When you start a clothing line, it quickly becomes about designs, fabrics, and production. But as soon as you sell clothing, you also have to deal with legal requirements regarding labels, care instructions, and material listing. In this article, we provide you with a clear overview of what you need to arrange at a minimum.
Many starting brands underestimate the importance of good care labels. However, this is not only about aesthetics, but also about legislation, liability, and customer satisfaction. An incorrect or incomplete label can lead to complaints, returns, or even problems with regulators.
In this blog, we explain:
- what information is mandatory on a care label
- what to pay attention to when listing material and origin
- how to safely handle sustainability claims
- how this relates to UPV textiles
This article is part of our guide for starting a clothing line.
1. What is mandatory on a care label
In Europe and the Netherlands, there are rules for the information on clothing labels. The core: the customer must be able to see honestly and clearly what he or she is buying and how the product should be cared for.
Main components on your label:
- Material composition (for example 100 percent cotton, 80 percent cotton / 20 percent polyester)
- Washing and care symbols (washing, drying, ironing, bleaching, dry cleaning)
- Information about the manufacturer or importer (for example company name)
- Sizing (for example S, M, L or 36, 38, 40)
Ensure that this information is presented clearly and durably. Labels that fade or become unreadable cause frustration for your customer and can lead to problems if complaints arise.
2. Material listing and origin
Material listing is not only a service, but also mandatory. You cannot just use random terms; the names for fibers and percentages must match the actual composition.
What you need to pay attention to:
- The sum of all fiber percentages must equal 100 percent.
- Use correct terminology (for example, cotton, linen, polyester, viscose).
- Are you working with lining or multiple layers? Indicate what is relevant for the wearer.
Origin labeling (for example, “Made in Portugal”) is common in many cases and sometimes desired for transparency and brand story. Ensure that this information matches where the actual production takes place.
3. Washing instructions and symbols
Most customers do not look at text, but at the symbols on a label. So make sure you use the correct symbols and that they match the material and construction of your garment.
Practical tips:
- Test your samples thoroughly in the wash before you choose final instructions.
- Use only symbols that you can justify (for example, do not recommend washing at 60 degrees if the fabric cannot withstand it).
- Be realistic: better to be a bit cautious than to give overly aggressive washing advice.
A clear care label prevents a large part of complaints such as shrinking, pilling, or fading.
4. Sustainability claims: be specific and honest
More and more brands are using terms like “sustainable,” “green,” “eco,” or “conscious.” But such claims are under scrutiny. Vague or misleading sustainability claims can lead to issues with regulators and consumer organizations.
Safer way of communicating:
- Be specific: “made from 100 percent organic cotton, GOTS certified” is better than “sustainable fabric.”
- Substantiate claims where possible with certifications or clear explanations.
- Avoid absolute terms like “100 percent sustainable” – almost never true.
Also in relation to UPV textile (Extended Producer Responsibility), transparency will become increasingly important. More on this in our separate explanation: UPV legislation for textiles.
5. UPV textile and what this means for your clothing line
Since the introduction of the UPV textile, producers and importers are responsible for the collection and processing of textiles at the end of their lifecycle. This has implications for how you view your collection, materials, and return flows.
Although UPV does not directly prescribe what must be on your label, it does ensure that:
- you must choose more consciously for reusable or recyclable materials
- you want better insight into the composition of your products
- you will think more about circularity and reuse
A comprehensive overview of UPV, obligations, and how we help brands can be found here: UPV legislation for textiles.
6. Checklist for your care labels
Use this short checklist when designing or checking your labels:
- Is the material composition clearly and completely stated?
- Are the percentages correct and do they add up to 100 percent?
- Do you use internationally recognized symbols for washing and drying?
- Is the size clearly indicated?
- Is your brand name or producer visible somewhere?
- Are any sustainability claims concrete and substantiated?
Are you in doubt? Then it is wise to discuss this in the sample phase with your workshop or a specialist, so you don't have to make adjustments later.
Need help with labels and production?
At Atelier Jungles, we help starting and growing brands not only with clothing production in the Netherlands, but we also think along about labels, materials, and legislation.
Do you want to discuss your plans or know what is feasible for your brand?
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