Fruit of the Loom, Inc. OEKO-TEX® Q&A with Jorge Mejia

At Fruit of the Loom, Inc, we are committed to making products using less water, waste and energy — so you can rest easy about the safety of the chemicals and dyes used in our processes.

What’s good for you is also good for the earth, which is why we work with OEKO-TEX® — a prestigious and recognizable certification for the textile industry that tests the safety of our garments from yarn to the finished product — to certify 100% of the apparel we produce at our owned facilities.

Labels like this help provide consumers with a reliable way to shop for safer textiles, says Jorge Mejia, Senior Director of Process Engineering. And safer chemistry from the start ensures our products are free of substances harmful to humans and the environment. Jorge shared more about OEKO-TEX: what it means, what to look for and why it matters.

1. If people could know only one thing about OEKO-TEX®, what would you want them to know?

   It is a guarantee that our products are made only with the best raw materials and manufacturing processes, which are certified in all the supply chain to be free of harmful substances.

2. What excites you about Fruit of the Loom, Inc.’s products being 100% certified?

   I’m proud to work for a Company that is socially responsible for our people, communities and customers.

3. Where did the idea of certifying all products originate? Was this something consumers were asking for or something retail customers were asking for?

   A combination of factors informed our pursuit of OEKO-TEX® certification. First, our senior leadership is committed to offering the best products that are responsibly made. Second, our consumers and retail customers are demanding products that comply with manufacturing processes that are free of harmful substances. We are adapting to those needs.

4. What does it take to certify products with OEKO-TEX®?

   It was a team effort from all different areas within our company. From our raw materials to the finished product, we had to work across our supply chain to make sure that every stakeholder, whether internal or external, was committed to complying with all the certification process requirements. This included working only with suppliers that are OEKO-TEX® certified, as well as sending several of our finished products for testing to a third-party lab, certified by OEKO-TEX®.

5. Why do you think it is important for Fruit of the Loom, Inc. (and other brands in the textile and apparel space) to pursue OEKO-TEX® certification?

   This certification sends a signal of our commitment to offer the best products without any collateral damage to the environment.

6. What does “100% OEKO-TEX®” certified mean to you and your team?

   This certification means that we are working only with the best suppliers and team members in the market, which are aligned with our same principles of offering the best quality products to our customers and consumers. Special thanks to all our global manufacturing team for their support in providing all the documentation and samples needed to get certified, as well as the rest of the teams in our Corporate Headquarters that are working diligently to show to our customers that our products are OEKO-TEX® certified.

Certifying products to OEKO-TEX® is one of many ways we’re creating a more fruitful future for our employees and their families and our consumers. Together, we are using the power of our values to run our business in ways that protect both the planet and the people around it — through the products we make and the lives we enrich, today and tomorrow.