Though it may seem like writing your fashion product’s garment label might be a simple part of the design and manufacturing process, legal terms will ultimately guide what you put on these labels. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires manufacturers in The United States to attach care instructions to garments. If you are manufacturing your clothing products, the manufacturer will include the following instructions on your clothing. However, if you are making and selling the clothing solo, then this blog will contain everything you need to stay within the legalities.
Your garment labels should include the following in descending order:
Clothing Fiber Content
In compliance with the Textile Products Identification Act, be sure to include the fiber content of your apparel on the garment label. This is the amount of yarn content that is in any given fabric. When looking at a garment label you will typically see a label that says something like “100% Cotton.” Any significant amount of textile that makes up 15% or more of the garment must be included on the label. However, if the garment includes a zipper or buttons, those materials don’t need to be included on the label.
Garment Country of Origin
When producing clothing items in the United States, per the Textile Products Identification Act, you must include “Made in USA” on the garment label. If a majority of the textiles that were used were sourced from out of the country, the label must include “Made in USA from Imported Materials.”
Place of Manufacturing
The FTC requires that you include the place of manufacturing on the garment label. They require this on the clothing because it entails where the garment was constructed. This also creates a brand identity for the manufacturing company that made your manufactured products.
Garment Care for the Article
Treating your garments with care will ensure that they retain the best possible quality for a longer amount of time. There are 5 elements of washing instructions , per the FTC, you must include on your garment labels. These include:
- Washing by hand or machine
- Bleaching
- Drying
- Ironing
- Warnings
You must also include dry cleaning instructions, if they apply.
Ways to Label Clothing
The FTC requires that all labels are placed permanently in the garment. The label can be ironed into the piece by the neck. It can also be a tag that can be sewn into the garment. The least popular of the three is embroidery. Hang tags are not recommended as they are detachable and they include added instructions on how to take care of the clothing piece.
Including these items on your garment label ensures that you and your brand create a brand identity, garment care, and safety for consumers. Garment label requirements vary for different textile apparel. You should refer to The Federal Trade Commission (or account manager if you're a MakersValley customer) for any specific inquiries.
Comments