4 Things to Look for on a Garment Label

Clothing labels are one of the most overlooked things on clothes. They are small usually an inch or an inch and a half in size and most times don’t prove interesting enough to us except when it comes to the size and care instructions for the garment. However, labels are an essential part of every piece of apparel.

A garment with a tag strikes a chord of rightness and legitimacy. It also helps us rest easy and not worry about the quality of the material or the brand. Much in the same way that a warranty on electronic products sets our minds at ease because we know where to go to should something go wrong, labels do the same for clothes. Tags contain information about the producers of the item, instructions for care and size of the garment. These labels are also used to ascertain the authenticity of clothes sold in the US and beyond.

WHAT ARE CLOTHING LABELS MADE OF?
Have you ever noticed that almost all of your labels have this glossy finish that feels very nice to touch? That’s because labels are made of acetate coated with satin. This lends it durability and a shiny sheen. Most labels are generally made of this satiny finish however some other labels prefer to come in the same material as the cloth that bears it which might cotton or silk depending on the material used to make the fabric. Overall, the choice of label material depends solely on the brand designing the clothing.

THINGS THAT CAN BE FOUND ON A LABEL.
So what should a label contain? Because a tag is supposed to give the user a lot of information about the clothe and how to care for it well to prevent easy wear and tear, what should stay on the label and what can be forfeit? Certain things just should not be missing from a label. They are very important, and they include;

1. GARMENT SIZE
When you go shopping and see a beautiful top or skirt on display, and you think it might be your size, but you aren’t so sure, what do you do? You check the label right? How else would a buyer be able to spot the size of an article of clothing without being able to check the label? Having a label that clearly shows the size of the material is therefore very important not only to make stocking easier but also to prevent customers from buying clothes that aren’t in their sizes. The size of the clothing is usually written boldly at the bottom part of the label. The sizes usually come in this code S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL which means Small, Medium, Large, Extra-large, Extra extra large and triple Extra large.

2. CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Care instructions are almost as important on a label as the size of the item. Each one of the clothes has care instructions peculiar to it. These care instructions are dependent on the material and chemicals used to make the clothing. Care instructions are essential as they teach the owner of the best way to keep it clean and good-to-use for as long as possible. Some materials do not withstand specific temperatures while others are too fragile to be washed through the usual means and have to be expressly dry cleaned. The care instructions are there to make sure that the buyer does not damage the clothing. Care instructions do not have a particular position on the label, but I must mention that I’ve mostly seen them at the backs of the tags and sometimes they come on a separate label especially when the instructions are very detailed. The care instructions usually contain limits and suggestions on how to clean and maintain the cloth. The information given is arranged under significant groups which include washing, drying, ironing, and bleaching. Most times symbols are used in addition to written words to help you remember the instructions. Care instructions are so necessary that an apparel item can be imported into the country without any care instruction, but it must have one before it is sold.

3. INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATERIAL
I’m sure pretty much everyone has come across material information on their labels. It usually looks like this “90% nylon, 5% cotton, 5% silk”. This is very important information that must be on the label. This is because some people might have reactions to certain fabrics and might not know that a particular clothe contains that fabric and would purchase it. Also, it’s always good for a person to know what it’s made of so that they can make an informed choice to get the clothe or not. Some people are conscious of the environment and would not like to wear clothes whose production process might have endangered the environment so to avoid a possible problem, the labels should be completely honest about what materials their clothes are made of. Lots of clothing fabrics are derived from plastic, and it’s important to let the potential buyer know all the facts before they purchase your product.

4. BRAND NAME
Yes, the brand. From Marks and Spencer to DKNY and other well-known clothing brands, every single article of clothing they release comes out with the brand of the company on it. You might wonder why it’s essential that the brand is there. Most people feel more comfortable wearing a particular brand. These people might overlook your cloth if it does not have a brand on its label. In addition to this, the brand name is vital for references. Someone might wear a Marks and Spencer shirt today and love it. They might also want to look for other clothes that the same designer has done. The label tells them what brand the clothe belongs to. Another angle to this is that should you have complaints to make, then the brand name is readily available for you.

The clothing size, the material from which the garment is made, the care instructions and the brand name are four fundamental things that must be seen on any label. Other things can be added to a label, but these four are the basic.