What Are Clothing Care Labels? A Guide for Apparel Brands
Clothing care labels are important components of every apparel product design you mustn’t overlook if you run your own brand. Don’t forget to check care labels before washing garments, as neglecting them can lead to mistakes. In fact, it’s a legal requirement in many countries and falling short of it can lead to dire consequences. Many countries also follow international standards for care labelling to ensure consistency and consumer trust.
As the name implies, care labels generally include important information your customers need to know to properly care for their clothes to ensure they last, including washing instructions and laundry symbols.
For instance, the laundry symbol for machine wash indicates that it is safe to wash the garment in a machine. A square symbol provides instructions for drying a garment. For example, a ‘do not tumble dry’ symbol means the garment should be air-dried instead of put in the dryer.
Warm water is indicated by a wash tub symbol with two dots for washing clothes. The normal cycle symbol indicates a basic wash suitable for durable fabrics.
If you need help understanding these, a laundry symbols guide can be a helpful resource. Without care labels or with incorrect instructions, garments may shrink or fade quickly. Not following care label instructions can also cause harm to your garments, such as shrinking, stretching, or damaging the fabric.
In this guide, we will explore what care labels are all about, why they are important, and how to create one for your products.
What Are Care Labels?
A clothing care label is a composition and specific care instructions for the item. These labels guide consumers on how to wash, dry, iron, and care for their clothing to maintain its quality and longevity.
For example, a circle symbol on the label indicates instructions for professional cleaning, with different markings specifying the type of solvents allowed. Specialty items often have specific care symbols indicating restrictions like ‘do not wash’ or ‘dry clean only.’
Clothing with a do not wash symbol should be taken to a professional cleaner when dirty. An iron symbol provides guidance for how to press a garment without causing damage, with dots indicating heat settings. Additionally, a ‘dry flat’ symbol indicates the garment should be laid flat to dry, avoiding hanging.
A delicate cycle symbol indicates low agitation and cold water washing for delicate fabrics. The permanent press cycle symbol indicates a setting that reduces wrinkles in synthetic fabrics.
The Japanese care labelling system arranges symbols in a specified order on labels, ensuring clarity and consistency for consumers.
Care labels are not just informative; they’re a legal requirement in many countries. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mandates proper care labeling under the Care Labeling Rule, while in Europe, brands must adhere to the Textile Regulation (EU).
The presence of care labels helps reduce the risk of mishandling garments, leading to better customer satisfaction. Extra information, such as the brand name, website, materials, or environmental impact may also be included on care labels, providing further details about the garment.
Washing instructions on care labels often specify the appropriate course, such as machine wash, hand wash, or dry clean, using symbols to guide users in selecting the correct wash cycle for each garment.
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Key Components of a Care Label
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Fabric Composition
Fabric content helps customers understand the type of material they are dealing with. Whether the item is made from 100% cotton, a polyester blend, or a silk fabric, knowing the composition can affect how it is cared for.
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Washing Instructions
Care labels indicate whether an item should be machine-washed, hand-washed, or not washed at all.
Some garments require a hand wash symbol, indicating they should be washed by hand to remove dirt without damaging delicate fabrics. Washing temperature symbols indicate the proper temperature range for washing garments.
Using the correct washing method is crucial for preserving the garment’s integrity. Synthetic fabrics usually require medium to low heat settings for washing, drying, and ironing to prevent damage.
For instance, cold water is indicated by a wash tub symbol with one dot for washing clothes. Warm water is indicated by a wash tub symbol with two dots, and hot water is indicated by a wash tub symbol with three dots for washing clothes.
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Drying Instructions
Drying techniques vary based on the fabric type. Care labels may specify tumble drying, line drying, or air drying to avoid damaging delicate fabrics.
Linen and other natural fibers may require special drying instructions, such as ‘dry flat’ or ‘hang to dry’, to prevent damage.
The twisted symbol indicates garments should not be wrung out, especially for delicate or natural fiber clothing. A circle inside a square symbol indicates that the item can be tumble dried, while dots inside specify the heat level.
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Ironing Instructions
Some fabrics, like cotton, may require ironing, while others, like polyester, could be ruined by high heat.
Care labels communicate these instructions using easy-to-understand symbols. Some garments should be ironed according to the care label instructions to maintain their appearance and avoid damage.
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Dry Cleaning Information
If a garment needs professional dry cleaning, the label will provide clear instructions, ensuring that consumers avoid common mistakes like machine washing a dry-clean-only item. -
Care Symbols
Universal care symbols are used to visually represent care instructions. These symbols are crucial in regions where multiple languages are spoken, allowing consumers to understand care directions easily.
An ‘X’ over any care label symbol means that the respective process is not allowed. Durable fabrics can typically withstand higher washing and drying temperatures and more aggressive care methods.
Laundry Symbols and Their Meanings
Laundry symbols, also known as care symbols, are a universal language printed on care labels and tags attached to clothing and garments.
