APPAREL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT 1

EXPLORATION ON CREATING CARE LABELLING

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VARIOUS ARTICLES OF
APPARELS

HARSHITA TIWARI
(BFT/17/268)

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 CONTENTS

S.NO TOPIC PAGE NO.

1. INTRODUCTION 3
2. IMPORTANCE 3
3. REQUIREMENTS FOR 4
CREATING CARE
LABELS
4. HOW TO WRITE CARE 4-7
INSTRUCTIONS
5. THE CARE LABELLING 7-19
SYSTEM
6. EXAMPLES 20
7. CONCLUSION 20
8. REFERENCES 21

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INTRODUCTION-
A care label is for any information you want to attach to your garment or clothing. Sometimes
they include laundry symbols to indicate how a particular item should best be washed, dry
cleaned or ironed. Or information on the composition of the material. Other times they are
used for branding purposes with logos, websites and contact details. The technological
advances which have occurred in textile,apparel and cleaning industries have had a significant
effect on the care process of apparel.The number of different products with different care
performance characteristics has become so great as to foreclose any responsibility that one
person could ever accumulate personnel information,or be able to recall this information when
it is needed.[1]

IMPORTANCE OF CARE LABEL FOR AN APPAREL-

 Labels in clothes and other textile articles play a huge role in the buying decision of a
consumer. For some, the convenience of dry cleaning might be a reason to pick up a
certain garment, while some might prefer machine wash more economic. Hence
consumers, look beyond the aesthetics and fabric of a product. The after use and
maintenance is vital to push their decision forward or backward to buy.
 Apart from this, the care labeling functions as a guideline to washing and caring. The
instructions also help laundry washers and dry cleaners, while cleaning clothes and
other textile articles like carpets, curtains, or cushion covers for their consumers. It also
serves as guidelines to consumers for increasing the life of a product and can prevent
them from causing damage of a garment.
 Colorfastness, shape, ironing, appearance, are also the matters of concerns with
consumers post purchase of a product. The chemical composition and structure of fibres
used in a fabric decide the method of cleaning and storing an article. According to the
chemical sensitivity of the fabric, the type of detergent, bleaching, or dry cleaning will
be determined, and depending on heat sensitivity of the fabric, the washing, drying, and
ironing will be established.
 Fabrics that are loosely woven, and can easily get out of shape, require special care
while washing, drying, and ironing. All these things help in maintaining the condition
and serviceability of the garments and other products. The creation of a garment or a
textile article adds to the intricacy of caring procedures. It is not possible to add all

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 details to strengthen the life of a product; hence it is only fair on the part of the
suppliers to help customers with care labeling to guide them.[2]

REQUIREMENTS FOR CREATING CARE LABELLING INSTRUCTIONS-

 Various care labelling systems are followed worldwide. Whatever the system may be it
should follow the following principles:
 The care labels should not be visible from outside and should not be inconvenient to the
wearer.
 They should be easily visible and not hidden which would otherwise lead to difficulties
in conveying information.
 The symbols and letters on the labels shall be legible throughout useful life of garment.
 The labels for a particular style should be positioned at one place in all pieces.
 If not readily seen due to packaging, care information must be repeated on the outside
of the package or on a hangtag attached to the product.
 All the symbols used in the care labelling system should be placed directly on the article
or on a label which shall be affixed in a permanent manner to the article.
 Care labels should be made of suitable material with resistance to the care treatment
indicated in the label at least equal to that of the article on which they are placed.
 Label and symbols should be large enough so that they are easily visible and readable
and they denote the maximum permissible treatment for an apparel.
 The consumers should easily understand the symbols irrespective of the language.
 The care instruction symbols are applicable to whole of the garment including
trimmings, zippers, linings, buttons, etc unless otherwise mentioned by separate labels.
 The care symbols selected should give instructions for the most severe process or
treatment the garment can withstand while being maintained in a serviceable condition
without causing a significant loss of its properties.[1]

HOW TO WRITE CARE INSTRUCTIONS-

The label for textile wearing apparel must have either a washing instruction or a drycleaning
instruction. If the product can be washed and drycleaned, the label need have only one of these
instructions. If the product cannot be washed or drycleaned, the label must say "Do not wash -
Do nor dryclean."

