Proper Marking?

[Former_Member]

I make childrens knit and crochet hats, scarves and cowls.

What is the proper way to 'mark' these?

Do I have to have a tag sew on with my company name or can I just have some sort of distinguishing mark embroidered on?

[Former_Member]

I believe that you have to label these items with your name or your shop's name, contact info like phone or email, date of manufacture, materials like acrylic

All that info would be hard to embroider on to a knit item.

The customer needs to have a way to reach you if there is a problem with the item in, say 2 years.

Of course, the customer can always remove the label you so carefully sewed onto the item.

[Former_Member]

LILGIRLCA is correct. Clothing items have always required a tag from what I have read on these forums, not just since the CPSIA act. Besides what she mentioned, I believe care instructions are required as well...

There are shops here on etsy that can make customized labels for you, or other places on the net. I don't think it would be difficult to sew on a label after an item has been created in an unnoticeable location, ei, inside the hat, etc.

[Former_Member]

At this time neither FTC or the CPSC has said officially it is legal to combine their two labels into one. They are two seperate agencies with different requirements to be compliant under the different laws that each agency is in charge of overseeing.

The CPSIA tracking labels are required on all childrens item producted after Aug 14th 2009 you need a permanantly attached tracking label according to the CPSIA. This label's purpose is strictly so when the CPSC issues a recall on a product there is an easily identifiable and similarly formated label that any adult can readily read to see if that specific item is on the recall list.
For a crafter the CPSIA label must include at minimum :
* Your company, shop name, or RN#
* The city, state/territory, & country where the item was completed
* The date of manufacture or completion of the product
Unless, you want to do not include an actual street address, personal e-mail, or phone #, you just might get some unusual persons bothering you.

Additional warning labels (certain ones can be removable) concerning things like choking on small parts may be required dependant on your finished product. See these for more info http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect103policy.pdf &
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect103.html#103q8


The FTC labels are completely different requirements from a seperate government agency. These labels are required on most, but not all, fabric and fiber based products regardless of the user age. Certain items like hair accessories, hats, socks, and purses are exempt, but there are a surprising number of non-clothing items that require the FTC labeling. Certain types of products do require the information but in a removable tag format. Keep in mind once you put any FTC label style information on a label or tag you maybe liable under the FTC laws to go the complete route of their labeling requirerments to include not only what the materials is but where the actual material came from and the wash & care of the item. Basically it's hidden somewhere in the FTC pages once you start to include any of their info you must include all of it even if your product is exempt under their rulings from their labeling. See http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/textile/bus21.shtm#covered for more FTC info.

[Former_Member]

So I have to include my shop name, state and country the item was made in, date it was manufactured and materials used/item care.

Like:
Stephanie Caldwell
MI, USA
07 Nov 09
Cotton Blend Yarn
Handwash, Lay flat to dry

how in heck am i suppossed to fit that all onto one little tag?

And on a childrens item where the tag could cause irritation on their head or neck?

Really?

[Former_Member]

Well I guess that would fit but it wouldn't look nice.

How can I make that go along with the overall look of the item. I don't want an info jammed tag on there. Who wants that on a handmade item they buy?

[Former_Member]

You just have to have the tags sewn on. However, the buyer will remove them if they are bothersome to the wearer so all these tags that CPSIA and FTC require get removed.

When the child outgrows the item and it is still in good condition, it will get donated or sold at a garage sale. But the tags are missing so the donation or sale is not legal

There really is no place to sew a tag in clothing that will not irritate. Some manufacturers are sewing the tags into the side seams just above the waist -- a very sensitive place.

[Former_Member]

marking

[Former_Member]

StephanieCaldwell says:
So I have to include my shop name, state and country the item was made in, date it was manufactured and materials used/item care.

Like:
Stephanie Caldwell
MI, USA
07 Nov 09
Cotton Blend Yarn
Handwash, Lay flat to dry

how in heck am i suppossed to fit that all onto one little tag?

