Understand Product Labeling Guidelines Labels & Hangtags 101 Understand Product Labeling Guidelines

Government Agencies Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Better Business Bureau (BBB) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM)

Garment Labels Garment labels are a small part of a garment, but a large part in linking the brand to the garment. Labels are one of the “primary” tools for brand establishment and awareness.

Hangtags Garment Hangtags are attached to new clothing and are removed before wearing. Hangtags are larger than labels and usually made of heavy paper or cardboard. Designers often use cloth, PVC, or leather. Some designer hangtags are keepsakes. Manufacturers are not required by law to provide. Label information often repeated on hangtag. Manufacturers’ trademarks, garment sizes, style numbers, prices, and special features can be listed.

Mandatory Garment Information The Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (TFPIA) requires all clothing & many household textile products be labeled to indicate: Generic Name of each fiber unless fiber weighs less than 5% of total fiber weight Percentage of each fiber by weight Name or any Identification of manufacturer Country of origin if imported

Voluntary Garment Information Apparel Manufactures often provide additional information on a garment’s permanent label or a hangtag. Voluntary information may include: Size Brand Names or trademarks Warranty or guarantee Union Label Inventory Control

Care Labeling Rule Clear Uniform Detailed The Care Labeling Rule requires that garment manufacturers provide the instructions for the care & maintenance of garments. Instructions Must Be: Clear Uniform Detailed

Mandatory Care Label Information Labels can be any color, style, or shape, although they must follow standards by law. Labels can be glued, fused, or sewn onto garments. Labels must not unravel. Instructions can be printed directly on fabric, and remain readable for the life of the garment. The Care Label Rule requires label to include the following information: Method of Washing hand or machine Water Temperature cold, warm or hot Method of Drying low, medium, or high Type of Bleach when all types cannot be used safely Use of Iron/Iron Temperature as needed Drying Temperature machine, hang, or lay flat

Label Placement All required labeling information can be included on one label or separate labels. Other information such as size can be on the same label. It must not detract from required information. Fiber content must be included using the same type size and style. Labels must remain on garment until it reaches consumer. Any garment with a neck must have the country of origin on the inside center or near center of neck. Other labels must be placed in conspicuous or accessible locations.

Government Regulations for Clothing The Government made regulations that require textile manufacturers to identify fiber content in textile products. Regulations include: Wool Products Labeling Act, 1939 Fur Products Labeling Act, 1951 Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, 1960 Care Labeling Rule, 1971 National Organic Program (NOP) Regulations

5 Types of Garment Labels 1. Woven Labels 2. Embroidered Labels 3. Leather Labels 4. PVC/Rubber Labels 5. Printed Labels 5 Types of Garment Labels

Woven Garment Labels Woven with either cotton or polyester threads Can be made with amazing details Lowest set up cost of all labels Due to flexibility, can be applied to different areas of the garment.

Embroidered Garment Label Similar to woven labels Made from cotton & polyester thread Threads are 4 to 5 times thicker Has a 3D look Most premium of all labels

Leather Garment Label Strong and supple Used on high end garments to highlight the quality & prestige of the brand. Designs are embossed or debossed onto the leather Synthetic leather (aka – pleather) also very popular.

PVC/Rubber Garment Label Used most often in sports and adventure wear. Tough and moisture resistant Harder to attach to a garment Set-up cost considerably high

Printed Garment Label Normally printed onto ribbons Similar to woven labels in feel Less durable Often used for care labels Since design is printed on the ribbon surface, design may wash out in 2 to 3 years.

Classifications of Labels Brand or Main Label Size Label Care Label Flag Label Manufacturer Label Special Label Batch Mark Label Tagless Label Classifications of Labels

Brand or Main Label Indicates: Brand name Brand Logo

Size Label Defines a specific set of measurements of human body. May be printed as S for small, M for Medium, or L for large size.

Care Label Includes wash care and ironing instruction. Attached at side seam May include fiber content Country of origin (Made in China)

Flag Label Small label attached at outside side seam. Usually made of brand logos Primarily used as design features

Manufacturer Label Includes manufacturer’s code given by buyers. Most International buyers source garments from different parts of the world and distribute garments across world. If buyer needs to track manufacturer of a particular product, they use this code.

Special Label 100% Cotton, & Organic Cotton are examples of such special labels. Designed to attract customer at time of purchase

Batch Mark Label Label that indicates which sewing line or batch made the particular garment. Normally attached at side seam under wash care label

Tagless Label Label placed on garments with a heat transfer method. More comfortable for consumer. Lower production cost. Common use: T-shirts Underwear Athletic wear

Labeling Resource Links http://www.ehow.com/list_6082830_laws-clothing-label-requirements.html#ixzz31JlTUThv http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/03/ftc-issues-changes-textile-labeling-rules http://apparel.edgl.com/old-magazine/Technology-Initiatives--Tagless-to-the-Rescue64608

Amendments Flammable Fabrics Act, 1953 Federal Hazardous Substances Act, 1960 Consumer Products Safety Act, 1972 Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, 2008

Within each generic group are several trademark names Within each generic group are several trademark names. Each trademark name represents a fiber with a little variation. Generic Name Trademark Name Acetate Estron, Celanese, Chromspun, MicroSafe Acrylic Acrilan, Creslan, Duraspun, Wear-Dated Lyocell Tencel Modacrylic SEF Nylon Anso, Antron, Enka, Zeftron Olefin Herculon, Spectra Polyester Dacron, Fortrel, Coolmax, Microlux Rayon (viscose) Modal, Bemberg, Zantrel Spandex Lycra, Glospan

Generic Fiber Groups The Federal Trade Commission assigned 25 generic names to various types of manufactured fibers based on chemicals used to create them. The 22 groups in the chart below represent fibers in apparel products. Acetate Glass Nytril* Spandex Acrylic Lyocell Olefin (polypropylene) Triacetate Anidex Melamine PLA Vinal* Aramid Metallic Polyester Vinyon Azlon* Modacrylic Rayon Elastoester Nylon Saran