A More Considered Approach to Performance

At KEAN, we believe what sits against your skin matters.

We're a New Zealand owned activewear brand creating more considered clothing for movement, recovery and everyday life. Part of that means looking beyond how a fabric feels and performs and asking more questions about how it has been made and tested.

That's why we choose OEKO-TEX® certified fabrics for our certified performance activewear.

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is one of the world's best-known textile certifications for testing textiles for substances that may be harmful to human health.

For KEAN, it's an important part of our approach to creating low-tox activewear without compromising the stretch, support and performance we need from technical clothing.

Shop our Edge Collection →

What Is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100?

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 is an independent certification system for textiles that have been tested against a comprehensive set of substances that may be harmful to human health.

The testing considers both regulated and non-regulated substances and the requirements are regularly reviewed as scientific knowledge and regulatory requirements evolve.

Importantly, OEKO-TEX® testing isn't limited to the main fabric.

Depending on the certified product, components such as threads, prints, labels and other textile components can form part of the certification requirements.

The closer a textile product is intended to come into contact with the skin, the more stringent the requirements become.

That's particularly relevant to activewear, which is often worn fitted and directly against the skin for extended periods.

Why Does OEKO-TEX® Matter for Activewear?

Activewear is different from many other pieces in your wardrobe.

It's often:

• fitted closely against your skin

• worn while your body heats up and sweats

• highly elastic

• dyed in a wide range of colours

• worn repeatedly for movement and exercise

We wanted to be more considered about the fabrics we choose for these garments.

OEKO-TEX® certification gives us an independent textile standard to look for when sourcing technical performance fabrics rather than relying solely on supplier claims.

It doesn't mean a fabric is organic or completely free from chemicals.

It means the certified textile has been tested according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 requirements for a wide range of substances that may be harmful to human health.

We think that distinction matters.

Our Approach to Low-Tox Activewear

You'll see us talk about low-tox activewear at KEAN.

Low-tox isn't an official textile certification, and we don't use it to suggest that clothing can be completely "chemical-free".

Textile production is complex, and chemistry is involved at many stages, from creating fibres to dyeing and finishing fabrics.

For us, low-tox is about taking a more considered approach.

That means seeking recognised certifications where possible, understanding more about the materials we use, increasing our use of natural fibres where functionality allows and being transparent about what's inside each garment.

OEKO-TEX® certified performance fabrics are one part of that approach.

Why Does KEAN Still Use Nylon and Elastane?

Because performance matters too.

Technical activewear needs to do things that 100% cotton isn't always capable of doing.

Leggings need to stretch significantly and return to shape.

Sports bras need to provide support.

Training shorts need to move repeatedly with the body.

Performance garments may need compression, four-way stretch, shape retention and durability.

Fibres such as nylon and elastane help provide these properties.

Rather than pretending natural fibres can currently replace technical fibres in every situation, we prefer to choose the material according to the purpose of the garment.

For our higher-performance activewear, that means using technical fabrics while seeking recognised certifications such as OEKO-TEX®.

For lower-intensity movement and recovery, we can take our use of natural fibres much further.

Performance, Core & Recovery

Our fabric philosophy is built around a simple idea:

The right material for the right purpose.

KEAN Performance

Our performance collections use OEKO-TEX® certified technical fabrics where higher levels of stretch, support, compression and shape retention are required.

These fabrics are designed for strength training, gym sessions and higher-intensity movement.

Shop our Edge Collection →

KEAN Core

Our upcoming Core Collection takes us significantly further towards natural fibres.

Made with 95% GOTS-certified organic cotton and 5% spandex, Core uses a small amount of stretch fibre to create predominantly natural-fibre activewear suitable for low-to-moderate intensity movement.

Think Pilates, walking, barre, mobility, stretching and everyday movement.

KEAN Recovery

When technical stretch isn't required, we can simplify even further.

KEAN Recovery is made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, designed for recovery, lounging, travel and everyday life.

Together, the three collections allow us to reduce our reliance on synthetic fibres where the function of the garment allows, while retaining technical performance where it's genuinely needed.

Learn more about KEAN fabrics and certifications →

OEKO-TEX® vs GOTS: What's the Difference?

