M. Zeki AYGUR
Although the food sector is the first to come to mind when halal and healthy living is mentioned, Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and human requirements encompass all areas of life. Acting with the vision of “halal clothing is as much a requirement as halal food,” GİMDES (Association for the Inspection and Certification of Food and Supplies) meticulously applies the uncompromising sensitivity it shows in food to the clothing and textile sector as well.
So, what criteria does GİMDES look for so that a textile product can be certified as “Halal and Tayyib (pure/healthy)” from raw material to reaching the final consumer? Here are the fundamental elements paid attention to in the textile certification process:
1. Origin of Raw Materials and Fibers
The heart of a textile product is the fiber used in its production. At this stage, GİMDES deeply examines the source of the raw material:
Materials such as leather, wool, silk, down, cashmere, or buttons made of bone/horn must come from animals that have been slaughtered or obtained in accordance with Islamic methods. Pork and any pig-derived additives, hair, or leather components are absolutely unacceptable in textile products.
2. Examination of Chemical and Additive Substances
Hundreds of chemical formulas are used in the processes of weaving, dyeing, and finishing the fabric. GİMDES technical boards filter these chemicals from the following aspects:
- Agents that impart properties such as color, softness, water resistance, or wrinkle resistance to the fabric must not contain components considered impure (najis) or forbidden (haram) in Islamic terms (for example, fats of haram origin or alcohol-based solvents).
- Mere halal status is not enough; the dyestuffs and textile chemicals used must not be carcinogenic, must not harm the skin, and must not contain absolute hazards that threaten human health.
3. Production Process and Contamination Risks
The cleanliness and isolation of the production line play a key role in the continuity of the certificate:
In the production, processing, and off-the-line stages of textile products, full compliance with Islamic rules and cleanliness requirements is sought. While a halal-certified product is being produced, there must be no risk of contamination from another suspicious or non-halal product on the same line. Machines and equipment must be completely clean and safe.
4. Packaging, Storage, and Logistics
Even if the production phase of the fabric or ready-to-wear product is flawless, the process until it reaches the consumer is also a part of this chain:
The packaging materials in which the products are packed must be naturally halal and produced from raw materials that have not come into contact with impure substances. During storage and transportation, halal textile products must be kept physically separate so as not to mix with other haram or suspicious products.
GİMDES is not an organization that delivers certificates with just a momentary audit. Every company that receives a certificate is obliged to establish a Halal Assurance System (HAS) within its own structure. Thanks to this system, every step from purchasing to production, from input control forms to cleanliness tracking reports, is kept under record and continuously checked by GİMDES auditors through unannounced interim audits.
It is not enough for our clothes, prayer rugs, or home textile products that come into direct contact with our skin to be merely “stylish and of high quality.” GİMDES Textile Standards aim both to protect the religious sensitivities of the consumer and to guarantee their right to dress healthily and cleanly.
