PVH Corp. Specifies Oeko-Tex Certification for Dress Shirt Business

PVH Corp., Greensboro, N.C., formerly known as the Philips-Van Heusen Corporation, one of the world's largest apparel companies and the largest shirt and neckwear company, has been granted Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification for its men's dress shirt lines marketed under PVH's well-known corporate brands, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen Izod, and Arrow, and its licensed brands. The Oeko-Tex certification will cover more than 30 million garments produced in facilities throughout the world.

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification serves two strategic purposes for PVH Corp. First, the certification indicates that the dress shirts do not contain harmful levels of more than 100 substances believed to be dangerous for humans, confirming that the shirts are safe for the people who make, sell and buy them. Because potentially harmful substances are not present in the certified garments, the production process and the dress shirts themselves are more environmentally friendly as well. Second, Oeko-Tex certification establishes a uniform, objective quality standard that is recognized and easily implemented across PVH's extensive worldwide supply chain. Both aspects support PVH's commitment to providing outstanding products made with consideration for people and the environment.

"Because Oeko-Tex is global, it aligns with our manufacturing network, providing support in all the markets in which we operate," said Mitchell Lechner, president of The Dress Shirt & Underwear Group at PVH Corp. "Plus, Oeko-Tex certification sets a reliable, uniform specification that all our suppliers can attain, no matter where in the world they manufacture. That means we provide safe, consistently high-quality dress shirts that meet or exceed all governmental regulations, our internal standards, and our customers' expectations."

PVH Corp. encourages its suppliers to maintain Oeko-Tex certification on dress shirt components they sell to PVH Corp. The International Oeko-Tex Association's worldwide presence, with offices in 52 countries, ensures that every PVH Corp. supplier has easy access to testing services and the additional technical support the Oeko-Tex member institutes provide to their customers.

"Oeko-Tex certification is rigorous," continued Lechner. "But at the end of the certification process, we are certain that our dress shirts are toxin-free, from the threads and fabric, to the collar stays, to all the buttons."

"PVH is the major dress shirt manufacturer in the market," said Dr. Sam Moore, who represents Oeko-Tex in North America. "Their certification will have a very positive impact on the product safety and sustainability of the world's textile supply chain including the retail apparel market."

PVH Corp. will participate in MRket in Las Vegas beginning August 21. For more information, visit PVH Corp.'s website or the Oeko-Tex website.