Garment Quality Standards for EU & UK Export: What Manufacturers Must Meet
For fashion brands sourcing garments from India for sale in the UK or EU, understanding the regulatory and quality requirements that apply to imported textiles is essential. Getting this wrong — even unintentionally — can result in customs delays, product recalls, or reputational damage. This article explains the key standards that apply and how Bassi Clothing approaches compliance.
EU Textile Labelling Regulations
All garments sold in the EU must comply with EU Regulation 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and labelling. Labels must accurately state the fibre composition by percentage, in the language of the country of sale. Your manufacturer needs to supply accurate fibre composition data for each product. At Bassi Clothing, we provide full fibre composition documentation with every order.
UK Textile Regulations Post-Brexit
Following Brexit, the UK has its own textile labelling regulations that largely mirror the EU framework but apply separately. Garments sold in the UK must carry labels in English stating fibre content.
REACH Regulations
The EU's REACH regulation restricts the use of certain chemical substances in textiles — specific azo dyes, formaldehyde content, heavy metals, and other substances that may be harmful. For EU brands, REACH compliance is non-negotiable. At Bassi Clothing, we work with chemical suppliers who provide REACH compliance confirmation for all substances used in our production.
OEKO-TEX Certification
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifies that every component of a garment has been tested for harmful substances and found to meet safety standards. An increasing number of European brands require OEKO-TEX certified materials. Bassi Clothing can work with OEKO-TEX certified yarn suppliers when this is a buyer requirement.
Physical Quality Standards
Beyond regulatory compliance, UK brands and EU buyers typically apply internal quality standards including:
- Colour fastness to washing (ISO 105-C06)
- Colour fastness to rubbing (ISO 105-X12)
- Dimensional stability (ISO 5077)
- Pilling resistance (ISO 12945)
- Seam strength
- Label attachment strength
At Bassi Clothing, our in-house quality process includes inspection at multiple production stages — fabric receipt, cut panel inspection, inline production checks, and final audit of finished garments. We provide AQL inspection reports for every bulk order.
What to Ask Your Manufacturer
When evaluating any manufacturer for EU or UK supply, ask for:
- REACH compliance confirmation
- Fibre composition documentation
- QC process documentation
- Any third-party audit reports
- Their process for managing non-conforming goods
At Bassi Clothing, we are accustomed to these requirements from our work with FCUK, Nautica, US Polo Assn, and other international brands. View our products or contact us at contact@bassiclothing.in.