Apparel Quality Management Assignment 1-Care Labels
Apparel Quality Management Assignment 1-Care Labels
ASSIGNMENT 1
HARSHITA TIWARI
(BFT/17/268)
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CONTENTS
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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]
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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]
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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
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
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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
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
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
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2. ASTM care labelling system
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 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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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]
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:
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
4. Care labels-www.coats.com/en/Guidance/Care-Labels
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