Care Labels

What a care label has to do

The care label is the small label in the side seam that tells the buyer what the garment is made of and how to clean it. It is the most regulated label in a garment and the one that is read in the laundry, sometimes years after purchase – so the print has to stay legible wash after wash. We produce wash care labels in our own factory in Bulgaria, print them with wash-resistant resin ribbons and inks, and check your layout before it goes to press. With more than 30 years in garment accessories, we know the questions that come up when one garment is sold in many countries.

What goes on a clothing care label

Fibre composition – mandatory in the EU

Under Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names, textile products placed on the EU market must state their fibre composition. Key points to plan for:

• Only the fibre names listed in the regulation may be used, with percentages by weight (for example "80% cotton, 20% polyester"); single-fibre products use "100%", "pure" or "all".
• The information must be in the official language or languages of the Member State where the product is sold to the consumer.
• Labels must be durable, easily legible, visible and accessible.
• Garments containing non-textile parts of animal origin (for example leather trims or fur) must carry the statement "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin".
• Products with several components, such as a lining, may need composition per part.

Care symbols – ISO 3758

Care instructions are not required by the textile regulation itself, but they are expected by consumers and retailers and help protect you against complaints. The symbol system is defined in ISO 3758 (current edition 2023), and the symbols are registered trademarks owned by GINETEX in many countries. Symbols are shown in a fixed order: washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, professional textile care. Each one shows the most severe treatment the garment can take without permanent damage.

Other information

Many brands add the country of manufacture, the brand name, a style or batch number, the size, a supplier or importer address and warnings (for example "wash dark colours separately"). A QR code linking to product information is increasingly common – see our QR and Digital Product Passport-ready labels. For a full overview of the rules, read our article on EU care label requirements.

Multilingual and booklet care labels

A garment sold across Europe may need composition text in ten or more languages. There are three common solutions:

• Single panel – up to about 4–6 languages on one long label, printed on both sides.
• Multi-panel – two or three labels stacked and sewn into the seam together.
• Booklet care label – several pages printed on a continuous strip, folded and sewn at one edge so it opens like a small book. Ideal for 10–25 languages.

Materials

• Nylon taffeta – thin, crisp and coated; the standard for care labels because thermal-transfer print stays sharp.
• Polyester satin – softer and smoother, for lingerie, baby wear and premium garments.
• Cotton tape – natural matte look for organic and natural-fibre lines.
• Tyvek / non-woven – tear-resistant, for workwear, bags and home textiles.

All materials are OEKO-TEX certified. Synthetic tapes are cut ultrasonically or with a hot knife so the edges are sealed and soft. For printing methods and inks, see printed labels.

Sizes and folds

Use our label size guide to estimate how much text fits on each width.

Combine with size and brand labels

Care labels are often produced together with size labels or printed with the size on the first panel. Ordering them with your woven labels keeps colours and timing aligned.

MOQ, lead time and samples

The minimum order is usually 1,000 pcs per design; a design with several sizes or compositions can often be printed as variants in one run – ask us. Production typically takes 10–20 working days after proof approval, with delivery across the EU and express options on request. Digital proofs are typically ready within 24–48 h; physical samples are available before production.

Composition labels (fibre content)

A composition label is the part of the care label that states what the product is made of. It can be combined with the care symbols on one label or produced as a separate composition label – useful when a retailer prescribes a fixed layout, when the text runs into many languages, or when one style is made in several fabric qualities and only the fibre content changes. Under Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011, fibres are listed with their percentages by weight in descending order, using only the fibre names in the regulation. Garments with several parts, such as an outer shell, lining and padding, show the composition per component, and the text appears in the language of each country of sale. We set composition text in a clear hierarchy so the percentages are easy to check, keep the official fibre names for every language in our templates and print on wash-resistant taffeta or satin, including recycled polyester tape. Send us the composition per component and your target countries, and we will return a proof. For the legal detail, read EU care label requirements.

Frequently asked questions