Care labels might not be the most glamorous part of a garment, but they quietly carry a lot of weight. They tell your customer how to look after their purchase, they protect your product’s longevity, and they even help safeguard your brand. In a time where legislation is shifting and requirements are tightening, giving care labels attention early in the product development process isn’t just smart, it’s essential.
A care label might not look like much. It is mostly just that small piece of fabric sewn into the side seam of a garment, but it carries a lot of responsibility. Its job is to guide the wearer on how to look after the piece so it lasts as long as possible. Think of it as the brand’s little voice, giving advice on washing, drying and handling, all with the goal of keeping the garment beautiful for longer.
For a brand, this is far more than a legal formality. A well-thought-out care label can be part of your durability strategy. It is a direct way to communicate with your customer about quality and longevity, and it can even help protect both your product and your brand from unnecessary claims or complaints. Of course, it all depends on whether the customer follows the instructions, but giving them clear guidance is the first step.
So even though it is small, the care label is an important touchpoint between you and your customer. Treat it with as much care as the rest of your product, because it is part of the story you are telling and selling.
So why do we need that little piece of fabric sewn into every garment? Back in 2011, the EU introduced the Textile Labelling Regulation. It made perfect sense at the time, but let’s be honest, the fashion industry has changed a lot since then. Production is more complex, and we now have far more requirements to consider beyond just ordering a batch of T-shirts.
Right now, the regulation says care labels must be clear, easy to read, and consistent in font, size, and style. There should be a clear separation between textile composition details and other information, like care instructions. The essentials to include are: brand name, country of origin, fabric composition, and care guidance. Read more on the care label content here.
The challenge is that the rules haven’t really caught up with today’s reality. For example, there’s no proper way to state if part of the composition is recycled or organic, because that wasn’t on the radar in 2011. That’s one of the reasons the EU is reviewing the legislation. It also ties into the upcoming ESPR, which may bring an entirely new type of label to add on the garment in the near future.
With changes to care label requirements on the horizon, and their importance only growing, it makes sense to start working on them as early as possible in product development.
There are plenty of good reasons for this. First, it shouldn’t be a last-minute task for your supplier. It’s so much easier to get it right when the details are fresh, for example, right after the main fabric is approved. This way, no one has to dig through old emails or backtrack months later, and the data has far less chance of being wrong. Having the care label ready early also gives your sales team the correct information from the start, so they’re selling the actual product, not a guess.
And let’s not forget durability. Thinking about care labels in the development phase ensures the product can be looked after properly. It helps you choose fabrics, trims, and finishes that won’t leave customers with a “dry clean only” surprise, making the product more sustainable and more appealing from a business perspective. It should be easy for your customer to care for the garment.
Working closely with your supplier here is key. Ask for their recommendations, align on care instructions, and make sure they sign off on them. This protects your brand in terms of claims and gives you confidence that the product care advice is correct from the source. When everyone’s aligned early, you’re not just ticking a box, you’re building a product that lasts and a process that runs smoothly.
At Delogue, we know the care label is more than just a formality, so of course it’s part of the collaborative work you can do in the platform. Because the information comes directly from your suppliers, they can upload it themselves, and you, as the brand, always have the final say by approving the instructions.
The setup is quick. First, you build your library: all the materials you use in compositions, the icons for care instructions, and the written descriptions. You can even store each composition and description in all the languages you need, depending on where you sell your products. This part only needs to be done once by one person, and then it’s ready for everyone in the brand, and your suppliers, to use in their daily work. From there, it’s just a matter of tagging your main fabric as “main.” The platform will automatically pull in the composition and country for the care label. Your supplier can then simply choose the icons and descriptions. It’s fast, it’s consistent, and it means you’re not starting from scratch every time.
Every month, we host a webinar, often in collaboration with our IT solution partners and leading industry brands. The topics vary, but one thing remains the same: we aim to make the fashion industry’s challenges more manageable and share our take on practical, hands-on solutions.
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