How do you label what can't be labeled? (fiber content and care)

[Former_Member]

I apologize to those who may have seen this in a different part of the forum, I meant to post it here and I can't delete my other post. I'm new here.

I was wondering about the absolute necessity of care and content labels. What if someone makes clothing out of fabric they've have lying around for years and they don't remember the fiber content and care? I'm thinking of selling skirts I make from old fabric stashes, remanants, recycling parts of old clothing, and found items. This could be hard to label. I could guess, but that's then bordering on fraud and opens the possibility of being sued, by say someone allergic to a fiber.

Is it mandatory to have content/care labels on clothing to sell on Etsy?

[Former_Member]

I've been curious about this too.

[Former_Member]

Yes, you still have to label. Go to the CPSIA website for info. on lableing requirements for selling to kids under 12 and the FTC website on labels for everything re: care and fiber content...

[Former_Member]

You may want to look here: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/textile/bus21.shtm
There is a section for unknown fabric labeling and lots of information on labeling garments and care instructions.

[Former_Member]

All items I would make are for adults, with the exception of catnip toys, if that matters.

[Former_Member]

You would still need to label garments (with a few exceptions) according to the ftc website. You wouldn't need the cpsia labeling requirements unless your making items for children. They are two different entities that have their own set of labeling laws.

[Former_Member]

You can label them as unknown:
Products containing unknown fibers30

If a textile product is made — in whole or in part — from scraps, clippings, rags, secondhand fibers or fabrics, or other textile waste materials of unknown and, for practical purposes, undeterminable fiber content, the disclosure may indicate that this is the case. For example:

Made of clippings of unknown fiber content

100% unknown fibers — rags

All undetermined fibers — textile by-products

100% miscellaneous pieces of undetermined fiber content

Secondhand materials — fiber content unknown

45% Rayon
30% Acetate
25% Unknown fiber content

75% Recycled Wool
25% Unknown Reclaimed Fibers

60% Cotton
40% Unknown fibers — scraps

If on the other hand, the fiber content is known or can be readily determined, the full content disclosure must be given.
Sale of remnants and products made of remnants31

Remnants for sale in a retail store do not have to be labeled individually if a display sign indicates that they are “remnants of unknown fiber content and origin.” Similarly, remnants of known fiber do not have to be labeled individually if a sign indicates the content. For example: “remnants, 100% cotton,” “remnants, 50% rayon, 50% acetate.”

If a finished product is made of remnants of undetermined content, the label would read: “Made of remnants of undetermined fiber content and origin,” or some equivalent statement.

[MySubEarthanCottage]

Marking. Almost all of my fabric stash is either vintage or remnants, so this is very handy info.

[Former_Member]

Does just the main body for the garment have to be tagged, or embellishments too? For instance, I make a skirt out of 100% rayon fabric and I tag it as such, but then I put various trims, ruffles, appliques and perhaps a bow I snatched off an old prom dress. Could the tag read something like "Skirt 100% rayon, trims and embellishments various fibers"?

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Your tag would read 100% rayon, exclusive of decorations.

Now there is a cutoff %, I want to say 15% that the decorations must be less than. You'd have to check the FTC site.

[Former_Member]

JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!!!

quick question, if i may intercede, does the content have to be a label? can it be in the description or added on a card when the product is shipped? like a pin on tag or something?

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

If you are making products on the ftc list of products that must be labeled, you must list the fabric contents and washing instructions on the label sewn in to the garment. Go to the FTC site and find your products.

[hobwicki]

All right, I have looked over that FTC site about 5 times, and I am still trying to determine whether a children's stuffed animal needs a fiber content and care label. I've been looking at plush toys in major stores and checking their labels to get an idea of what I need to go on mine.

So far, most of them don't appear to have separate CPSIA and FTC tags. It looks like they've combined them. I don't have a problem making separate tags for mine, but what I'm still curious about is the fiber content part. While garments break the content down by percentage such as "70% cotton, 30% rayon", stuffed toys have something a lot more vague like "All New Materials. Contents: Polyester fibers and Polyurethane foam".

Interweb search engines have been absolutely no help so far. This thread appears to be an appropriate place for my question. Thank you for any help.

[Former_Member]

And lastly, do products for pets need the same labeling (sew in tag) as clothing?

[Former_Member]

Hi Horrible, here is what the FTC requirements are on animals clothes-

Labeling is not required for other products not specifically mentioned in the statute or rules, or for non-textile products or components, including:
Dog coats, other pet clothing, and pet furniture

Heres the link for future reference-http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/textile/bus21.shtm#covered