What Is OEKO-TEX Certification and Why Does It Matter for Your Underwear?

You've probably seen the OEKO-TEX® label on clothing and wondered what it actually means. When it comes to underwear, it's one of the most important certifications you should be looking for and here's why.

What is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100?

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is one of the world's most trusted and widely recognised textile certifications. It means that every component of a finished fabric - every thread, every dye, every processing chemical has been independently tested against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances and found to be safe for skin contact.

It's not a brand claim. It's not self-certified. It's tested annually by independent, accredited laboratories and must be renewed every 12 months. If a brand carries the OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 label, they have the evidence to back it up.

The substances tested for include:

• Formaldehyde
• PFAS (forever chemicals)
• Heavy metals including lead, cadmium and mercury
• Pesticide residues
• Allergenic dyes and colour fastness
  
• AZO colourants
• pH value outside safe ranges
• Harmful flame retardants

Why does this matter so much for underwear?

Here's what most people don't know: the skin in your vulval area is among the thinnest and most permeable skin on your entire body. This means it absorbs substances from the fabrics in contact with it far more readily than skin elsewhere.

The warm, moist environment naturally created in this area also accelerates the release of chemicals from fabrics - meaning that whatever is in your underwear is being released directly against your most sensitive, most absorbent skin, all day, every day.

Many gynocologists and naturopaths specifically recommend OEKO-TEX certified underwear for patients experiencing unexplained vulval irritation, sensitivity, recurring infections, or skin conditions in intimate areas. In many cases, simply switching to certified, chemical-free underwear has resolved issues that had no other apparent cause.

When you think about it that way, OEKO-TEX certification isn't a nice-to-have for underwear. It's essential.

What is Tanboocel® bamboo and why does it matter?

Not all bamboo fabric is produced equally. This is a point worth emphasising, because bamboo has become a popular marketing term and not every brand using it delivers the same quality or safety.

Jaymes uses Tanboocel®  a premium, patented bamboo fibre produced by Sichuan Yibin Grace Group, one of the world's leading bamboo fibre manufacturers. Here's what makes Tanboocel® different:

It's made through a closed-loop lyocell process

Tanboocel® is produced using a patented closed-loop production process where over 99% of all solvents used in processing are recovered and reused. This means virtually no chemical waste is released into the environment, and crucially, no harmful solvent residues remain in the finished fibre.

It's organically grown and supply-chain certified

The bamboo used for Tanboocel® is organically grown and carries Organic Crops Improvement Assosociation International ( OCIAI )certification, which provides full supply-chain traceability from the bamboo field through to the finished fibre. 

It's FSC® certified

Tanboocel® bamboo is sourced from FSC® certified forests meaning the bamboo is harvested according to strict environmental and social standards that protect ecosystems, biodiversity, and local communities.

It retains bamboo's natural properties

Because of how it's processed, Tanboocel® retains bamboo's natural antibacterial, moisture-wicking, and breathability properties that traditional bamboo viscose processing strips away. The fibre structure is denser than standard bamboo viscose, enhancing antibacterial performance, softness, and durability over time.

How Jaymes uses both to protect your body

Every pair of Jaymes underwear is made from Tanboocel® bamboo fibre and certified to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100. This means:

• No harmful substances used in the processing or dyeing of the fabric
• No pesticide residues, heavy metals, formaldehyde or PFAS
• No allergenic dyes that could irritate sensitive skin
  
• Independent annual testing - not a self-made claim

When underwear sits against the thinnest, most absorbent skin on your body all day, what it's made of and how it's made matters enormously. Jaymes was built on that belief from day one.

How to check if your underwear is OEKO-TEX certified

Every OEKO-TEX certified product carries a unique licence number that can be verified on the OEKO-TEX website at oeko-tex.com. If a brand claims OEKO-TEX certification but can't provide a licence number, the claim is unverified.
Each one of our pieces from our underwear to our clothing has a tag with a QR code of our unique OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 CERTIFICATION.
View our OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification HERE

When shopping for bamboo underwear, always ask: is this OEKO-TEX certified? What bamboo fibre does it use? How is it processed? The answers tell you everything you need to know about whether a brand is genuinely committed to your health or just using bamboo as a buzzword. You can also read more about the difference in bamboo processing here 

Your body deserves better than guesswork

At Jaymes, we believe you shouldn't have to guess what's in your underwear. Our Tanboocel® bamboo, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification, and OICIA organic growing certification exist so you can wear our underwear with complete confidence knowing that everything touching your most sensitive skin has been tested, verified, and proven safe.

Shop Jaymes organic bamboo underwear →