In 1972, the Federal Trade Commission established a Care Labeling Rule requiring that all textile products sold at retail in the United States carry a permanent care label. Amendments effective in 1984 require more specific care instructions, including instructions for washing, bleaching, drying and ironing washable garments, and for any limitations to the drycleaning process. If these specific care instructions are followed by the servicing agent and the article fails to withstand the prescribed method, the resulting damage is the responsibility of the manufacturer and the garment should be returned to the retailer.
Here is a guide which depicts & explains the symbols used in those labels:
The written care instructions or fabric names on a care label are sometimes in another language. Here is a list of names and terms in the most commonly seen languages.
If you ever see the name of a fiber on a content label that you don't recognize, it is probably a trade name. Please see the list of commonly seen trade names and their generic or family name.
| TRADE NAME | GENERIC TERM |
| Bemberg™ | Rayon |
| Caprolan ® | Nylon |
| Celanese ® | Acetate |
| Cleerspan ® | Spandex |
| Dralon™ | Acrylic |
| Fortrel ® | Polyester |
| Herculon™ | Polyolefin/Polypropylene (Olefin) |
| Innova ® | Polyolefin/Polypropylene (Olefin) |
| Lycra ® | Spandex |
| Microsafe ® | Acetate |
| Modal | Rayon |
| Pil-trol ® | Acrylic |
| Silky Touch™ | Nylon |
| Tactel ® | Nylon |
| Tencel ® | Lyocell (a subclassification of Rayon) |
| Thermax ® | Polyester |
| Thermoloft ® | Polyester |
| Thermolite ® | Polyester |
| Trevirafd ® | Polyester |
| Wear-dated | Acrylic |
