FALKE Quality Guideline

Preamble to the FALKE Quality Guideline

As a manufacturer of high class products FALKE offers premium design of finest quality.

The FALKE Quality Guideline stipulates the overall quality requirements for implementing such quality standards and consequently has to be applied not only for all FALKE products but also for all pre-products.

As an integral part of the FALKE Purchase Conditions the FALKE Quality Guideline is legally binding to all suppliers unless otherwise agreed in writing. The latter also holds true for up-dated versions which will be sent to you on a regular basis in order to introduce recent know-how into the FALKE Quality Guideline.

Minimum requirement - Yarns

Test criteria	Test method	Internal specification	Minimum requirement
Physical characteristics
Yarn count			+/- 5%
Evenness	Uster		as required
Yarn twist	DIN EN ISO 2061		as required
Friction coefficient	according to Zweigle µ-Meter G530		0,12 - 0,18
Tearing strength	DIN EN ISO 2062		wool > 4 cN/tex wool / polyamide > 6 cN/tex cotton > 10 cN/tex silk > 12 cN/tex polyamide > 30 cN/tex polyacrylics > 10 cN/tex polypropylene > 20 cN/tex
Conditioning / Residual moisture	DIN 53800-1 / DIN 53800-2		as required
Colour deviation	colorimetry / formula M+S 89 (CIEL / CMC)		Δ_E <1,0
Colour fastness	Evaluation in compliance with grey intensity
Colour fastness to washing Staining of multi-fibre-stripe Change of colour shade	DIN EN ISO 105 C06 CO 60° C / WO 40° C / PES 60° C / PA 50°C / PAN 40°C		3 - 4 4
Colour fastness to water heavy Staining of single fibre fabric	DIN EN ISO 105 E01	light colours dark colours	5 4
Colour fastness to rubbing dry rubbing	DIN EN ISO 105 X12	light colours dark colours	5 4
wet rubbing	cotton / cellulose / silk and its blends Miscellaneous fibres	light colours dark colours dark colours	4 2 -3 3 - 4
Colour fastness to sweat alkaline acid	DIN EN ISO 105 E04		3 - 4 3 - 4
Colour fastness to saliva and perspiration	Öko-Tex Standard 201 M-9-A 2014		4 - 5
Colour fastness to light	DIN EN ISO 105-B02	brilliant colours other colours	3 - 4 4

Minimum requirement – Knitted socks / tights

Test criteria	Test method	Internal specification	Minimum requirement[1]
Test criteria	Test method	Internal specification	Class I		Class II
Physical characteristics
ICI Pilling Martindale	DIN EN ISO 12945-2, 2.000 turns		3 - 4
Abrasion resistance / Martindale	DIN EN ISO 13770	until hole is caused	20.000
Colour deviation	colorimetry / formula M+S 89 (CIEL/ CMC)		Δ_E<1,0
Using characeristics
Shrinkage after washing according to care labeling	according to stretch rate		max. 3%
Visual appearance after washing Embroidery, print, ornament	visual		no significant change should be visible
Any caused thread ends	visual		none
Colour fastness of final product	Evaluation in compliance with grey intensity
Colour fastness to washing	DIN EN ISO 105 C06
Staining of multi-fibre-stripe Change of colour shade	CO 60° C / WO 40° C / PES 60° C / PA 50°C / PAN 40°C		3 - 4 4
Colour fastness to water heavy Staining of single fibre fabric	DIN EN ISO 105 E01	light colours dark colours	5 4
Colour fastness to rubbing dry rubbing	DIN EN ISO 105 X12	light colours dark colours	5 4
wet rubbing	Cotton / cellulose / silk and its blends Miscellaneous fibres	light colours dark colours dark colours	4 2 - 3 3 - 4
Colour fastness to sweat alkaline acid	DIN EN ISO 105 E04		3 - 4 3 - 4
Colour fastness to saliva and perspiration	Öko-Tex Standard 201 M-9-A 2014		4 - 5	not used
Colour fastness to light	DIN EN ISO 105-B02	brilliant colours other colours	3 - 4 4
Yellowing	DIN EN ISO 105 X18		4

[1] Test class II is valid for ladies and gents piece dyed items, otherwise valid Oeko-Tex Standard I