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It is recommended, but not required, that the terms defined in the Rule’s glossary be used
when applicable. Symbols that communicate care procedures may be used in addition to
words, but the words must fulfill the requirements of the Rule.[3]

Washing Instructions-
Washing. The label must say whether the product should be washed by hand or machine. The
label must also state a water temperature setting if regular use of hot water will harm the
product.

EXAMPLE MEANING

Machine wash, Warm Use washing machine, warm

setting. (Hot water should not
be used.)

Hand wash, Cold Wash by hand in cold water.

(Machine washing, warm or hot
water should not be used.)

Bleaching.-

 If all commercially available bleaches can be used on a regular basis, the label need not
mention bleach.
 If chlorine bleach would harm the product when used on a regular basis, but regular use
of non-chlorine bleach would not, the label must say "Only non-chlorine bleach when
needed."
 If all commercially available bleaches would harm the product when used on a regular
basis, the label must say "No bleach" or "Do not bleach. "

EXAMPLE MEANING

Machine wash, Warm When bleach is not mentioned,

all commercially available
bleaches can safely be used
when needed.

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Machine wash, Warm. Only non- Non-chlorine bleach can safely
chlorine bleach when needed be used. (Regular use of chlorine
bleach would harm the product.)

Drying. The label must say whether the product should be dried by machine or by some other
method. Unless regular use of high temperature will harm the product when machine dried, no
temperature seeing need be indicated.

EXAMPLE MEANING

Machine wash, Warm. Tumble Hot, medium or low dryer

dry temperature setting can safely
be used.

Machine wash, Warm. Tumble Medium or low dryer

dry, Medium temperature settings can safely
be used. (The hot setting should
not be used.)

Ironing. Ironing information 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, no temperature setting need be
mentioned.

EXAMPLE MEANING

Machine wash, Warm Tumble Iron on a medium temperature

dry, Medium. Warm iron setting. (The highest setting
should not be used.)

Warnings-

 If the consumer may be expected to use a washing procedure that would harm the
product, the label must contain a warning such as "Do not, " "No, " "Only, " or other
clear wording to warn against the harmful procedure. For example, even though ironing
is not regularly needed, and should not be used, the label should state "Do not iron" if
the customer can be expected to occasionally "touch up" the garment.
 If a care procedure on one product could cause harm to another product being washed
with it, a warning must be given. For example, if an item is not colorfast, the label must
say "Wash with like colors" or "Wash separately.

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  Warnings are not necessary for alternate procedures that may be harmful. For example,
if the instructions state "Dry flat, " it is not necessary to give the warning "Do not tumble
dry."

DrycIeaning Instructions

If all commercially available types of solvent can be used, the label need not mention any type
of solvent. If one or more solvents would harm the product, a solvent that is safe to use must
be mentioned.

EXAMPLE MEANING

Dryclean Item can be drycleaned by only

commercial method that uses
any of the available drycleaning
solvents (petroleum,
perchlorethylene, fluorocarbon).

Professionally dryclean Item can be drycleaned by any

Fluorocarbon or petroleum commercial establishment using
fluorocarbon or petroleum.
(Perchlorethylene solvent should
not be used.)

CARE LABELLING SYSTEMS-

At present, there is no universal symbol system. The ASTM symbols are accepted in NAFTA
countries.ISO/GINETEX symbols are accepted in most of Europe and Asia, and Japan has their
own symbol system.Negotiations are under way to harmonies the two major systems; ASTM
and GINETEX, into a truly universal symbol system for care procedures. Among the various
systems the major systems, which are followed worldwide are listed below:[3]

1. International care labelling System (GINETEX)

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2. ASTM care labelling system

3. British care labelling system

4. Japanese care labelling system

5. Canadian care labelling system

6. Indian care labelling system

THE INTERNATIONAL CARE LABELLING SYSTEM-

The International Association for Textile CareLabelling (GINETEX) is the world body which
governs care labels since 1975.Member nations of GINETEX are Belgium, France, Germany,
England, Netherlands, Is rael, Austria, Switzerland, and Spain .Its objectives are to:

 Inform consumers on the correct care labelling of textiles through a system of uniform
and simple care labelling symbols, independent of language
 Achieve and promote voluntary care labelling on an international basis through the
uniform symbols of GINETEX, thus avoiding the use of different systems

The GINETEX care labelling system is based on the following principles:

