Care and fiber labels on lingerie
Two FTC rules decide what goes on the small label sewn into a US bra or pair of briefs: the Care Labeling Rule and the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.
The care label (16 CFR Part 423)
Manufacturers and importers of textile wearing apparel must attach a permanent label that stays legible for the garment's useful life and gives the regular care it needs. If the label is hidden by packaging at the point of sale, the care information must also appear on the package or a hang tag.
| Instruction | What the rule requires |
|---|---|
| Washing | Hand or machine wash, plus a water temperature (cold, warm or hot), unless hot water up to 145 °F will not harm the product. |
| Drying | Machine or another method; a temperature if machine drying, unless high heat is harmless. |
| Ironing | Only if regular ironing is needed, or if a warning is required. |
| Bleach | Nothing if all bleaches are safe; "No bleach" if none are; "Only non-chlorine bleach, when needed" if chlorine bleach is the problem. |
| Dry cleaning | At least one safe solvent, unless all commercial solvents are safe. "Drycleanable" alone is not allowed. |
| Warnings | Required when part of the normal procedure would damage the garment, in clear words such as "Do not" or "Only". |
Care symbols from the ASTM D5489 standard may be used instead of words. Totally reversible garments without pockets are exempt from the sewn-in label, but must still give care information on a hang tag or package.
The fiber label (Textile Act)
The same label usually carries three more things the Textile Act requires:
- Fiber content by generic name and percentage of weight, in order of predominance, for example "82% nylon 18% spandex".
- Country of origin, named specifically. A region such as "European Union" is not enough.
- The manufacturer or dealer, by name or by RN (Registered Identification Number).
Rules that matter most for intimates
Lingerie is mostly elastic, lace and trim, and the Textile Act has specific rules for each.
| Component | Rule |
|---|---|
| Fibers under 5% | Listed as "other fiber", unless the fiber has a clear function. Spandex added for stretch can be named even at 4%. |
| Elastic | Elastic covering 20% or less of the surface can be left out, with the words "exclusive of elastic". Above 20% it must be listed as its own section. |
| Decoration (embroidery, appliqué, lace overlay) | 15% or less of the surface can be left out with "exclusive of decoration". Above 15%, and in a different fiber, it is listed separately. If the decoration is mentioned in marketing, its fiber must be disclosed anyway. |
| Trim | Bindings, tapes, bands and labels are exempt. |
| Linings and padding | Not disclosed if purely structural; disclosed if they add warmth or their fiber is claimed. |
That is why a bra label can read "100% nylon, exclusive of elastic" when the bra plainly contains spandex in its band.