Chapter 9

Question 1

What are Care Labels?

Answer 1

A permanent label containing regular care information and instructions, that is attached in such a manner that it will not become separated from the product and will remain legible during the useful life of the product.
Care codes are the internationally recognized symbols which are used for caring of garments in case of cleaning and ironing. These labels on which these codes are drawn or printed are called care labels.

Question 2

What are the types of Care Labeling symbols?

Answer 2

1. Washing Symbol: This symbol represents washing instructions for the garment. It may include variations such as the appropriate water temperature or recommended cycles.
2. Bleaching Symbol: The bleaching symbol indicates whether the garment should be bleached or not. It shows bleach when needed, only non-chlorine bleach when needed or do not bleach.
3. Drying Symbol: The drying symbol indicates how to dry the garment. It could suggest tumble drying, line or flat drying, or even avoiding the dryer altogether.
4. Ironing Symbol: This symbol signifies the ironing guidelines for the garment. It conveys the necessary temperature settings and whether steam should be used.
5. Dry Cleaning Symbol: The dry-cleaning symbol indicates whether the garment should be professionally dry cleaned.

Question 3

Explain the different types of Care Labeling systems used worldwide?

Answer 3

The Japanese Care Labelling System
The Japanese system, like other care labelling systems must have symbols placed in a specified order. Labels should be designed based on the following convention:
1. Symbols should be arranged from left to right according to the following sequence: 1) Washing, 2) Bleaching, 3) Ironing, 4) Dry-Cleaning, 5) Wringing & 6) Drying
2. For coloured products which are not usually bleached, the symbol for possibility of chlorine bleached may be omitted
3. For products which are not usually ironed, the symbols for ironing may be omitted. (Except ‘cannot be ironed’)
4. For products which can be washed with water, the symbols for dry-cleaning may be omitted. (Except ‘cannot be dry-cleaned’)
5. The symbols should be either in black or dark blue whereas the prohibition symbols are in red and on a white background
The Japanese care Symbols refer https://www.coats.com/en/information-hub/care-labels

The Canadian Care Labelling System
Until July 1973 care labelling was not a legal requirement in Canada. After this date a new care labelling system was introduced. The new Canadian care symbol system used green (go ahead), amber (caution), and red (don’t try) with five symbols which were wash tub, bleach triangle, square dryer, iron, and dry cleaning circle. In 2003 the Canadian system was updated to harmonise with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and (ISO) standards, and the colour code was discontinued.

The European Care Labelling System Symbols refer https://www.coats.com/en/information-hub/care-labels
Individual committees of the European Union are reviewing existing care label standards by collaborating with other international bodies so that they can create a unified system under the ISO scheme.
The symbols used in Europe are trademarked by GENETEX and a trademark fee needs to be paid to GENETEX, the trademark holder, if the garments are to be sold in a GENETEX country.

A correct care label for European countries is required to consist of at least four and sometimes five symbols in the following sequence: 1) Washing, 2) Bleaching, 3) Ironing, 4) Dry-Cleaning & 5) Drying.

The American Care Labelling System https://www.coats.com/en/information-hub/care-labels

According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Care Label rule, care labels may be composed of either words or symbols. Irrespective of whether the content is words, symbols, or both, care instructions appear in the following order:
1. Machine wash / hand wash / dry-clean
2. Washing temperature (hot / warm / cold)
3. Washing machine programme (delicate / permanent press / normal cycle)
4. Bleaching instruction (do not bleach / non-chlorine bleach / chlorine bleach)
5. Drying method (tumble dry / line dry / flat dry / drip dry)
6. Ironing (do not iron / cool iron / warm iron / hot iron)
7. Warnings

Question 4

What are the types of Labels?

Answer 4

1. Main Label:
   The main label contains the Brand name or Brand logo of the buyer such as H&M, American Eagle, Nautica, etc. The brand name is an important factor for any product. Because the customers are targeted the Brand during buying any product. A Brand name is a mental satisfaction about the product from the customer’s point of view. The main label is totally certified in the right quality of the brand.
2. Sub Label:
   Sub Label is not a label by itself but it includes different types of labels. These are in the following:
   Care Label,
   Size Label,
   Price Label,
   Composition Label,
   Special Label,
   Flag Label.

a. Care Label:
Care labels are other important types of the label for the garments. It assists the customers to know how the product should care. It indicates different types of care instruction about the garments such as Washing, Bleaching, Drying, Laundering, and Ironing, if it can be maintained in a directed way, then the garments will achieve higher durability and garments shade will be perfect for its highest period of time.

2. Size Label:
   Size label indicates the size of the garments. Size labels are indicated as S, M, L, XL, where S for small, M for medium, L for large, and XL for extra-large.
3. Price Label:
   The price label indicates the price of the garments.
4. Composition Label:
   The composition label indicates the fabrication and composition percentage of any garments. That means it indicates which fabrication (Cotton Sub denim, Cotton Regular denim, etc.) and composition percentage (95% Cotton 5% Spandex, 100% Cotton, etc.) have followed during its manufacturing.
5. Special Label:
   Sometimes the buyer is advised to use the special label in the garments to attract the customers to their items. Special labels are 100% silk, 100% Cotton, and 100% Leather, etc.
6. Flag Label:
   The flag label is a very small label that contains Brands name or Brands logo of the buyer. It is attached to the side seam of the bottom parts of the clothing.