 The care symbols provide information on the maximum permitted type of treatment
 The care symbols must always be used in full and in the prescribed sequence
 The care labelling must be clear, readily understandable, easy to use and not dependent
on any particular language
 The care symbols must not leave room for possible misinterpretation by the consumer
 Uniform positioning of labels and harmonised use of the care symbols
 The uniform care labelling system using symbols must take account of consumer habits
without using complex technical data
 The appliances used for textile care purposes must ensure the best possible
implementation of the recommended care treatment
 Adaptations which are necessary to keep up with ongoing technical and economic
developments must as far as possible be made without the use of new symbols and
additions in the framework of the existing system[3]

Five basic symbols are used in the International care labelling system in this order:

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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:

 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
 For coloured products which are not usually bleached, the symbol for possibility of
chlorine bleached may be omitted
 For products which are not usually ironed, the symbols for ironing may be omitted.
(Except 'cannot be ironed')
 For products which can be washed with water, the symbols for dry-cleaning may be
omitted. (Except ‘cannot be dry-cleaned’)
 The symbols should be either in black or dark blue whereas the prohibition symbols are
in red and on a white background.[3]

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10
THE CANADIAN CARE LABELLING SYSTEM-
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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.[4]

THE EUROPEAN CARE LABELLING SYSTEM-

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.[4]

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THE AMERICAN CARE LABELLING SYSTEM-
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:

 Machine wash / hand wash / dry-clean

 Washing temperature (hot / warm / cold)
 Washing machine programme (delicate / permanent press / normal cycle)
 Bleaching instruction (do not bleach / non-chlorine bleach / chlorine bleach)
 Drying method (tumble dry / line dry / flat dry / drip dry)
 Ironing (do not iron / cool iron / warm iron / hot iron)
 Warnings

In addition to the care label instructions, manufacturers and importers must provide labels
that:[4]

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  Are permanently attached so that they can be easily seen at the point of sale. If the
product is packaged, displayed or folded so that the customers cannot find the label,
care information must also appear on the side of the package or on a hang tag
 Remain fastened and legible during the useful life of the product
 Mention the regular care needed for the ordinary use of the product
 Warn the customer about additional factors which may harm the garment

Since December 1996, a new system using only symbols and no words has been used in the
United States of America. The revised care symbols developed by the American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM) with their meanings are listed below.

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THE INDIAN CARE LABELLING SYSTEM-
The symbols used in Indian care labelling system are same as that of International care
labelling system. The five basic symbols are washtub, triangle, iron, circle, circle inside a square
for the processes of washing, bleaching, ironing, dry-cleaning, and tumble drying processes
respectively. The cross symbol superimposed on any of the basic symbols indicates the
treatment is not permitted. As Negotiations are under way to harmonise the two major
systems; ASTM and GINETEX, into a truly universal symbol system for care procedures.[3]

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FABRIC PERFORMANCE CODES-
The Premiere Vision Performance Codes were created to highlight specific properties or qualities of the
fabric. These are value-added characteristics of the fabric which may or may not be visible to the
buyer.[5]

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EXAMPLE OF CARE LABEL ON JEANS-

CONCLUSION-
For consumers care symbols make sense when they can understand and follow the instructions.
Symbols should provide the same information to everyone without language barriers. It is also
very much essential for the garment manufacturers to make awareness campaign regarding the
utility of care labels for the consumers. However, while applying the care labels it is very
important for the garment manufacturers to understand the comfort criteria of care labels.
Smaller labels cost less to buy or manufacture and also cost less to inventory. Eliminating the
need for different labels for different countries can further reduce total inventory. So, all the
manufacturers should attach care labelling instructions to the garment for the benefit of the
consumers and to keep their brands at a higher position. Due to globalisation and liberalisation
processes it becomes more relevant for the garment manufactures to use care labelling
systems in the apparel.[2]

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 REFERENCES
1.Managing quality in apparel industry-Mehta and Bharadwaj 2006 edition

2. The Importance’s of Care Labeling in Apparels and Textiles by Prakash Khude

, International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,Engineering and Technology, Vol. 6, Issue 7, July
2017

3.Care labeling of apparels,by K.N.Chatterjee,R K Nayak,September 2006,www.indiantextilejournal.com

4. Care labels-www.coats.com/en/Guidance/Care-Labels

5.Care label recommendations by Intertek Solutions

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