Repurposed/Upcycled/ Fabric and Labels

[Former_Member]

I make mostly children's items and use only recycled/upcycled fabrics. I know most fabrics (not wool, I think) are exempt from testing but need to be labeled. I believe hats are exempt from labels, but I would like to label them. Also I would like to branch out to other items.

I know that there is some legal way to label that your fabrics are recycled, but I think that might imply to buyers that the fabric is actually shredded and re formed into a new fabric. This is not what I do, I cut up the garment and re use the fabrics. I use several kinds of fabric in one project, so no one label seems like it would work. I could say made of 100 % repurposed fabric, but that is not really very much information. Is that enough? Or maybe the buyer just needs to be able to trace back to me in case anything happens.

I know many of you also upcycle. What do you do? How do you manage the label situation for repurposed fabrics?

I would love some help on this.

[Former_Member]

marking...I interest in others info too.

[Former_Member]

Check the FTC website and see if there is any information there....Good Luck

[Former_Member]

Thanks TerraLunaDesigns, I did. I have seen it before but it was a good idea to give it another look. It does allow for remenants scraps, etc. It seems that it allows for you to mark items "fiber content unknown" of "fabric unknown" but I am still hoping someone has a less vague way of succinctly putting this. The fabrics are not unknown, they are too numerous to list, but that sounds ridiculous. I am still hoping someone might have some creative labeling advice....

[Former_Member]

we repurpose fabric as well, from what i could see on the gov website it is legal to state the the fabrics have been repurposed and the fabric content unknown.. or these are the suggested phrasing by the gov ....

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

- you can check this out at
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/textile/bus21.shtm#fiber

[Former_Member]

greenhotmama, i like your suggestion:
"made from 100% repurposed fabric"
maybe you could add the phrase "of undetermined fibers"

or something.

[Former_Member]

Hmmm... that's a good question. I repurpose too, but I use only fabrics that have a content label (i.e. sheets) or vintage with info on the selvedge. You might be able to get away with using "undetermined fibers" as long as they are non-metallic. As a consumer though, I don't know that I'd be thrilled with that labeling. I want to know what kinds of fibers are on my kids, from a flammability standard and potential allergens (i.e. polyester off-gas, wool, etc.). Just something to think about.

[BarkRiverBoutique]

I sometimes use remnants from my own fabric stash (sometimes ones I've had for several years) and also recycled fabrics. So I usually am not sure whether they are cotton, llinen blends, cotton/polyester, or something else.

My labels state: Made in USA of recycled materials, fiber content unknown.

I also have the usual CPSIA information on the labels, plus wash and care instructions. Hope this helps.

[BikiniSandi]

In reading the manual from the FTC on fiber content, my understanding is that in order to label properly you must know what it is(i.e. cotton, silk, polyester, etc.) and from what country it was made in. If you don't have accurate information on both of these then you don't know. Therefore it is 'unknown' and should be printed on your label the same way BarkRiverBoutique posted above.

The FTC requires us to be honest in labeling. If in doubt, we have the option to use 'unknown' rather than guessing and putting just anything down. To guess is to lie, as far as the content and origin of fiber content. If we don't have a label to provide us with the information then how do we really know what country it came from? It may look and feel exactly like silk, but what if you're wrong? Why take the ten thousand dollar gamble? Simply put 'unknown' and be done with it.

[PeanutandTommy]

Thanks to the OP for asking this question! This has been such a problem with me, since my mom has a huge stash of wonderful clean, new yarn, but most of the labels are missing. I've told her not to knit toys anymore because we couldn't state the origin of the yarn. It's nice to know there is a way to tag them anyway!

[Former_Member]

marking

[Former_Member]

My vintage pillowcase dresses usually still have the original label inside the pillowcase so I just add my tag/label identifying the new item is handmade in USA by Warm Hugs Design (all other info is covered in original label).

[Former_Member]

Hello all
Thanks for all of these helpful comments. I am sorry I didn't post a thank you before, I have been working on labels!! I have found a product that I can use to print on fabric and a good way to format. I have created some labels and now I am trying them out to see how well they wash and if the edges fray. It is a constant process, but thanks to some good advice I have a good start. Thanks again!

[FeltWerker]

marking!

[Former_Member]

Ugh..........this is an issue for me too. I just do the old burn test to see if it's natural fiber or synthetic, (polyester type). All the names of fabrics are just used to describe the texture, feel/look, but they all fit into either the synthetic, or natural, (cotton, wool, silk) categories.