Care labels aren’t just for laundry instructions — they’re part of the customer experience.
Understanding them helps your brand avoid product damage, customer complaints, and returns.
At HEM APPAREL, we guide clients on proper care instructions based on fabric type, finishes, and dyeing method — so your garments stay looking good longer.
🧼 What’s on a Care Label?
A standard care label includes:
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Fiber content (e.g. 100% Cotton)
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Country of origin (e.g. Made in Vietnam)
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Care symbols (wash, dry, iron, bleach...)
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Text instructions (e.g. Wash cold, Tumble dry low)
🔍 Common Fabric Care Symbols (and What They Mean)
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🧺 Tub with number | Machine wash, max temp (°C) |
| ❌🧺 Tub with X | Do not wash |
| 🔁 Tub with line | Gentle cycle or hand wash |
| 🔲 Square with circle | Tumble dry |
| 🚫 Square + X | Do not tumble dry |
| ♨️ Iron icon | Ironing allowed (dots = temp) |
| 🧴 Triangle | Bleach allowed (open = any type) |
| 🚫 Triangle + X | Do not bleach |
✅ Use 1–3 icons max for simplicity, especially for retail/merch
🧵 Why Care Labels Matter
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Improve garment lifespan → especially for washed, pigment-dyed, or blended fabrics
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Reduce returns → if a hoodie shrinks and you didn’t warn about cold wash, it’s on you
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Build trust → clear, honest care = professional brand image
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Meet export/import requirements (some regions require care labels by law)
📦 Examples by Fabric Type
| Fabric | Suggested Label |
|---|---|
| 100% Cotton Tee | Machine wash cold, Do not bleach, Tumble dry low |
| Cotton-Poly Fleece | Cold wash, Gentle cycle, Do not iron print area |
| Modal or TENCEL™ | Wash cold, Hang dry, Cool iron if needed |
| Pigment-Dyed Hoodie | Wash separately, Colors may fade, Do not bleach |
🧠 HEM APPAREL’s Tip:
Always test your final garment after all finishing steps — including dye, print, and wash — before finalizing care label.
We can help build your label content or provide label printing & sewing as part of full-package production.
HEM APPAREL – Your trusted manufacturing partner for high-quality custom apparel, made in Vietnam
