair information, replacement parts or access to a suitable repair specialist.
• A warranty or customer-service route that is easy to find.

For down outerwear, follow the garment’s care label rather than generic washing advice. Keeping the insulation clean, fully dry and stored without prolonged compression can help preserve loft. See our guide to maintaining down jacket loft.

How to Spot Greenwashing in Fashion

Greenwashing is an environmental claim that creates a misleading overall impression. The warning signs are usually found in the gap between the strength of the language and the strength of the evidence.

• Vague terms: “green”, “planet-friendly”, “conscious” or “sustainable” without a clear explanation.
• Unclear scope: a claim about one component presented as if it covers the whole garment.
• Missing percentages: recycled or organic material highlighted without stating how much is present.
• Certification confusion: a standard credited with benefits outside its actual remit.
• Unverifiable logos: no scheme name, certificate number or route to further information.
• Unsupported comparisons: “better for the planet” or “lower impact” without a stated baseline and method.
• Nature-led presentation: leaves, earth tones and pastoral imagery used in place of evidence.

A polished sustainability page is not proof by itself. Equally, a smaller brand may have credible practices without publishing a complex impact report. Give the greatest weight to specific product information and evidence that can be checked.

How This Applies to Cotes of London

Cotes of London states that its outerwear uses responsible materials, including RDS-certified down, OEKO-TEX®-certified fabric and WRAP-certified production. Each of those statements should be understood according to the certification’s actual scope and confirmed for the individual product being considered.

The Abby reversible bomber, for example, is described as using recycled materials in its outer fabric and padding. That is a specific material claim rather than proof of every aspect of the garment’s lifecycle. Product composition, construction, intended use and care still belong in the buying decision.

For travel wardrobes, versatility can be especially valuable: a lightweight layer that works across journeys, seasons and everyday settings may earn more wear than a single-purpose purchase. Explore what to look for in packable travel outerwear.