Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
The main requirements for clothing labels in the EU come from Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011: every textile product must carry a durable indication of its fibre composition with percentages, in the official language of the country where it is sold. In Bulgaria, this means the composition in Bulgarian. In addition, details identifying the manufacturer or importer are required under the general product safety rules, and care symbols are in practice expected by every buyer.
Below you will find a practical overview for brands, garment factories and importers preparing their labels. This text is not legal advice – if in doubt, check the current version of the legislation or consult a specialist.
Clothing label requirements: what is mandatory
Regulation 1007/2011 governs textile fibre names and the labelling of composition. It applies to clothing, home textiles and all products containing at least 80% textile fibres by weight.
- Fibre composition. The names of the fibres and their percentage by weight are given in descending order, for example "80% cotton, 20% polyester".
- Only approved names. The names in Annex I of the regulation are used (cotton, wool, polyamide, elastane, etc.). Fibre trademarks may appear only next to the official name, not instead of it.
- Language. The information must be in the official language of the member state where the product is made available to the consumer. When selling in several countries, the label is usually multilingual.
- Durability and legibility. The indication must be durable, easily legible, visible and accessible. For clothing, this in practice means a sewn-in label that survives washing.
- Non-textile parts of animal origin. If the product contains, for example, leather or fur, the label must state this with the phrase "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin".
Products made of several parts
When a garment has parts with different compositions – for example shell and lining – the composition is stated separately for each part. A common wording is "Shell: 100% wool / Lining: 100% viscose". Separate labelling is not required for parts under 30% of the total weight, unless they are the main lining.
Tolerances and the word "100%"
The regulation allows certain manufacturing tolerances between the declared and the actual composition. Terms such as "100%", "pure" or "all" are used only when the product really is made of a single fibre, apart from small technically permitted deviations. So do not round the composition "by eye" – take the data from the fabric specification.
Manufacturer details and traceability
The EU general product safety rules (Regulation (EU) 2023/988) require the product or, where this is not possible, the packaging or an accompanying document to bear the name or trademark of the manufacturer, a postal and electronic contact address, and an element identifying the product – a style, batch or article number. Many brands put this information on the care label or on the cardboard hang tag. If the product is imported from a third country, the importer's details must also be present.
Care symbols and size
Regulation 1007/2011 does not make washing symbols mandatory, but they are a market standard and protect the brand from complaints. The ISO 3758 system is used – five basic symbols for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning. You will find the detailed meaning of each symbol under care and composition labels.
Size is not mandatory under the regulation either, but without it a garment is hard to sell. It is often provided as a separate small label or printed together with the composition.
What is not mandatory but recommended
| Information | Status | Where it usually goes |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre composition | Mandatory | Care label in the seam |
| Non-textile parts of animal origin | Mandatory, if present | Care label |
| Manufacturer / importer and contact | Mandatory under the general rules | Care label or hang tag |
| Style or batch number | Mandatory identifier | Care label or hang tag |
| Care symbols | Recommended, market standard | Care label |
| Size | Recommended | Size label or care label |
| Country of origin | Voluntary in the EU | Care label |
| Brand and logo | Voluntary | Main brand label |
Practical tips for preparing labels
- Collect the data from the fabric supplier. Ask for the exact composition of each material – shell, lining, pockets, knit.
- Check the languages. If you sell online in several EU countries, plan a multilingual care label at the design stage.
- Choose a material that lasts. Care labels are washed together with the garment. Printing on satin or polyester taffeta stays legible even after many washes.
- Think about comfort. The label is sewn into the side seam so that it does not irritate the skin. Soft materials are especially important for lingerie and children's clothing.
- Separate the brand from the mandatory information. The main logo label can be woven or leather, and the legal information on a separate printed label. This way the brand look is not cluttered.
You can see a complete solution – brand label, size label, care label and hang tag – in our clothing labels category. For flexible small labels with more text, take a look at our textile labels too.
Labels that meet the requirements – with Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of garment accessories based in Sofia with over 30 years of experience. We make custom woven, printed, care, leather and cardboard labels with the customer's logo and text, produce samples quickly and deliver across the EU. Send us your composition, languages and logo via our inquiry form and you will receive a proposal for your collection's labels. Minimum quantities depend on the article.
