Why you should start reading “composition and care” labels on garments
Have you ever read the composition label on the items of clothing you wear? It is really important to look at them as you can learn a lot and get some satisfaction as well. Keep reading to discover why!
I have recently started reading the composition labels, so I have found the Instagram live made by Renoon and Dress the change on “Labels and Tags” extremely interesting. If you didn’t know Renoon, I highly suggest you to take a look at their website. But what is it? It is a search platform that helps you find sustainable clothing from multiple websites at once and they have selected almost 200 brands you can shop from.
Let’s start! Here are the basics I’ve learnt so far.
The composition label let us know the textile materials our garments are made of. In other words, it indicates which fabric brands have used to make it (ex: cotton regular denim, viscose etc.) and composition percentage of the material (ex: 100% cotton etc.). It allows us to get an idea of the future life of the garment and the use we will get out of it. Building our wardrobe choosing the best materials is not obvious at all but it is important, because it allows us to avoid disappointment and frustration during the extended life of the garment.
Your experience is probably similar to mine: you bought a new garment and your first thought was to cut the labels. That is really common, right? But why? Because globalised brands have to translate the information in so many languages that the “number” of pages becomes uncomfortable (read: scratchy and obnoxious).
Printing the information directly on the fabric in the inside of a garment could be a solution. But many brands don’t do that. Why? Because they would have to send the fabric panel to a supplier, then wait until it has been printed and sent back to finish the garments. It would be expensive, both in time and expenditures. It’s much easier for brands to buy printed labels, that’s why we don’t see the information printed on the inside as much as we would like.
The “care label”
The information provided in the “care label” is also extremely important as it guides us in the care and cleaning of the item. Companies usually provide the most basic information because it is easier and faster. For example, they usually write only one method of washing and it is usually the harshest way. Most people, and dry cleaners as well, prefer to stick with those indications as it is the “safest way”. However, but most of the time it’s not necessary and there are many others more sustainable ways to wash them.
Is it really “Made in Italy”?
Another important topic to be aware of is the denomination of origin (the “made in …”). Firstly, it is relevant to know that in Europe it’s not mandatory to disclose where the item has been manufactured. That is because of a law created to avoid discrimination based on where the garments are produced. Secondly, it’s important to know this information is mostly only partially true. For example, when you see “Made in Italy” it means only two stages of the production process (called substantial transformations in technical jargon) had to be done in Italy to obtain the certification, but the other substantial transformations can have been contracted out to other countries. In fact, brands usually do everything in cheaper-labour countries and only complete the last stages (ex: to assemble the garment and to pack it) in Italy.
I hope I motivated you to pay more attention to labels in the future! Not only you will more conscious of your purchasing decisions but you’ll also have longer lasting, better quality garments. Now that you have started your journey to conscious consumerism find your sustainable options on renoon.com
Renoon’s mission is to make sure you can combine your love for Fashion and Planet by finding sustainable clothing from multiple websites at once. Start searching today or follow our Instagram account to stay tuned.
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