Minimum requirement – Fine hosiery

Test criteria	Test method	Internal specification	Minimum requirement
Physical characteristics
ICI Pilling Martindale (from 40 den)	DIN EN ISO 12945-2 – 250/ 500/ 1,000 T for article 40110/112		1,000 T grade 3
Colour deviation	Colorimetry / formula CIEL / CMC		Δ_E <1,0
Using characeristics
Shrinkage after washing according to care labeling	according to stretch rate		max. 5%
Visual appearance after washing Embroidery, print, ornament	visual		no significant change should be visible
Any caused thread ends	visual		none
Colour fastness of final product	Evaluation in compliance with grey intensity
Colour fastness to washing Staining of multi-fibre-stripe Change of colour shade	DIN EN ISO 105 C06 CO 60° C / WO 40° C / PES 60° C / PA 50°C / PAN 40°C		3 - 4 4
Colour fastness to water heavy Staining of multi-fibre-stripe	DIN EN ISO 105 E01	light colours dark colours	5 4
Colour fastness to rubbing dry rubbing	DIN EN ISO 105 X12	light colours dark colours	5 4
wet rubbing	Cotton / cellulose / silk and its blends Miscellaneous fibres	light colours dark colours dark colours	4 2 - 3 3 - 4
Colour fastness to sweat alkaline acid	DIN EN ISO 105 E04		3 - 4 3 - 4
Colour fastness to saliva	Öko-Tex Standard 201 M-9-A DIN V53160-1 10/2002 / BVLB 8210-06/1985		5
Colour fastness to light	DIN EN ISO 105-B02	brilliant colours other colours	3 - 4 4
Yellowing	DIN EN ISO 105 X18		4

Minimum requirement – Apparel / Seamless / cut & sew

Test criteria	Test method	Internal specification	Minimum requirement
Physical characteristics
ICI Pilling Martindale	DIN EN ISO 12945-2, 5.000 turns		3
Colour deviation	colorimetry / formula CIEL		Δ_E <1,0
Using characeristics
Shrinkage after washing according to care labeling	table measurement	Total shrinkage after several treatments max. 2%	+/- 2%
Shrinkage after steaming	table measurement		+/- 2%
Shrinkage after dry-cleaning	table measurement		+/- 2%
Shrinkage after tumbling	table measurement		+/- 2%
Size of garment according to measurement chart	table measurement		+/- 2%
Twist of seam			max. 5%
Visual appearance after washing Embroidery, print, ornament	visual		no significant change should be visible
Any caused thread ends	visual		none
Contrast colour test (black / white, red / white ...)			no significant change should be visible
Colour fastness of final product	Evaluation in compliance with grey intensity
Colour fastness to washing Staining of multi-fibre-stripe Change of colour shade	DIN EN ISO 105 C06 CO 60° C / WO 40° C / PES 60° C / PA 50°C / PAN 40°C		4 4
Colour fastness to water heavy Staining of multi-fibre-stripe	DIN EN ISO 105 E01	light colours dark colours	5 4
Colour fastness to rubbing dry rubbing	DIN EN ISO 105 X12	light colours dark colours	5 4
wet rubbing	Cotton / cellulose / silk and its blends Misceallaneous fibres	light colours dark colours dark colours	4 2 - 3 3 - 4
Colour fastness to sweat alkaline acid	DIN EN ISO 105 E04		3 - 4 3 - 4
Colour fastness to saliva and perspiration	Öko-Tex Standard 201 M-9-A DIN V53160-1 10/2002 / BVLB 8210-06/1985		5
Colour fastness to light	DIN EN ISO 105-B02	billiant colours	5
Yellowing	DIN EN ISO 105 X18		4
Colour fastness to solvents / dry-cleaning	DIN EN ISO 105 D01		4