You'll find both OEKO-TEX® and GOTS referenced across KEAN, but they aren't the same thing.

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 focuses on testing textiles for a wide range of substances that may be harmful to human health.

GOTS, or the Global Organic Textile Standard, is a textile processing standard for organic fibres that includes environmental, chemical and social criteria throughout certified stages of production.

This is why we use the certifications in different parts of KEAN.

For technical performance fabrics, OEKO-TEX® certification gives us a recognised standard relevant to the textile we're using.

For our natural-fibre Core and Recovery collections, GOTS-certified organic cotton gives us greater transparency around the organic fibre and its processing.

One certification isn't necessarily "better" than the other.

They answer different questions.

Does OEKO-TEX® Mean Organic?

No.

An OEKO-TEX® certified textile is not necessarily organic or made from natural fibres.

Synthetic textiles, including nylon and polyester fabrics, can meet OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 requirements.

That's particularly important to understand with performance activewear.

Our OEKO-TEX® certified performance fabrics still contain technical synthetic fibres. The certification relates to testing against the requirements of the OEKO-TEX® standard, rather than changing what the underlying fibre is made from.

If natural-fibre content is your priority, our Core and Recovery collections provide options with significantly higher organic cotton content.

Is OEKO-TEX® Activewear Non-Toxic?

We prefer not to describe any textile as completely "non-toxic" or "chemical-free".

Those are broad claims that can oversimplify how textiles are manufactured.

Instead, we tell you what we can substantiate:

Our certified performance fabrics are OEKO-TEX® certified and tested according to the requirements of OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 for a wide range of substances that may be harmful to human health.

That's why OEKO-TEX® forms part of our broader approach to low-tox activewear.

It's about making a more considered choice, not claiming perfection.

How Do I Know Which KEAN Products Are OEKO-TEX® Certified?

Look for OEKO-TEX® certified within the fabric and product information on individual KEAN product pages.

We're committed to making our fabric compositions and applicable certifications increasingly easy to understand so you can make an informed choice based on what's important to you.

If you're looking specifically for natural-fibre options, explore our GOTS-certified organic cotton Recovery range or keep an eye out for the upcoming KEAN Core Collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OEKO-TEX® certified activewear?

OEKO-TEX® certified activewear uses textiles certified according to an OEKO-TEX® standard. KEAN's applicable performance fabrics are certified to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, which involves testing against a wide range of substances that may be harmful to human health.

Is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 safe for skin?

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 requirements become more stringent depending on the intended level of skin contact. Rather than describing a textile broadly as "safe" or "non-toxic", we prefer to state that certified textiles have been tested against the requirements of the standard.

Is OEKO-TEX® the same as GOTS?

No. OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 primarily relates to testing textiles for harmful substances, while GOTS is an organic textile processing standard with requirements relating to organic fibres, processing, environmental criteria and social criteria.

Does OEKO-TEX® mean a fabric is organic?

No. Both natural and synthetic textiles can be OEKO-TEX® certified. Certification does not mean the underlying fibre is organic.

Does KEAN use organic cotton?

Yes. KEAN Recovery is made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, while our upcoming KEAN Core activewear is made with 95% GOTS-certified organic cotton and 5% spandex.

What does KEAN mean by low-tox activewear?

Low-tox activewear isn't a regulated certification. At KEAN, we use the term to describe our approach to choosing more considered materials, seeking recognised textile certifications, improving fabric transparency and reducing our reliance on synthetic fibres where garment performance allows.

Is KEAN a New Zealand activewear brand?

Yes. KEAN is a New Zealand owned activewear brand creating OEKO-TEX® certified performance activewear alongside predominantly natural-fibre Core activewear and 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton Recovery wear.

More Considered Performance

We're not interested in pretending there's a perfect fabric.

Instead, we're interested in understanding our materials better and making more considered choices about what we put against our skin.

Sometimes that means an OEKO-TEX® certified technical fabric because performance, stretch and support are required.

Sometimes it means 95% GOTS-certified organic cotton because only a small amount of stretch is needed.

And sometimes it means 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton because no technical fibres are needed at all.

Different materials for different moments.

More considered performance. More considered fabrics. More considered KEAN.