Clothing label requirements: what to put on main, care and size labels
A plain overview of what clothing labels usually need: brand, size, fibre content, care instructions and country of origin, plus how to list them in a tech pack.
Updated 1 October 2026 · By Hem Apparel
Labels do two jobs. They carry your brand, and in most markets they must give the buyer certain information by law. This guide covers the usual label types and the information they commonly carry. Rules differ by country, so confirm the requirements for each market you sell in. This is general information, not legal advice.
The label types
| Label | Purpose | Typical content |
|---|---|---|
| Main label | Brand identity | Logo or brand name, usually at the back neck |
| Size label | Tells the buyer the size | Size, sometimes combined with the main label |
| Care and content label | Required information | Fibre content, care symbols, country of origin |
| Hangtag | Marketing and price | Brand story, style code, barcode, price |
What the law usually asks for
- Fibre content: the percentage of each fibre, such as 95% cotton, 5% elastane. The EU, UK and US all have textile labelling rules covering this.
- Country of origin: where the garment was made, required in the US and many other markets.
- Care instructions: required in the US under the Care Labeling Rule, and widely used elsewhere with standard symbols.
- Identity of the business: US textile rules generally require the name or registered identification number of the responsible business. Check additional product-safety and importer requirements separately for your destination market.
- Size: useful product information, but do not assume the same mandatory rules apply in every market.
Check the current rules for your target markets before ordering labels. Children's clothing, sleepwear and certain products have extra requirements.
Care symbols
Care labels use standard symbols for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional cleaning. Pick the instructions that the finished fabric can really withstand, and test the garment against them.
What to put in the tech pack
- Each label type with its content, language and dimensions.
- Material: woven, printed satin, heat transfer or tagless print.
- Position: for example, centred at the back neck, 1 cm below the seam.
- Attachment: sewn on all four sides, folded loop or sewn in the side seam.
- Artwork file and Pantone colours for each label.
- Fibre content, care symbols and country of origin, written exactly as they should print.
Common label mistakes
- Writing fibre content that does not match the fabric.
- Leaving the country of origin off the care label.
- Putting a scratchy label at the neck with no tagless option.
- Ordering labels before the final fabric is confirmed.