Every denim brand selling in the EU is covered by REACH, the EU chemicals regulation. But REACH is not a certificate you hang on the wall. It is a set of obligations that flow down the supply chain, and most of them end at the factory. Here are the questions that actually matter for denim, in plain language.
What REACH controls in a pair of jeans
REACH restricts or bans specific chemical substances in consumer products. For denim, the practical list includes:
- Azo dyes — certain azo colorants that can release restricted aromatic amines are banned in textiles that touch skin. This is the classic denim test.
- Formaldehyde — limited in skin-contact garments. Finishing agents and some wash recipes can be sources.
- Phthalates — restricted in plasticized parts, relevant for coated fabrics and certain trims.
- Heavy metals — limits apply to lead, cadmium and others in materials and trims.
The regulation is updated regularly, and the list of restricted substances grows. Compliance is not a one-time event; it is a per-order discipline.
The questions to ask your factory
Instead of asking “are you REACH compliant” — which every factory will answer yes to — ask these:
- Can you provide third-party test reports for azo dyes and formaldehyde for the fabric you propose?
- Where do your zippers and buttons come from, and do the trim suppliers test for heavy metals and phthalates?
- Do you keep batch records that link a specific production run to the fabric lot used?
- Who is responsible in your factory for updating the restricted substance list when REACH changes?
Question four separates serious suppliers from the rest. Most factories cannot answer it. The ones that can are the ones who will not surprise you later.
Testing without a budget for testing
Full third-party testing of every order is expensive. Most brands test per fabric quality per season, not per order, and rely on the factory’s batch discipline in between. That works when the factory’s dyeing and washing chemistry does not change without notice — which is exactly why question three matters. A factory that records fabric lots and wash recipes can tell you precisely what was used on your order six months later.
Our position
Our products are exported to EU customers, and we manage restricted substances at the fabric and trim sourcing stage. We can provide third-party test reports for the qualities you order, and we keep per-order batch records. If your brand has its own restricted substance list, send it with the tech pack — we will check the fabric and trims against your list before we cut.