It’s All in the Label

When it comes to the world of fashion and apparel the word “label” carries a variety of meaning. Whether it is the company’s label or the label that tells the costumer how to care for the clothing and its origin of fabrication it all has significance.

The company label is significant on a superficial level. When someone is wearing a specific label spread across their clothing it lets people know from which store the item was purchased. This can indicate someone’s sense of style and someone’s social status in concern to financial wealth. These types of labels allow people to be judged on a superficial level. These labels are usually considered very important when purchasing clothing. For example an item can be sold at both Walmart and Chanel and be exactly the same but be interpreted differently. The consumer wearing the product from Walmart would be considered most likely unstylish and not as wealthy as the consumer wearing the Chanel version of the product due to the brand association. Brand association and labelling is extremely important in the fashion industry and in the mind of the consumer.

The label inside of the clothing however usually carries less significance to a consumer. It shows simply how to care for clothes, and the only time people may pay any attention to it is before they throw it in the wash. It also shows wear the clothing was fabricated and in today’s society most people do not care. This mentality may show Canadians lack of concern to ethics. Canadian’s possess the ability to turn a blind eye to the fact that their clothes may be fabricated on the other side of the world in a sweat shop. Since this label is considered so insignificant to the consumer I was curious as to why it was even there, and then it occurred to me it must be regulated by law. So how exactly does Canada regulate the labels of its clothing companies? I have never really considered this question, but it is a sensible question to ask considering there are strict labelling regulations when it comes to food.

I found that labels in Canada often contain more information than regulation requires them to. They have to by law include the fibre content. This includes the generic name of the fibre as well as the percentage contained in it if it contains over five percent. This information must be written in both French and English. It also must have the name and address of the dealer, such as the manufacturer, importer, or retailer, or CA number. The CA number consists of five digits and is issued by the Competition Bureau to Canadian manufactures, processors or finishers of textile fibre product or Canadians engaged in the business of import or selling any textile fibre product. Dealers are not legally required to have this number, but can apply for it to place on the product instead of their name and address on the label. Labels also typically include instructions on how to properly care for the article such as washing instructions but are not required to by law.

For more information please visit:

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/T-10/page-1.html