Textile Labelling

Textile Products (Indication of Fibre Content) Regulations 1986

What is a textile product?

• A raw, semi worked or made up product exclusively composed of textile fibres.
• A product containing at least 80% by weight of textile fibres.
• The textile parts of carpets, mattresses, camping goods, furniture, umbrellas, sunshades, warm linings of gloves and mittens if they contain at least 80% textile fibres.
• Textiles forming a part of other products where the textile parts are specified.

How should the product be labelled?

• All items must carry a label indicating the fibre content either on the item or the packaging. This label does not have to be permanently attached to the garment but may be removable. If the product is supplied to a wholesaler the indication may be contained within business documents.
• A textile product consisting of two or more fibres where one fibre accounts for not less than 85% of the finished product should be marked in one of the following ways:
  • by the name of the main fibre immediately preceded or followed by its percentage of the weight of the product; or
  • by the name of the main fibre immediately preceded or followed by '85 per cent. minimum'; or
  • by the names of all the fibres in declining order of their proportion by weight, immediately preceded or followed by their percentages by weight of the product.

• A textile product composed of two or more fibres where no fibre accounts for 85 per cent or more of the weight of the product, shall be marked with the names of the two fibres present in greatest quantity immediately preceded or followed by their percentage weight of the product , followed by the names of the other fibres in descending order of their proportion by weight with or without the percentage by weight of those other fibres.
• Any decorative matter, which makes up 7% or less of the product, is excluded from the indication of fibre content.
• The expressions 'pure', '100%' or 'all' should only be used where the garment is made up of one fibre. The word 'silk' cannot be used to describe the presentation of any other fibre.
• Specific names must be used for the textile fibres.
• There are specific requirements in relation to etch-printed fabric, embroidered fabric, velvet.

Names which may be used for Textile Fibres

The regulations contain a list of names that should be used for textile fibres and the associated requirements that the fibre must meet to be able to use that name.

Products that do not have to bear a fibre content

Air Supported Structures; Animal Clothing; Artificial Flowers; Book Covers; Buttons and Buckles; Cordage; Rope & String; Disposable Articles; Egg Cosies; Felt Hats; Felts, Flags and Banners; Funeral Articles; Gaiters; Labels; Make-up Cases; Muffs; Old made up textile products; Oven Gloves; Painted Canvas; Pin Cushions; Prerequisites of Sport; Purses; Pouches; Bags & Saddlery; Safety items; Sails; Shoe Cleaning Cases; Sleeve Supporting Arm Bands; Slide Fasteners; Spectacle Cases; Table Mats; Tapestries; Tea Cosies; Textile Parts of Footwear; Textile products for base and interlining fabrics and stiffening; Tobacco Pouches; Toilet Cases; Toys; Travel Goods; Watch Straps.

Adverts for textile products

Adverts intended for retail customers that describe textile products with sufficient detail to enable them to be ordered by reference only to the description in the advert shall include an indication of the fibre content of the products. Advert includes a catalogue, a circular, a price list and other trade literature.

Please Note

This leaflet is not an authoritative interpretation of the law and is intended only for guidance. For further information please contact your local Consumer Protection or Trading Standards office.

Trading Standards Division, 3rd Floor, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 8ED
Telephone: (0151) 691 8020    Fax: (0151) 691 8098
Internet World Wide Web http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/wirral/
Electronic Mail: tradingstandards@wirral.gov.uk