These pictograms provide essential information about how to properly wash, dry, iron, and care for your clothes, regardless of language barriers.
Understanding laundry symbols is key to protecting your garments from accidental damage and ensuring they are cleaned and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
The most common laundry symbols you’ll find on care labels include:
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Wash Tub Symbol: This symbol looks like a small tub filled with water and indicates the recommended washing method. Variations may show dots inside the tub to represent water temperature (one dot for cold, two dots for warm, three dots for hot), or a hand above the tub for hand washing.
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Tumble Dry Symbol: Represented by a square with a circle inside, this symbol tells you whether tumble drying is allowed. Dots inside the circle indicate the appropriate heat setting, while a cross over the symbol means tumble drying is not recommended.
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Iron Symbol: Shaped like a classic iron, this symbol provides guidance on ironing. Dots inside the iron symbol indicate the maximum temperature setting, helping you avoid scorching or damaging fabrics.
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Dry Cleaning Symbol: Depicted as a circle, this symbol shows if a garment can be dry cleaned. Letters inside the circle specify which solvents are safe, and a cross means dry cleaning should be avoided.
Why Are Care Labels Important?
One of the key reasons care labels are so important is to meet legal regulations, which are strong in places like the US, EU, and some parts of Asia. The other reasons why they are important are as follows:
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Ensure Proper Garment Care
Care labels provide essential instructions on how to wash, dry, iron, and store clothing properly. Without them, consumers might damage garments by using the wrong washing or drying methods, leading to dissatisfaction and returns. For example, tumble drying allowed means the garment can be dried in a dryer, but watch for heat settings. Bleaching symbols on care labels are especially important, as they help consumers decide whether bleach can be used safely, preventing accidental fabric damage and extending garment lifespan.
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Boost Customer Trust and Satisfaction
When customers know how to care for their garments, they’re more likely to be satisfied with the longevity and quality of their purchase. Accurate and clear care instructions build trust in the brand, helping create loyal, returning customers. Care labels also help customers decide on the best way to care for their garments, ensuring they make informed choices that protect their clothing.
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Meet Legal Requirements
Many countries, such as the U.S. and the EU, have regulations that mandate care labeling. Non-compliance can lead to penalties, product recalls, or even bans from certain markets. Proper care labels ensure that your brand meets all necessary legal standards. -
Reduce Product Returns
Clear care instructions help prevent garment damage due to mishandling. This leads to fewer returns and exchanges, saving your brand money and maintaining a positive reputation. -
Promote Sustainability
Care labels can encourage consumers to adopt more sustainable garment care practices, like washing clothes in cold water or air-drying, which reduces environmental impact. Brands can also use eco-friendly materials for labels themselves, further contributing to sustainability efforts. For instance, an empty triangle symbol on a care label means any bleach is allowed, while a triangle with diagonal lines indicates only non-chlorine bleach should be used. Delicate fabrics often require hand washing, low-temperature settings, and careful drying methods to prevent damage.
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Showcase Attention to Detail
Care labels are a small but significant touchpoint between your brand and customers. A well-designed label with clear, accurate instructions shows that your brand values quality and attention to detail. -
Enhance Brand Reputation
High-quality care labels reinforce the perception that your brand is reliable and professional. This can set you apart from competitors who may overlook this critical aspect of garment production.
How to Create Care Labels/Instructions With Uphance
Uphance is a full-fledged Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software uniquely designed for apparel brands looking to take their business to the next level. Full-fledged because it lets you manage virtually every aspect of your business, from design and development to warehousing and order fulfilment.
One of the beauties of using Uphance to manage your product development process is that it lets you create and add care labels, filled with care instruction symbols, to your products with a few clicks of the button.
Uphance comes with a handful of industry-standard care instruction templates, each with an appropriate symbol, that you can add to your products. These include washing, drying, and ironing instructions. And if you can’t find one that fits well, you can always create custom laundry labels quickly and easily.
The best part is that you can add these care instructions to product descriptions, making it easier for your customers to easily access them before making a purchase. In addition, you can also elect to add these care instructions to your tech packs. This helps to provide your manufacturer with details to create clothing labels for your products.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Care Labels
Below are some of the common mistakes you should avoid when creating a clothing label:
Incorrect Information
Providing inaccurate or misleading care instructions can lead to damaged products and unhappy customers.Omitting Crucial Care Details
Leaving out essential care instructions may cause improper garment handling.Inconsistent Care Information
Ensure that the care instructions on the garment, packaging, and online descriptions are all consistent.
Conclusion
Clothing care labels may be small, but they’re a powerful tool for apparel brands. They ensure compliance, help maintain product quality, and create a stronger bond with customers by offering clear guidance on how to care for their garments. For any apparel brand looking to succeed in the global market, investing time and resources into effective care labeling is a must.
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