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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. Brand or Main Label
Indicates:
Brand name
Brand Logo

21. 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.

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

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

24. 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.

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

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

27. 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

28. Labeling Resource Links