For eleven years Textile Industry Affairs has been working with the trade on all types of labeling and compliance issues. Whether the problem has been defined as lagging sales, competitive pressure, regulatory compliance or concern for the environment, care instructions contribute to the solution. The trends clearly indicate that a growing number of manufacturers and retailers are taking advantage of the marketing benefits associated with accurate bleach care instructions. As the number and size of the manufacturers and retailers who are taking advantage of the preference for affirmative care instructions increases, the remaining competitors are realizing their disadvantage. One huge national chain has distributed specific guidelines mandating compliance with federal bleach labeling requirements.
Regulatory compliance is important, to be sure, but competing at a disadvantage is dangerous.
And, in the case of care labeling, unnecessary. As of 1997, sewing denotes origin for most products. Care labels must be permanently attached so that they are easily accessible to the consumer at the point of purchase. A side or bottom seam is acceptable on hanging goods, but not on folded goods. The manufacturer or importer who directs produc-tion.