And on a childrens item where the tag could cause irritation on their head or neck?

Really?
_________________________________________________________

A little bit wrong, you have the mostly correct info for the CPSIA tracking label but you are lacking what town.
So my CPSIA compliant tracking label would read:
jewelrydesignsbyME
Toms River, NJ, USA
DOM 11/08/09

The big error is in what you have down for the FTC information, which my need to be a seperate label, you need to include this at minimum
# a company identifier - logo, RN number, or brand name
# % of each material or fabric used
# the location each material or fabric was manufactured if different from the country the completed item was made
# where the finished item was completed by country
# washing technique (ie handwash in mild detergent; machine wash no bleach)
# method of care (ie no iron; dry flat; low heat dryer)
# style name or number
Clothing and certain accessories require size information as well, also run/dye lot # my be required if multiples are made with different starting batches of raw materials. Certain items do also require the international symbols regarding their wash & care instruction.
So to take one of my mother's afghans as a FTC label example it would read:
Designed by M E
90% Cotton yarn - Egypt
10% Polyester yarn - Israel
Assembled in the USA
Hand or machine wash gentle
Mild detregent
Dry flat, no iron
Style # 70x30blueDBME (in this case the size/color/company intials)
Lot # 3679 (in this case the lowest lot # of the yarn used)

As to the size of the tag I do believe the FTC has regulations depending on the size of the tag as to the font size and where certain parts of the information is to be located. The CPSC to date has not issued and regulations on the size of the label or the print on it, just that the label must be readable and easily recognized as a tracking label.

If the item your referring to in your example is a hat or cap it would be exempt from the FTC labels, but if you start listing any of their required info you must list all of their info. If your exampleis from a scarf the the label requirements would remain inforce. With the CPSIA tracking label if it significantly interferes with the function or use of the item then the tracking info can be included on the packaging of the finished product. As LILGIRLCA pointed out though once either the FTC or the CPSIA labels are removed the item can not be legally sold or donated unless it is going to a different purpose like jeans being made into green insulation.

[Former_Member]

If I'm selling embellished onesies from American Apparel can I just leave their tag? Then I'm just reselling it and I'm compliant but then I have to create my own tag as well?

[SewFunDollClothes]

thecheekyprincess, yes, you have to include your own tracking label with the info jewelrydesignsbyME mentioned above (name, town, date).

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

And you can't call American Apparel bodysuits onsies. That is a trademarked name of Carter, and only Carter. You can get your listing pulled.

[SewFunDollClothes]

FayeMaloneDesigns says:
And you can't call American Apparel bodysuits onsies. That is a trademarked name of Carter, and only Carter. You can get your listing pulled.

________________

Wow ... I didn't know that! Not that I make onesies (not too many American Girl dolls wear them lol), but still - I sold a bunch of my granddaughters outgrown onesies ... er ... bodysuits at Ebay.

I'm amazed that at my age I can still Learn Something New Every Day! :)

[Former_Member]

Faye, actually it's Gerber that holds the trademarked name of "onesies". No other company can use the word bodysuit style baby wear to describe their products without the express written permission from their lawyers. This includes crafters that use a package of Gerber onesies as blanks for their finished product. When I owned a maternity & baby boutique I even had to have an authorized reseller's certificate notarized by Gerber's legal dept to be able to advertise that I carry the Gerber onesies.

[Former_Member]

can use the word bodysuit style = can use that word for a bodysuit style

[Former_Member]

jewelrydesignsbyME says:

If the item your referring to in your example is a hat or cap it would be exempt from the FTC labels, but if you start listing any of their required info you must list all of their info. If your exampleis from a scarf the the label requirements would remain inforce. With the CPSIA tracking label if it significantly interferes with the function or use of the item then the tracking info can be included on the packaging of the finished product. As LILGIRLCA pointed out though once either the FTC or the CPSIA labels are removed the item can not be legally sold or donated unless it is going to a different purpose like jeans being made into green insulation.

