Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
A clothing label contains five types of information: fibre composition in percentages, care symbols, size, country of origin and details of the brand or manufacturer. In the EU the composition is legally mandatory, and washing symbols are established practice. If you know where to look for each field, you can read a label in seconds.
Clothing labels – where to find them
Most garments have at least two labels. The main brand label is at the back, under the collar or on the waistband, usually woven or printed with the logo. The care and composition label is most often sewn into the left side seam, at waist height or slightly lower. On underwear and swimwear the composition may be printed directly on the fabric, and on jackets it may be sewn into the inside pocket.
The care and composition label often has several pages sewn together. If you are looking for specific information, unfold them – the first usually shows the composition, the following ones the translations and the symbols.
Step 1: fibre composition
The composition is written with the names of the fibres and their percentages by weight, in descending order: for example "65% polyester, 35% cotton". The names are set out in the European regulation on textile products and must be in the language of the country where the garment is sold.
- "100% cotton" or "pure cotton" means that the product is made entirely of one fibre.
- "Lining: 100% viscose" – for lined products the composition is given separately for each part.
- "Other fibres" – permitted for small amounts of fibres that are difficult to determine during production.
- "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin" – where there is leather, bone, down or similar parts.
Fibre trade marks, such as Lycra, may appear, but only next to the legal name, for example "elastane".
Step 2: care symbols
There are five symbols and they are read from left to right:
| Symbol | Group | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Washtub | Washing | Maximum temperature and programme; a hand – hand wash |
| Triangle | Bleaching | Whether bleach can be used and what type |
| Square | Drying | With a circle – tumble dryer; with lines – natural drying |
| Iron | Ironing | One to three dots – soleplate temperature |
| Circle | Professional cleaning | P, F – dry cleaning; W – wet cleaning |
Remember three rules: dots mean temperature, bars mean a gentler programme, a cross means prohibited.
Step 3: size
The size is usually on the main label or on a separate small label next to it. It may be in letters (S, M, L), numbers (38, 40, 42) or body measurements in centimetres, for example chest girth and height. The European standard EN 13402 recommends that sizes be based on body measurements, but the way of designating size is not legally mandatory and every brand has its own size chart.
Step 4: origin
"Made in…" shows the country where the last substantial processing took place. In the EU, stating the origin is not generally mandatory, but many brands add it voluntarily, and some markets outside the EU, such as the USA, require it.
Step 5: brand details and traceability
The label or packaging usually shows the brand name, an article number, a batch number or a season. The EU General Product Safety Regulation requires the name and address of the manufacturer and an element allowing identification of the product to be on the product or, where that is not possible, on the packaging or an accompanying document. That is why many brands also add these details to the care and composition label.
Example: what a typical label looks like
Here is how the care and composition label of a cotton shirt intended for the Bulgarian market would look, read from top to bottom:
- Brand name or logo and article number.
- "Shell: 97% cotton, 3% elastane".
- Five symbols: washtub with 40 and one bar, crossed-out triangle, square with a circle and one dot, iron with two dots, circle with P.
- Additional text: "Wash inside out".
- "Made in Bulgaria".
If the shirt is also sold in other countries, the composition line is repeated in their languages, while the symbols appear only once.
What is not on the care and composition label
The price, barcode and promotional information are on the cardboard hang tag, which is removed after purchase. The care and composition label stays on the garment for its whole life, so it contains only the permanent information. If you want to learn more about the main brand label, see woven labels and the whole labels category.
Tips for reading the label
- If there are several parts (lining, shell, filling), read the composition for each separately.
- If the symbols contradict your experience, follow the label – the manufacturer has taken the accessories and the lining into account.
- If the label has faded, wash at 30 °C on a gentle programme and air dry.
- Do not cut the care label right at the seam – you might open the seam. If it irritates, cut it carefully, leaving a small part.
What this means for brands
For the manufacturer, a good label is both a legal requirement and part of the impression the product makes. A clear care and composition label with correct names, legible symbols and soft material reduces complaints and shows care for the customer. A label that scratches, fades or has a wrong translation leaves the opposite impression.
Labels for your brand from Polkom
Polkom is a manufacturer of labels and accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags, based in Sofia, with over 30 years of experience. We make care and composition labels with composition, symbols and logo, as well as main brand labels, with a sample before production and delivery across the EU. Send a request for a quote via the contact page.
