Why country of manufacture matters

The country where your clothing is manufactured can tell you a lot about the chemical regulations it was subject to during production. There is no global standard for textile chemical safety, and regulations vary enormously between countries.

The European Union has the strictest chemical regulations through REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals), which restricts over 200 chemical substances in textiles. Japan has similarly strict standards, particularly for formaldehyde.

The United States has relatively few federal restrictions on chemicals in clothing. The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates lead and certain flame retardants in children's products, but there are no comprehensive limits on textile chemicals for adult clothing.

Countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia — which produce a large share of global clothing — have varying levels of chemical regulation and enforcement. This doesn't mean all products from these countries are unsafe, but it does mean third-party certification becomes more important.

When evaluating a garment's safety profile, consider: the country of manufacture, whether the brand publishes a restricted substances list (RSL), and whether the product carries independent certifications like OEKO-TEX or GOTS.