The Care Labeling Rule is designed to give consumers and professional cleaners reliable information about how garments should be cleaned, and requires that garment manufacturers have a reasonable basis for the care instructions they include on the labels of their products. That means manufacturers must have evidence that the instructions will not result in damage to the garments. The FTC charged that Double Z's improper care labels resulted in damage to sequins or beads, the nap of velvet fabric, or other damage to its garments, and that the company failed to have a reasonable basis for the labels it included. The Commission vote to approve this settlement for filing in federal district court was 5-0. This consent decree is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation.
Consent decrees have the force of law when signed by the judge.