Woolmark Certification Explained
In brief: The Woolmark logo is a quality certification owned by The Woolmark Company, guaranteeing that products contain 100 percent new wool meeting strict performance standards. Introduced in 1964, it is the world's most recognised textile fibre brand and appears on more than 5 billion products globally. The certification tier reflects wool content: Woolmark is 100 percent new wool, Woolmark Blend is 50 to 99 percent, and Wool Blend is 30 to 49 percent. Products are tested against 19 quality criteria with annual compliance audits.
What is Woolmark certification?
The Woolmark logo is a quality certification owned by The Woolmark Company, and its core promise is straightforward: products carrying the full Woolmark guarantee contain 100 percent new wool that meets strict performance standards. Introduced in 1964, it is the world's most recognised textile fibre brand, appearing on more than 5 billion products globally over its history. Unlike a simple content label, Woolmark certifies both the authenticity of the fibre and the performance of the finished garment, which is why it has remained a trusted mark of quality for premium knitwear and tailoring for six decades.
The Woolmark certification tiers
Woolmark uses a tiered system that tells you exactly how much new wool a product contains. The full Woolmark certifies 100 percent new wool. Woolmark Blend covers products made from 50 to 99 percent new wool, where wool is the dominant fibre blended with others. Wool Blend covers products with 30 to 49 percent new wool, where wool is present but no longer the majority. This clear hierarchy means the logo is not just a yes-or-no badge but a quick guide to wool content, helping you understand the makeup of a garment at a glance and judge it against its price and intended use.
What does Woolmark guarantee?
Woolmark verifies both fibre authenticity and garment durability. Products undergo independent laboratory testing against 19 quality criteria, including colourfastness, dimensional stability, pilling resistance and seam strength, testing that exceeds general industry requirements. The certification therefore protects consumers against inferior wool blends and synthetic substitutes passed off as quality wool. When you see the Woolmark, both the wool content and the garment's performance have been independently verified, and compliance is checked through annual audits. It is a guarantee about how a piece will wear and last, not just what it is made from.
Woolmark Certification at OD's Designer Clothing
At OD's Designer Clothing, Woolmark-quality wool knitwear comes from brands including Gran Sasso, Barbour and BOSS, premium wool you can trust to wear and last. Recognising the mark helps you identify genuine, performance-tested wool rather than an unverified blend. We offer next-day delivery and free click and collect, and customers in the North West are welcome to feel the knitwear for themselves at our St Helens store.