100 percent data validity

Since more than 25 years, Oeko-Tex is a leading certifier for the development and production of sustainable and safe textiles and leather products. Oeko-Tex has now entered a partnership with Foursource, the largest digital market network for the apparel industry.

The company from Berlin, Germany, is the first worldwide that now can verify Oeko-Tex certificates through a direct interface, thus ensuring 100 percent data validity. As sustainability and transparency have become key drivers for the apparel industry way forward, the partnership offers completely new ways for brands and buyers to find certified factories and to manage compliance in a save and efficient way.

Increasing sustainability demands

In times of increasing sustainability demands, faster fashion cycles and digitalization of the industry, the lack of transparency in the global apparel industry is a huge barrier in creating more sustainable supply chains.

Oeko-Tex has always been standing for consumer protection and sustainability along the textile and leather value chain by providing standardized solutions from product label standards to chemical certification.

Georg Dieners, Secretary General of Oeko-Tex:

“Foursource not only provides a guide for buyers, but also gives manufacturers the opportunity to find out what buyers are interested in. For example, buyers can immediately see which Oeko-Tex certificates a manufacturer has and can select according to their preferences. Of course, this also helps us to place our certificates more prominently when reaching out to the buyers.” Oeko-Tex and Foursource will jointly contribute to higher transparency standards and easier compliance management practices in the apparel industry.

Godecke Wessel, CEO and Founder of Foursource:

“The partnership is a revolution to our industry and will open radically new ways for brands to find right supply partners and to manage compliance standards in a truly digital way.” Foursource was founded by experienced technology innovators and industry experts. The management team contributes know-how from various fashion and e-commerce companies. Their aim is to make apparel sourcing less costly, safer and to provide solutions that enable all market players to substantially speed-up their cycle time.

How does it work?

Manufacturers create a detailed company profile describing own production capabilities, services, machinery and minimum order quantities - and available certificates. Thanks to the collaboration, Oeko-Tex certificates will always be verified and with most accurate information.

Professional apparel buyers use Foursource free of charge and will have access to a database of more than 30.000 companies from 95 countries. A matching logic supports buyers to identify best fitting companies while additional filters allow to fine tune a search by e.g. product categories, countries, order quantities or certification standards. To facilitate the direct connection and collaboration between buyers and manufacturers, several tools were created which allow both sides to manage professional sourcing processes or customer networks and knowledge.