Anjali Khot, Asst. Prof., MGM IFD
Everyone looks for labels attached to apparel while purchasing. Whether you are purchasing it on-line or in the store, you only look for brand label, size label, any designer’s name or logo on it. In-fact, it has become fashionable to put labels on the outside of garments! But very few are aware about care label attached to it!!!
WHAT ARE CARE LABELS USED FOR THE APPARELS?
Care labels are those which provide care instructions and use guidelines on it. And these are attached to the inside of garments so that customer can see it, read it before purchasing. Customers can make informed purchase decisions concerning care characteristics of competing products.
The International Association for Textile Care Labeling ( GINTEX ) is the world body which governs care labels since 1975.Generally, written instructions have been used on care labels. But now it has been permitted to use specified care symbols in place of words to avoid care labels in different languages for the garment manufacturer
MOST COMMONLY USED CARE SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANING
The International Care Labeling System consists of five basic symbols in the following order-
- A wash tub indicating wash
- A triangle indicating bleach
- A square indicating drying
- A iron indicating ironing
- A circle indicating dry-cleaning
The variations in the instructions are given in the following table –
WHY TO KNOW ABOUT CARE LABELS?
Everyone wants garments for the long life & durable.
- Care instructions are small solutions to big problems. They provide you guidelines about apparel care, and the best cleaning procedures to be used for a particular fabric.
- Fit and appearance of the garment will be maintained after repeated cleaning procedure.
- Care instructions provides
instructions on the following properties of garments –
- Shrinkage or growth
- Color fastness
- Overall appearance after washing or dry-cleaning i.e. durable press appearance
- Change in seam or fabric strength
- It provides you an implied guarantee of garment under specified conditions
- Garment damage caused by improper cleaning procedures can be avoided.
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HOW TO READ THESE LABELS –
So, if you have the habit of grabbing at first sight, be aware!!! Look for care labels attached to it. You can decide your purchasing, if care instructions are convenient to follow. Want to extend the life of your favorite dress, take care!!!