REACH & SVHC Compliance for Knitwear
If you sell knitwear in the EU, REACH applies to you. Here's what it covers, what SVHCs are, and how compliance is actually demonstrated for a knit garment.
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is the EU regulation governing chemical substances in products — including the dyes, finishes and treatments in textiles. It's a regulation, not a certificate: you demonstrate compliance through compliant materials, documentation and, where relevant, testing.
SVHC and the candidate list
Within REACH, SVHCs (Substances of Very High Concern) are flagged chemicals — certain azo dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, phthalates and others. ECHA maintains a candidate list that is updated periodically, so “compliant” is a moving target you keep current with, not a one-time tick. For most knitwear the relevant risks sit in dyestuffs and finishing chemistry.
RSLs — the brand layer
Many brands run their own Restricted Substance List (RSL), often stricter than the legal minimum. If you have one, share it up front so materials are selected against it from the start rather than corrected later.
How compliance is shown: use compliant dyes and finishes, source materials with supporting documentation, and — where a buyer or market requires it — run third-party lab testing on the finished garment. Keep documentation current as the SVHC list updates.
Our role
We knit with compliant materials and supplier-certified yarns (e.g. OEKO-TEX, GOTS, GRS where specified) and pass the supplier documentation and traceability through to you. Where your market or buyer requires formal proof, we can arrange testing with accredited third-party laboratories. We don't issue our own chemical certifications — compliance rides on materials, documentation and independent testing. See the certifications guide or ask about your market's requirements.
This is a general overview, not legal advice — verify specifics with your compliance partner for your product and market.
Ready to make it?
Send a tech pack, a reference garment or a brief. We respond within one business day with a capacity check, indicative pricing and a sample timeline — direct with the founder.