Care label

Need for care label It indicates how to clean textile articles in the best possible way. It provide info on washing,bleaching, ironing,dry cleaning and tumble drying. Symbols refer to maximum permissible treatment that a textile article can bear without irrerversible damage.

Who needs to label and what needs labeling Following needs to be aware of the use of care labels - mfgers and importers of textile wearing apparel Mfgers & Importers of pieces good sold to consumers for making apparel Any person or organisation that controls the manufacturing and importing of textiles wearing apparel or piece goods for making wearing apparel

As per FTC,US following exempted Textile apparel worn to cover the body Exempt apparel- shoes,gloves and hats Excluded items hankerchiefs,belts,suspenderr and neckties as they donot protect body Non woven garments made for onetime use as the donot need ordinary care Pieces goods sold for making apparel at home exempt piece goods marked mfgers remnants upto 10 yards when the fibre content is not known and cannot easily be determined trims upto 5 inches wide

American care labeling system Generally written instructions have been used on care labels. But from july 1997 the FTC permitted mfgers to use care symbols dvpd by ASTM FTC wanted the written info explaining what symbols mean on hangtags with garments till the end of 1998 so that consumers become familiar with these symbols and understand which symbol means what. This was due to NAFTA in 1994

FTC decided that adaption of the ISO system of symbols used by EU is not appropriate for US at this time as its not comprehensive as ASTM and also due to issues associated with the fact that the ISO stds is trademarked have not been adequately resolved.

Five basic symbols will be used to identify care recommendations on garments. A series of dots or lines will serve as modifiers. The basic symbols are: a cross on them means treatment shall not be used and a bar under the symbols indicates milder treatments is needed (broken bar indicates a very mild treatment

ISO care symbols --it requires that the symbols be legible and proportional to size of garment. It does not have symbols for natural drying, use of non chloring bleach or use of steam in ironing. Its symbols for drycleaning does not address all the warnings required by the american rule for care labeling. In ISO an underlined circle warns professional drycleaners generally about potential harm from mechanical action and drying temp and water addition in the solvent

International care labeling system- GINETEX Internationally many countries follow different care instructions and have different laws and rules governing the same. The International care labeling system-(GINETEX) had therefore dvpd a language independent care labeling system in 1975 ISO provides a code of reference for the use of these symbols.

Washing by hand or by machine Lbl must say if its machine or handwash. It should also give a water temp setting if regular use of hot water will harm the product. Bleaching – if all commercially avbl bleaches can be used on a regular basis without harming the product the label does not have to mention bleach. If using cholrine bleach on a regular basis would harm the product but using non chlorine bleach on a regular basis would not, the label must say “only non chlorine bleach when needed” If all commercially avbl bleaches would harm the product when used on a regular basis the label must say “no bleach or donot bleach “ Drying – label must say whether the product should be dried by machine or method. Unless regular use of high temp will harm the product when machine dried its not necessary to indicate temp setting.

Ironing ironing info must be given on a care label if ironing will be needed on a regular basis. if regular use of a hot iron will not harm a product its not necessary to indicate a temp setting.

Warning (including dry cleaning) if consumer reasonably could be expected to use care procedure that would harm the product, the label must contain a warning like “do not “,”no “ “only “ to warn against the harmful procedure. For example if ironing will harm a garment even if ironing is not regularly needed, the label should state “do not iron” if the customer can be expected to “touch up” the garment occasionally. If a care procedure on one product could cause harm to another product being washed with it,a warning must be included. For example if an item is not colorfast,the label must say,”wash with like colors or wash seperately. Warnings are not necessary for alternative procedures that could be harmful. For

Dry cleaning instructions a simple “dryclean” instructions may be used under two conditions first if all commercially avbl types of solvent can be used the label does not have mention any particular solvent. If one or more solvent would harm the product a safe solvent must be mentioned(ex – “dryclean,petroleum solvent ) second – a simple “dryclean” may be used if the drycleaning process as can be used on a garment with no modifications. If any part of the drycleaning process would harm the product the “dryclean ‘ instructions must include the warning to avoid or modify that part of the process. For ex- if steam would damage a garment the label would say “dry clean.no steam”

“Dryclean only” is a warning that the garment cannot be washed. You may label “Dryclean only “ but only if you have evidence that washing will damage the garment.