Minimum requirement – Accessoires

Test criteria	Test method	Internal specification	Minimum requirement
Physical characteristics
ICI Pilling Martindale	DIN EN ISO 12945-2, 2.000 turns		3-4
Colour deviation	colorimetry / formula CIEL / CMC		Δ_E <1,0
Using characteristics
Shrinkage after washing according to care labeling	table measurement	Total shrinkage after several treatments max. 2%	+/- 2%
Shrinkage after steaming	table measurement		+/- 2%
Shrinkage after dry-cleaning	table measurement		+/- 2%
Shrinkage after tumbling	table measurement		+/- 2%
Size of garment according to measurement chart	table measurement		+/- 2%
Visual appearance after washing Embroidery, print, ornament	visual		no significant change should be visible
Any caused thread ends	visual		none
Contrast colour test (black / white, red / white ...)			no significant change should be visible
Colour fastness of final product	Evaluation in compliance with grey intensity
Colour fastness to washing Staining of multi-fibre-stripe Change of colour shade	DIN EN ISO 105 C06 CO 60° C / WO 40° C / PES 60° C / PA 50°C / PAN 40°C		4 4
Colour fastness to water heavy Staining of multi-fibre-stripe	DIN EN ISO 105 E01	light colours dark colours	5 4
Colour fastness to rubbing dry rubbing	DIN EN ISO 105 X12	light colours dark colours	5 4
wet rubbing	cotton / cellulose / silk und its blends Misceallaneous fibres	light colours dark colours dark colours	4 2 - 3 3 - 4
Colour fastness to sweat alkaline acid	DIN EN ISO 105 E04		3 - 4 3 - 4
Colour fastness to saliva and perspiration	Öko-Tex Standard 201 M-9-A		4 - 5
Colour fastness to light	DIN EN ISO 105-B02	brilliant colours	5
Yellowing	DIN EN ISO 105 X18		4
Colour fastness to solvents / dry-cleaning	DIN EN ISO 105 D01		4

Animal protection

Material	Compliance with the following guidelines
Sheep wool	IWTO Guidelines for Wool Sheep Welfare 2013
Angora wool	Certification to Caregora ^TM
Mulesing free	Wool must be from mulesing free production. Recycled wool is excluded as there is no qualification/certification standard yet.

Prohibited substances⁸

Substance	Limit		Test method	Limit of determination	Comments
	Class I	Class II
pH-value[1]	4,0 - 7,5		ISO 3071 (KCI dissolution)
Biological active products
	none			With except for treatments accepted by Öko-Tex.For reference: http://www.oeko-tex.com
Flame retardant products
General	none[2]			With except for treatments accepted by Öko-Tex. http://www.oeko-tex.com

Determination of odours
General	no abnormal odour¹¹	With reference to SNV 195 651	No odour from mould, high boiling fraction of petrol, fish, aromatic hydrocarbons or perfume
SNV 195 651 modified¹²	3
Banned fibres
Asbestos / Asbest	not used	Polarisation-microscopic testing at least 250-times magnified

For all other prohibited substances see attachment „FALKE Schadstoffanforderungen für Erzeugnisse (RSL)“ - FALKE restricted substances list (RSL). Colum Oekotex class 1 (Standard 100 attachment 4), shall be valid unless otherwise expressly agreed.

Further details of these testing methods can be found under the published statement “Testing procedures” of Öko-Tex, Edition 01/2021 (status 01/2021).

^{8 References: Oeko-Tex Standard 100, annex4, edition 01.2021}

^{9 Exceptions for products which must be treated wet during the further processing: 4.0-10.5; for foams:4.0-9.0;}

^{10 Accepted flame retardant products do not contain any of the banned flame retardant substances listed in Appendix as active agent}

^{11 No odour from mould, high boiling fraction of petrol, fish, aromatic hydrocarbons or perfume}

^{12 Odour test just on textile floor coverings, mattresses, fomas and large coated articles not being used for clothing}

Substances of Very High Concern

For SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) according to the REACH candidate list, the supplier is obliged by law at a level in excess of 0.1% w/w to submit this information. (Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 Article 33 and Annex XIV).

For articles and any parts thereof (def. of article acc. REACh) and its packaging shall apply: These do not contain

more than 0,1% (w/w) of a substance registered in the list of candidates (current status) in accordance with Article 59 (1)
forbidden substances according to annex XVII over allowed limits
substances subject to authorisation according to annex XIV

of the regulation (EG) No. 1907/2006 (“REACH”) (see internet address of the European Chemical Agency (EChA) http://echa.europa.eu/).

SVHC substances, see:

https://echa.europa.eu/de/candidate-list-table