Essential Clothing Label Guide: What You Need?

At DiZNEW, we work a lot with fabric and know that there is a wealth of detail behind every piece of fabric. From the composition of the fabric, to the fiber content, to the appropriate care and washing methods, every symbol on the label is important. If you want your clothes to last a lifetime, then the following information is your "instruction manual" for caring for them.

Many people look at the small print and icons on the inside of their clothes and just flip through them. However, these seemingly useless items actually contain a lot of information.

On the label, you will see something like "100% Cotton", "80% Polyester / 20% Viscose" in English, or "Ingredients: 80% Cotton, 20% Polyester" in Chinese. 20%” in Chinese. Common fabrics include:

·Cotton (Cotton): comfortable, breathable, good moisture absorption, but easy to wrinkle and easy to shrink, suitable for idle / daily wear.

·Polyester (Polyester): good toughness, easy to take care of, not easy to wrinkle, but moisture absorption is poor, wearing feeling a little inferior.

·Viscose: good drape, skin-friendly, but easy to deform, must be washed carefully.

·Silk: high-grade fabrics, smooth touch, light and breathable, but very delicate, only dry clean or hand wash

·Hemp (Linen / Hemp): heat-absorbing, breathable, antibacterial, but easy to wrinkle, need to special ironing care.

·Wool (Wool): warm, mostly used in fall and winter, but easy to shrink, pilling, usually hand wash or dry clean.

- 40% Polyeste

·Breathability: cotton, linen > silk > wool > polyester

·Softness: silk > cotton > wool > polyester

·Warmth: wool > silk > cotton > polyester

·Easy care: polyester > cotton > hemp > wool > silk

·Moisture wicking: cotton, hemp > silk > wool > polyester

Knowing this can better help you pick the right fabric for the right season. In summer, you can pick breathable and sweat-absorbent cotton and linen, in spring and fall, you can choose thin wool or silk, and in winter, you should wear thick wool or down.

Pail pattern with numbers: indicates the maximum washing temperature, such as "30", "40", "60", "95 ", etc. The unit is degree Celsius.

·30℃: cold or lukewarm water is recommended for cleaning, suitable for most chemical fiber, silk, wool and other delicate fabrics. 

·40℃: suitable for cotton, blended fabrics; most daily clothes can withstand.

·60 ℃: suitable for clothing with high hygiene requirements, such as bed sheets, towels, underwear, etc..

·95 ℃: high-temperature cooking and washing, general industry or special family use is less common

Note: There is a short horizontal line “_” above the pail pattern:

·"Short horizontal line": gentle mode or hand wash mode, reminds you to be ‘gentle’.

·Two short horizontal lines "= =" above the pail pattern: Very gentle mode, similar to "gentle + low speed" / "gentlest".

·At the bottom of the tub pattern there is a palm symbol: "Hand wash only", machine wash will damage the fibers.

·A cross on the pail pattern: indicates "not washable".

The origin is not only an important factor that consumers consider when choosing clothing, but is also closely related to the country/region's production standards, environmental regulations, labor conditions, etc. A common labeling method is to directly write "Made in XXX" on the label.

·EU and U.S. regulations: the actual "last substantial place of processing" or "place of origin" must be truthfully labeled. If only the labeling process was done in a certain place, the "rules of origin" must also be followed.

·China's "origin" norms: For export trade, many companies will mark "Made in China", while indicating other countries' sources on accessories and designs.

In order to prevent counterfeit goods and trace production batches, brands usually print a unique "Serial Number" or "Model Number" on the label. Sometimes the same or different serial numbers appear on the packaging box, internal care label, hang tag, and clothing label, which are used for:

·Authenticity verification: Enter the serial number through the official website or offline authorized channels to check whether the model is genuine.

·Tracing production batches: When quality problems occur, the serial number can be used to determine the production date, factory information, fabric batch, etc., which is convenient for recall or after-sales processing.

·Inventory control: For brands, serial numbers help manage inventory, sales channels, sales time periods, etc.

In short, clothing labels contain a lot of practical information, which not only helps you make wise purchasing decisions, but also guides you to properly care for your clothes and extend their life. Next time you go shopping, take a few more seconds to look at the label, it is often more important than you think!

If you want to know more about fabrics or washing and care, please feel free to consult us. DiZNEW focuses on clothing and fabric details, and answers every question for you with professionalism!

The three essential rules for clothing labeling, mandated by regulations like the FTC Care Labeling Rule, are clearly stating the fiber content (e.g., "100% cotton"), providing standardized care instructions (such as washing symbols), and disclosing the country of origin to ensure transparency, consumer safety, and garment longevity—empowering shoppers to make informed, eco-friendly choices.

Clothing labels clearly display essential information including the garment's fiber composition (like cotton or polyester), detailed care instructions (washing/drying symbols), country of origin, size, brand identity, manufacturer details (RN number), and safety certifications – empowering you to understand exactly what you're buying and how to maintain it properly.

The '30' symbol on clothing labels indicates the maximum safe wash temperature in Celsius (30°C / 86°F), typically for delicate fabrics like wool or synthetics—always wash at or below this temperature to prevent shrinkage, fading, or damage, and pair with gentle cycle for best results.