To check an OEKO-TEX label, type the certificate or label number exactly as printed into the free Label Check at oeko-tex.com and press check. The result shows whether the certificate is valid, expired or withdrawn. Then match the certificate holder, issuing institute, product class and article description to the product in your hand.
You're scrolling a product page, or turning a box over in a store, and there it is: the OEKO-TEX logo. You feel a little calmer. Fair enough. But the logo isn't the certificate. The number printed with it is, and you can check that number yourself in under five minutes.
Here's why that matters to me. Years before chemo, I bought a cheap, standard-size "silk" pillowcase. During chemo I used it on a tiny half-size pillow, folding the extra half under, or leaving it hanging when I was too sick to fold it. I carried it to chemo treatments and ER visits. It's worn thin and coming apart now, and I still have it. I looked at better silk pillowcases then, and I didn't buy one, because I couldn't be sure of the quality.
I also live with MCAS, and I need to know exactly what touches my skin. "I couldn't verify the quality of any of the silk that was out there. And because of my health conditions, I have to be sure. So I built what I needed." A certificate number changed things for me: it let me check what a fabric had been tested against. When you live with MCAS, a number like that isn't paperwork. It's the first thing that lets you relax. And it's the part anyone can verify. Here's exactly how.
What does a real OEKO-TEX label show?
A STANDARD 100 label should carry a certificate or label number and the name of the testing institute that issued it. OEKO-TEX's STANDARD 100 FAQ says a label is only valid when it shows a test number that was actually issued, together with the responsible institute. Labels may also carry a QR code or unique product ID that you can scan or type into the Label Check.
If a product shows the logo with no number, there's nothing to look up. That isn't proof of anything.
How do I use the OEKO-TEX Label Check?
The Label Check is free and lives on the official site at oeko-tex.com/en/label-check. It asks for one thing: the "Certificate / label number."
- Find the number. Look on the label, hang tag, packaging or product page. Note the number and the institute name printed beside it.
- Open the Label Check at oeko-tex.com/en/label-check.
- Type the number exactly. OEKO-TEX notes that its label numbers are case sensitive, so copy capital letters and dots as printed.
- Press check.
- Read the status. Hohenstein, one of the OEKO-TEX institutes, explains that the result shows whether a certificate is valid, expired or withdrawn.
- Match the details. Compare the certificate holder, the issuing institute, the product class and the article description with what you're buying.
- If nothing comes up, check your typing first. OEKO-TEX asks you to contact it when a number returns no result, and it keeps a public page of withdrawn certificates and labels.
How do you verify an OEKO-TEX certificate result?
When a certificate checks out, these are the details to read, based on Hohenstein's guide to reading OEKO-TEX certificates:
| Field | What it tells you | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate or label number | The ID you searched | An exact match to the number on the product |
| Status | Valid, expired or withdrawn | Valid today, not last year |
| Certificate holder | The company the certificate was issued to | The brand, or a supplier the brand can connect to its product |
| Issuing institute | The OEKO-TEX institute that issued it | The same institute printed on the label |
| Product class | Which set of limit values the article was tested against | Class I is the strictest |
| Article description | What products the certificate covers | The finished product type you're buying |
STANDARD 100 certificates are valid for one year, according to OEKO-TEX's factsheet, and are then renewed. A certificate that was real last year can be expired today, which is why the status line matters more than an old screenshot.
What does OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Product Class I mean?
OEKO-TEX sorts certified articles into four product classes. The lower the number, the stricter the limits.
| Product class | What it covers | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Articles for babies and toddlers up to three years of age | Strictest |
| Class II | Articles worn or used with direct skin contact | Strict |
| Class III | Articles with little or no skin contact | Less strict |
| Class IV | Decoration materials | Least strict |
OEKO-TEX's own site gives bed linens as an example of Class II. So a pillowcase certified in Class I has been tested against the stricter limits set for baby articles, even though it isn't made for babies.
What does STANDARD 100 actually test?
OEKO-TEX describes STANDARD 100 as "a label for textiles tested for harmful substances." Its site says every thread, button and accessory is tested against a list of over 1,000 harmful substances, and that the limits are reviewed at least once a year. All components of a certified article must comply.
Here's what it doesn't mean:
- It isn't organic. STANDARD 100 tests the finished article and its components for harmful substances. It says nothing about whether the fiber was grown organically. That's what GOTS covers. See GOTS vs OEKO-TEX, and to check a GOTS claim the same way, read how to verify a GOTS certificate.
- It isn't about where the fiber came from or how the factory treats its workers.
- It isn't a medical claim. A certified fabric has passed harmful-substance testing. It isn't a treatment for anything.
For what can be sitting in an untested pillowcase, read chemicals in your pillowcase.
What is the difference between STANDARD 100 and MADE IN GREEN?
STANDARD 100 is about the product: was it tested for harmful substances?
MADE IN GREEN goes further. OEKO-TEX says the product must already be certified to STANDARD 100 (or to its ORGANIC COTTON or LEATHER STANDARD), and all making-up facilities must be certified to OEKO-TEX STeP. OEKO-TEX describes MADE IN GREEN items as produced more sustainably in socially responsible workplaces. MADE IN GREEN labels carry a unique product ID or QR code that you can enter in the Label Check to see the facilities and countries involved.
