CHAPTER 1 — UNDERSTANDING TEXTILES | ARTICLE 2
How to Read a Textile Label?
When you buy a garment, the label contains a great deal of valuable information: the fabric composition, care instructions and sometimes even the country of manufacture.
Yet many people only look at the size and overlook the rest.
Understanding a textile label can help you:
✔ choose a garment that is better suited to its intended use;
✔ know how to care for it;
✔ better understand its comfort and durability;
✔ avoid unpleasant surprises after washing
Fabric Composition
This is the part that tells you which fibres were used to make the garment.
Here are a few examples:
100% cotton
100% viscose
95% cotton – 5% elastane
70% cotton – 30% viscose
92% cotton – 8% polyester
Each fibre brings its own characteristics:
cotton generally provides softness and breathability;
viscose provides fluidity and lightness;
elastane provides stretch;
polyester can provide greater durability and stability and make the garment easier to care for, depending on the fabric and its intended use.
A Common Misconception About Polyester
We often hear that polyester is always a poor-quality material. However, it is not quite that simple.
Used on its own or blended with other fibres, polyester can offer interesting qualities depending on the type of garment. In some fabrics, a small proportion of polyester can provide greater durability, help the garment retain its shape, or make it easier to care for.
Conversely, 100% cotton does not automatically mean that a garment will be better quality or more durable.
Two fabrics made from 100% cotton can be very different. Quality also depends on the fibre used, the yarn, the fabric construction, its thickness, how it is manufactured, and the finishing of the garment.
After more than 30 years of sewing, I have learned that there is no such thing as an inherently “good” or “bad” fibre: it all depends on the intended use of the garment, the quality of the fabric, and the level of comfort you are looking for.
Care Symbols
The symbols on the label indicate how to care for the garment properly:
washing temperature;
hand washing or machine washing;
tumble drying or air drying;
ironing temperature;
professional cleaning, if required.
Following these instructions can often significantly extend the life of a garment.
Some labels also indicate the country in which the garment was made.
This information alone does not determine the quality of a garment. However, it can help us better understand its origin and, when combined with other information, provide further insight into how it was made.
✂️ Maraval Couture’s Advice
After more than 30 years of sewing and creating made-to-measure garments, I have learned that a fabric should not be chosen solely for its appearance.
Two garments that look similar can offer very different levels of comfort, structure and durability depending on their textile composition and the quality of their construction.
Taking a few seconds to read a label can often help you make a better choice, but also care for your garment properly and keep it for longer.
💬 A Question I’m Often Asked
Should we always choose 100% cotton?
Not necessarily.
The choice depends on the garment, how it will be used and the level of comfort you are looking for. In some cases, a blend of fibres can be perfectly suitable: elastane can provide flexibility, while polyester can, depending on the fabric, provide greater stability or durability.
What matters, therefore, is not only the percentage shown on the label:you should consider the composition, but also the quality of the fabric and the purpose for which the garment is intended.
📖 Read Next➡️
Chapter 1 — Article 3: How to Recognise a Quality Fabric?
🧵 Contact
📍 Maraval Couture
— 8 rue Michel Rondet, Saint-Étienne
📞 +33 7 53 36 27 79
Comments