Garment Care labels: To keep or to rip off?

Photo Credit: Anim8

In a recent poll conducted by Trenor Coats and Gowns Limited, we discovered that only 33% of consumers read the clothing care labels before purchasing their garments. Why is this the case? Let’s dive more into this.

What Are Clothing Care Labels

Photo Credit: BBN Times

Clothing Care labels are the tags that are attached to clothing that serve as a means of communication from manufacturers to consumers.

These labels provide information on:

• What fabric(s) the garment is made of
• The origin of the garment
• The size
• At least five symbols show special instructions on how to care for the garment.

Why Are They So Important?

Information provided on care labels should play a key role in influencing purchasing behavior of consumers. Why?

Means of Communication between Manufacturers and Consumers:
Garments manufacturers are responsible for the fabric choices and combinations they make; it is only fair for them to communicate to consumers how to care for the garments. The way out is to attach care labels.

Fabric Preservation for longer use:
The composition of fabrics in a garment determines the characteristics of the garment and decides the cleaning methods that would be appropriate.

Using appropriate cleaning methods helps to preserve fabrics by preventing laundry mishaps such as

• Shrinkage
• Stretching
• Pilling
• Scorching
• Color problems like bleeding etc.

The guidelines manufacturers provide are usually centered around the following:

1. Wash before wear instructions to remove excess dyes and sometimes allergens
2. Cleaning procedures eg. The garment has to be professionally dry cleaned, machine-washed or hand washed.
3. The temperature at which the item can be washed.
   Washing machine cycle required, for example delicate, gentle, or hard.
4. Bleaching instructions
5. Drying method, air dry or tumble dry and the appropriate temperature setting
6. Ironing instructions and temperature
7. Any other special instructions the manufacturer finds beneficial for the care of the garment can be found on the care label.

The Difficulty With Care Labels

Interpreting Symbols
Most care labels have the instructions written in symbols. The difficulty with care labels lays in interpreting the symbols. Many people cannot tell what the symbols mean.

Skin Irritation
Studies have shown that most people rip out the care labels the first time they wear a garment, especially the care labels found around the neck because it gets uncomfortable.

What can be done?

In the case that the care label has to be removed it is best to keep a reference of the label which can always be referred to when it is time to clean the garment.

When washing at home, we strongly recommend that you follow the care label to preserve your clothing.

How much do you know your clothing care symbols?

In our next blog post, we would bring to you the guide to decoding clothing care symbols

At Trenor Coats and gowns Limited, we adhere to garment care instructions.

We also have the expertise in identifying fabrics and assigning the right cleaning method in the case of garments that do not have care labels.

We are the number 1 Laundry and Drycleaning Service on Campus. Our facility is located at Commonwealth Hall, UG Campus.

Call us now at 0245026840 for your complete fabric care done right

Written by :

Loveryn Dodu

Research and Training Supervisor

Trenor Coats and Gowns Ltd

REFERENCES

Classic Cleaners. (2017). Do not remove the care labels in your clothing. Retrieved from https://classiccleaners.net/do-not-remove-the-care-labels-in-your-clothing-heres-why/

Fibre2Fashion. (2021). Care Labelling in Apparels and Textiles. Retrieved from www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/6939/care-labeling-in-apparels-and-textiles/

Wakefield, J. (2016).why care labels are important. Retrieved from www.uklifestylebuzz.com/