So a MADE IN GREEN label includes STANDARD 100 testing, but a STANDARD 100 label doesn't mean MADE IN GREEN.
How do you spot a fake OEKO-TEX label?
- A logo with no number. OEKO-TEX says a valid label shows an issued number and the institute.
- An expired or withdrawn certificate. The Label Check status will tell you.
- A scope covering a different article. A certificate for a fabric, a thread or a different product type doesn't cover the finished piece in your hand. OEKO-TEX's FAQ says a finished article needs its own certificate even when its components are already certified.
- "Made with OEKO-TEX approved fabric." This wording can mean one component was certified, not the finished product. Look for a certificate whose article description names the finished product.
- A holder you can't connect. If the certificate belongs to another company, the brand should be able to tell you how its product is linked to it.
OEKO-TEX calls the STANDARD 100 label a protected trademark and says forgery and misuse will be prosecuted. That protection only works when shoppers check.
Screenshot this for your next purchase: number, status, holder, institute, class, scope. Six things, one search box. A logo with no number is a picture. The number is the proof.
Can you check Wink Silk's OEKO-TEX certificates?
Yes. Wink Silk doesn't hold its own OEKO-TEX certificate yet. Wink Silk is pursuing its own GOTS Trader and OEKO-TEX certifications. Today, every Wink piece is crafted by a GOTS & OEKO-TEX certified silk house, which holds two OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certificates issued by Hohenstein:
- 22.HCN.30712: silk pillowcases, Product Class I. This covers Douceur™ and Douceur Doublure™, both made to our Performance Luxury Silk™ standard: 25 momme, Grade 6A, 100% mulberry silk.
- 19.HCN.84688: eye masks and scrunchies, Product Class I. This covers Voile™ and Soie™.
Check them yourself:
- Enter 22.HCN.30712 in the Label Check, exactly as written.
- Look for a valid status, Hohenstein as the institute, Product Class I and an article description for silk pillowcases.
- Repeat with 19.HCN.84688 and look for eye masks and scrunchies.
- The certificate holder named on both certificates is our silk house. We don't name them here, but you'll see the holder when you check.
That's the whole point. Next time you see the logo, you won't have to feel calmer. You'll know, because you typed the number yourself.
If you have sensitive or reactive skin, a certificate helps you know what has been tested. It doesn't replace advice about your own skin, so talk with your dermatologist or care team about what's right for you. More in silk pillowcases for sensitive skin and our non-toxic bedding guide.
When you're ready, Wink Privé opens November 2, three days before everyone else, and the public launch is November 5, 2026. The Douceur Doublure™ is 330 hand-numbered founding pieces and will never be restocked. Returns are free for 30 days, US shipping is free, and you can cancel for a full refund any time before your order ships. Ship date confirmed by email after purchase. Join Wink Privé.
Wink. The brand that shows you the certificates.
Sleep beautifully.
Sources
- OEKO-TEX: Label Check
- OEKO-TEX: STANDARD 100
- OEKO-TEX: MADE IN GREEN
- OEKO-TEX: What OEKO-TEX labels mean and why they matter
- OEKO-TEX: STANDARD 100 FAQ (PDF)
- OEKO-TEX: STANDARD 100 Factsheet (PDF)
- Hohenstein: How to Read OEKO-TEX Certificates and Check Their Validity (PDF)
Two layers of 25 momme charmeuse. 330 numbered pieces, never restocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify an OEKO-TEX certificate?
Go to the Label Check at oeko-tex.com, type the certificate or label number exactly as printed (it's case sensitive) and press check. The result shows whether it's valid, expired or withdrawn. Then confirm the holder, issuing institute, product class and article description match the product you're buying.
What is OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 Product Class I?
Product Class I is the strictest of the four STANDARD 100 classes. It covers textiles and materials for babies and toddlers up to three years of age and has the tightest limit values. A product certified in Class I has been tested against those limits, even if it isn't made for babies.
How long is an OEKO-TEX certificate valid?
A STANDARD 100 certificate is valid for one year, according to OEKO-TEX, and must be renewed. That's why you should check the current status in the Label Check rather than trusting an old screenshot or PDF. A certificate that was valid last year may be expired or withdrawn today.
Does OEKO-TEX mean organic?
No. STANDARD 100 tests a finished article and all its components for harmful substances. It doesn't certify that fiber was grown organically or say anything about fiber origin. Organic fiber and processing are covered by a different standard, GOTS. Many shoppers look for both.
Is Wink Silk OEKO-TEX certified?
Not yet as a company. Wink pieces are crafted by a GOTS & OEKO-TEX certified silk house holding STANDARD 100 certificates 22.HCN.30712 for pillowcases and 19.HCN.84688 for eye masks and scrunchies, both Product Class I, issued by Hohenstein. Wink Silk is pursuing its own GOTS Trader and OEKO-TEX certifications.
