It is that little piece of fabric on the inside of your garment. Sometimes it itches, and sometimes you have even cut it out for that reason (we have all been there). We are talking about the care label. Even though it is a small thing, the information it contains is of great value. In this blog, you will read how we take this information to the next level and why we do it.
3 reasons to check your label
Let’s first dive into the traditional care label, which contains three important components: the country of origin, better known as “Made in …", the composition and the care instructions with the matching symbols.
We believe it can take a step further. Because we do not want to bother you with too much fabric inside your garment, we come up with something smarter: a QR code. This QR code gives you access to the so-called extended care label and offers us the opportunity to tell you the complete story of your garment and support you in taking care of it optimally.
Country of origin
Let's start with the country of origin. The traditional care label states the country of origin where "the final touch" has been put on the garment. However, the fashion industry is a global industry with a fragmented supply chain and a garment has often travelled a long way before it finds your wardrobe. We provide you with the country of origin of the complete supply chain. Via the extended care label, we introduce you to the suppliers of the raw material, the fabric mills, the trimming suppliers and CMT ateliers.
Material
Secondly, we give you background information about the material. While the traditional care label already provides the composition, it is much more comprehensive than that. We give you insight into our considerations regarding the type of fibre, weave, dyes and finishings.
Care instructions
Last but not least, the care instructions and symbols. Washing instructions on the care label are generally the strictest version possible to lower the brand's risk. Because the user phase is crucial for the lifespan and ecological footprint of the product, we want to make this as easy as possible for our customers.
Take wool, for example. At Unsalted we are a big fan of this fibre, mainly because of its user-friendliness: you rarely have to wash it. Facts like this need some explanation because we are not used to not washing our clothes in our machines nowadays. We see our extended care label as a great opportunity to share this kind of background information about fibre characteristics with our customers.
In addition, countless tips and tricks can help you take care of your garment that does not fit on the care label. For example, did you know cedarwood is a natural way to prevent your woollen garments against moths?
Why not remove the label?
There is often an icon of a pair of scissors on the care label, which indicates that you can cut out the care label after purchase. We strongly advise you not to do so. Not only because the care instructions would be lost, which might result in damage during washing. The care label also plays a crucial role in the reuse and recycling phase of the garment.