Textile labelling requirement

Here is an overview of what needs to be marked and what does not:

What does the Textile Labelling Act stipulate?

The Textile Labelling Act stipulates how the different fibers from which textile products are made must be declared to consumers.

What is a textile product?

According to the German Textile Labelling Act (TextilKennzG), a textile product is a product that is made from textile raw materials to at least 80% of its weight. This 80% clause serves to also include textile products that are not made entirely from textile raw materials, such as knitwear with leather trim. However, this foreign material content must not exceed 20% of the total weight of the product.

Textile raw materials

Textile raw materials are fibers, including animal hair, that can be spun or processed into textile fabrics, as well as flexible tapes and tubes with a normal width of no more than 5mm.

Label-free items

There are a total of 43 products that do not require labeling. These include, among other things, fabrics for reinforcements and stiffeners, used ready-made textiles, felt hats, and zippers.

What information must be included on the label?

Fiber composition

The law requires that the fiber type and its percentage in the textile product be stated. This information must be listed in descending order of percentage. The use of brand names (such as Trevira instead of polyester) is not permitted. Furthermore, the percentages must be given.

Correctly labeling fiber composition

• Labeling of 100% pure textile products:
  If only one fiber was used for the textile product, it may bear the suffix "100%", "pure" or "all", for example 100% cotton for a T-shirt which consists solely of cotton.

• Labeling of Multifiber Textile Products:
  If several different fibers are used in a textile product, it is considered a multifiber textile product. In this case, all fibers must be listed in descending order of their percentage by weight. The percentage of each fiber by weight must also be stated. It is important to maintain the correct order. For example, if a shirt is ¾ cotton and ¼ polyester, the textile labeling would be as follows:
  75% Cotton
  25% Polyester

• Labeling of Multi-Component Textile Products
  Multi-component textile products are textile products made up of several components, for example, an outer fabric and a lining. These different components have varying fiber contents, so each component must be labeled individually. For example, if we want to label a coat made of an outer fabric and a lining, and both components have different fiber contents, the correct labeling would look like this:
  Outer fabric: 85% virgin wool
  , 15% polyacrylic
  ; Lining: 80% viscose
  , 20% polyester

Manufacturer

Furthermore, the manufacturer of the textile product must be indicated on the label in the form of a contact address including name, street, house number, postal code and city.

Language to be used

The information on the label must be provided in the official language. A distributor in Germany must therefore provide all information in German; however, additional information in other languages ​​is permitted.

Additional markings

The literal statement "contains non-textile parts of animal origin" must be included if a textile product contains non-textile parts of animal origin (such as fur or leather). The law stipulates that even the smallest quantities, such as buttons, must be labeled.
The term "other fibers" must be used if the fiber constitutes up to 5% of the total weight, or if several fibers constitute up to 15% and are not listed in Annex I of the EU Regulation on Textile Labelling. ( https://www.haendlerbund.de/de/downloads/textilkennzeichnung-faserbezeichnungen-eu-verordnung-1007-2011.pdf )

Origin labeling and care instructions

Designations of origin (Made in…) are voluntary within the European Union. Outside the European Union, designations of origin are often mandatory.

Care instructions are not mandatory, but many companies provide them voluntarily. They help consumers clean their textiles correctly.

Why and where to voluntarily display care symbols

Care symbols are intended to make it easier for consumers to care for their textiles. It is questionable, however, to what extent consumers can determine the correct cleaning method for their textiles if they only have the material composition. If manufacturers include care instructions, they should place them near the fiber composition information on the garment so that they are easily accessible to the consumer.
As long as the fiber content information is clearly separated from the care instructions, the law permits both pieces of information to be displayed on the same label.

What are care symbols?

A care symbol is a pictogram, a simplified graphic representation designed to convey information. In this case, manufacturers want to inform consumers about the recommended care of textiles regarding washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and professional cleaning.
A license from an international member organization of GINETEX is required to use care symbols. The currently valid international standard for care labeling is ISO 3758, which ensures consistent care labeling worldwide.

What do the care symbols indicate?

The care symbols indicate the maximum permissible treatment that the textile can withstand in the long term. Bars below the care symbols indicate particularly gentle treatment, while a cross completely prohibits that treatment.