The care and content label is not optional — it's a legal requirement for any garment sold in the EU. It must declare the fiber composition of the garment and provide washing instructions using standardized symbols defined by EN ISO 3758. Missing or incorrect care labels can result in customs rejection or market withdrawal.
Unlike the brand label, which is about identity, the care label is about compliance. It needs to be accurate, legible, and permanently attached for the expected lifetime of the garment.
Every garment sold in the EU needs a care label with fiber content (%) and ISO 3758 wash symbols. Place it at the left side seam, 10 cm from the hem.
What must be on the label
Wash symbols for standard jersey (ISO 3758)
For a 95% cotton, 5% elastane jersey t-shirt, the standard care instructions are: machine wash 30°C, do not bleach, tumble dry low, warm iron, do not dry clean. The elastane content is what limits the temperature — high heat breaks down elastane fibers over time, reducing stretch recovery.
For 100% cotton heavyweight jersey without elastane, you can typically allow 40°C machine wash and medium tumble dry. Always verify the recommended care with your fabric supplier — they can provide the correct symbols based on their specific fabric construction.
Production specs for your tech pack BOM
| Spec | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Label type | Care & Content | Legally required, EN ISO 3758 |
| Material | Satin or Nylon | Soft against skin, colorfast |
| Placement | Left side seam | Inside garment, not visible when worn |
| Position | 10 cm from hem | Measured from finished hem edge |
| Attachment | Sewn at both ends | Both short ends stitched to seam allowance |
| Languages | Market-dependent | Min. 1 language; multi for EU distribution |
In FlatLabs PRO, the care label section of your spec sheet is automatically populated with fiber content from your BOM selection — including the correct elastane declaration when applicable.