ISO care symbols The astm and iso use same basic five symbols. The difference in system consist in the manner in which refinements to the basic processes are conveyed.

ISO care labeling system assumes that washing machine have internal mechanisms for heating water to a precise temperature setting. In addition it includes only normal and low temp ranges for tumble drying. Both of these aspects of ISO are inconsistent with the technology of laundry equipment used in the US

ISO care labeling system has no symbols for natural drying, the use of non- cholrine bleach or use of steam in ironing.

ISO care labeling system for drycleaning does not address all the warnings required by american rule for care labeling. in the iso system an underlined circle warns professional drycleaners generally about the potential harm from mechanical action and or drying tem and or water addition in the solvent.

American care labeling system from july 1,1997, the FTC has permitted mfgers to use specified care symbols dvpd by ASTM in place of written instructions to indicate a method for properly cleaning them. The FTC requires mfgers to include written information explaining what the symbols mean on hangtags or elsewhere with garment till the end of 1998 so that consumers become familiar with these symbols and understand which symbols means what. The FTC decided that ISO system of symbols used by EU is not appropriate for the US at this time in part because its not as comprehensive as the ASTM system

The Federal Trade Commission approved a change in the care label format effective July 1, New guidelines allow manufacturers to use care symbols on a voluntary basis rather than written instructions. Manufacturers can still use written instructions; however, the option of symbols is now permitted. For the first 18 months, hang tags or written guides must be provided on garments to explain the care symbol system.

Care Symbol Guidelines Five basic symbols will be used to identify care recommendations on garments. A series of dots or lines will serve as modifiers. The basic symbols are: Dots added to the symbols will indicate increasing heat or temperature. For example, one dot on the tumble dry symbol means low temperature for delicate items; two dots mean medium for permanent press; and three dots identify high temperatures for cottons and linens. Lines added to a basic care symbol mean "minus" or reduced action or treatment. No lines under the wash symbol means normal wash cycle for cottons; one line under the wash symbol is for permanent press cycles; and two lines are for even gentler treatment or reduced action for delicate items.

Additional modifiers exist such as an "X" over a symbol. This is a warning symbol. For example, an "X" over the dry- cleaning symbol means "do not dry clean." A complete chart of symbols and modifiers is given on page 2. The need for care label symbols as an alternative to written instructions results from increased international trade and, more specifically, from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA requires standardization of care instructions for apparel sold in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Manufacturers can prepare labels written in three languages: English, French, and Spanish, or use more universal care symbols.

Consumers will reap additional benefits once the care symbol system is adopted. Apparel should have fewer, smaller, and less annoying labels in garments. Smaller label inventories and reduced production costs will be an economic benefit for manufacturers. Also, as U.S. citizens travel to other countries, they will now understand care recommendations on apparel they are purchasing. Although the new U.S. care symbols system is not identical to that used in Europe, it is very similar and differs primarily in its comprehensiveness as well as user friendly approach.

Five basic symbols will be used to identify care recommendations on garments. A series of dots or lines will serve as modifiers. The basic symbols are:

Dots added to the symbols will indicate increasing heat or temperature. For example, one dot on the tumble dry symbol means low temperature for delicate items; two dots mean medium for permanent press; and three dots identify high temperatures for cottons and linens. Lines added to a basic care symbol mean "minus" or reduced action or treatment. No lines under the wash symbol means normal wash cycle for cottons; one line under the wash symbol is for permanent press cycles; and two lines are for even gentler treatment or reduced action for delicate items. Additional modifiers exist such as an "X" over a symbol. This is a warning symbol. For example, an "X" over the dry-cleaning symbol means "do not dry clean." A complete chart of symbols and modifiers is given on page 2. The need for care label symbols as an alternative to written instructions results from increased international trade and, more specifically, from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA requires standardization of care instructions for apparel sold in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Manufacturers can prepare labels written in three languages: English, French, and Spanish, or use more universal care symbols.

Examples of care instructions:

Sampling process Proto sample- made with alternate fabric,trims,labels.usually one size is made Fit sample- made to check proper fittings Size set samples- all sizes is made with actual fabric and trims Pre production samples (PP sample)- before production starts all the sizes are made for checking everything about the style.used as a reference for production.shown to buyer for comments which is incorporated during production. Top of Production (TOP sample)- the first few pieces from the production Sealer sample -the sample taken as a reference that the shipment will be just like it with all packing,hangtags,finish