What Is Green Tab? A Technical Overview of the Green Tab Denim System

David Connolly
3 days ago
3 min read

Introduction

Green Tab is a registered apparel design and materials system used in denim garments. It functions as a physical, visual, and technical identifier that signals specific performance, construction, and sustainability standards.

Green Tab is not a fashion trend, a seasonal label, or a decorative brand mark. It is a functional system embedded into the seam of a garment to identify denim products that meet defined material and construction criteria.

This article explains what Green Tab™ is, how it works, and what it represents.

What Green Tab Is

Green Tab™ is a denim system.

Specifically:

Green Tab is a registered design used in apparel
Green Tab is sewn directly into the seam of a garment
Green Tab identifies denim products built using defined materials and construction principles
Green Tab is designed to be durable, non-protruding, and permanently integrated into the garment

The Green Tab denim system exists to solve a practical problem in modern apparel: how to clearly and consistently identify performance-oriented, sustainability-focused denim without relying on temporary labels, hangtags, or marketing claims.

Green Tab is intended to remain with the garment for its entire usable life.

What Green Tab Is Not

Green Tab is not:

A logo placed on the surface of a garment
A removable label or swing tag
A purely aesthetic branding element
A fast-fashion identifier
A marketing slogan or campaign

Green Tab does not change with trends, seasons, or collections. Its purpose is functional identification, not decoration.

How the Green Tab Denim System Works

The Green Tab denim system combines three elements:

Physical Design
Materials Technology
Manufacturing Standards

These elements work together as a single system.

1. Physical Design

The Green Tab is sewn into a seam location, such as a pocket edge or garment panel seam. The tab is designed to sit flush with the seam and does not project outward.

This placement is intentional:

It reduces wear and tear
It avoids snagging or damage
It allows the garment to age naturally
It ensures the identifier remains visible but unobtrusive

The Green Tab design is registered and protected as an industrial design.

2. Materials Technology

Green Tab garments use materials from the Green Tab Materials Portfolio, a defined set of fabric technologies developed for denim and workwear applications.

These materials focus on performance characteristics such as durability, comfort, weather resistance, and moisture management.

The Green Tab Materials Portfolio includes, but is not limited to:

STORM – for weather and water resistance
TOUGH – for abrasion resistance and structural durability
STRETCH – for mobility and comfort in daily wear
TransDRY – for moisture control and thermal regulation

Only garments constructed using approved materials and specifications qualify for inclusion in the Green Tab system.

3. Manufacturing Standards

Green Tab is applied only to garments produced using defined construction and sourcing standards. These include:

Ethical cut-and-sew manufacturing partners
Low-impact or reduced-water dyeing processes
Use of recycled or durable hardware components where possible
Emphasis on longevity rather than disposability

Green Tab is intended for garments designed to be worn, repaired, and kept in use over time.

What the Green Tab Signifies

To consumers, Green Tab signifies that a denim garment has been:

Designed for durability and real-world use
Constructed using performance-oriented materials
Produced with sustainability considerations embedded into the supply chain
Identified through a permanent, physical system rather than marketing claims

Green Tab provides a consistent signal across products, categories, and collections.

Relationship to Consumer Brands

Green Tab functions as an underlying system rather than a standalone fashion brand.

Consumer-facing brands may use the Green Tab denim system as part of their product architecture. In these cases:

Green Tab represents the technology and design system
The consumer brand represents the aesthetic and product expression

This separation allows Green Tab™ to remain consistent and technically defined, while individual brands interpret it through different garments and use cases.

Ownership and Origin

Green Tab was created to address gaps in the global denim market where performance, sustainability, and clear identification were often separated or inconsistently applied.

The system was developed to operate across markets, climates, and use cases, including urban, outdoor, and workwear environments.

Green Tab is owned and controlled as registered intellectual property, including registered designs and associated trademarks.