:::::::::::::::::

So in hats and caps you do not need a FTC label but a scarf you do. Unless the label interferes with the function or use of the item. But both items need a CPSIA label? I can include FTC info on a seperate tag on the packaging? Can i include the CPSIA tag on the packagin or does it HAVE to be on the item?
Are we (the creator) held resposible for a sale of our item after a tag has been removed later. It's not like we can keep track of it after we sell it...

[Former_Member]

Basically if you start permanantly tagging a FTC exempt item with any FTC style information, I know you have to go the whole route of tagging with all the FTC information. The way I understand it is if you sew a label directly on the product and it has any of the FTC required info you have to do it all. So a cap with a label that reads :
"Designs by ME
100% Cotton"
with the additional info on the a hang tag would not be acceptable or legal. I would either have to ommit the 100% cotton portion or leave off the label altogether. But personally I don't know if you only put partial FTC information on the hang tag or on the packaging for an FTC exempt item if that is legal or if you still have to go all the way with the info.

The CPSIA is a whole different kettle of worms, they have not given a product by product exemption from direct product permanant tracking labels like the FTC has. With just a guideline stating about if the label interferes with the function or detracts significantly from the appearance of a product or that the writing on the product would be too small to read easily, your judgement to not label the product directly can always be challenged. If the opposing party can logically argue to the CPSC that a label could of been placed permanantly on the product then you open yourself up to fines just as serious as any other part of HR4040.
Also it's not legal for someone to sell even as second hand any child under 13 products made after 8-14-09 without the tracking label. So it might be wise to include on a non-permanant label or on the package that resale without the tracking information is illegal.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

Thanks JDM for catching that Carter/Gerber mistake. It's been a while since I bought baby clothes. HAHA!

As to the CPSIA tags, you can't just say, I don't like the way it looks on my scarf, skirt, bodysuit that I embellished, or whatever. If it can be sewn on, it must be sewn on. Hairbows, booties can be stickered on the packaging. They are too small, for a sewn on tag. A skirt, dress or other clothing items are not.

[Former_Member]

any and all of this is good info Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Marking....if I keep reading this stuff over and over hopefully it will sink in one of these days. :>o

[sheilascrafts43]

I am selling crocheted baby hats, Can i put a hang tag on it with all my info or does it have to be sewn in?

[sheilascrafts43]

I really need help on this so I can get to work listing.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

I've answered this on the page before this. No, you must sew on a label if you can, and there should be no reason that prevents you from hand stitching on a label on a knit or crocheted hat. Have you read any of the other threads on labeling? This has been asked and answered repeatedly. Please don't take this as being snotty, but it is frustrating when the same question is asked over and over again, and we keep answering it over and over again.

[Former_Member]

I was reading what jewelrydesignsbyME said about labeling. If I put a CPSIA label on a hat (for instance) and also added that it is made of 100% acrylic, I am then obligated to add all other pertinent information that is required by the FTC because I added the contents to the CPSIA label? Is this correct?

[Former_Member]

The CPSIA wants their label to be easily found with all their info printed on the pertinent information on the front. As of right now they require from crafters at the very least:
* Your company, shop name, or RN#
* The city, state/territory, & country where the item was completed
* The date of manufacture or completion of the product
For larger producers thay want in addition to above:
+ Style/Model number
+ Batch/Lot number
The CPSIA does not require any material information to be included on their label. Once you do start to include any content information, if your items are fabric or fiber based, you are techincally making a combined CPSIA and FTC label.

At this time neither FTC or the CPSC has said officially it is legal to combine their two labels into one. They are two seperate agencies with different requirements to be compliant under the different laws that each agency is in charge of overseeing. The FTC has specific requirement on how the labels must be printed in so far as what size the print must be based on the size of the label and what must be visable on the front and what is allowed on the be on the back. If you try to combine what the two agencies require to be readily visable the front, that label will be rather long.