Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
"All cotton" (綿 全量), "polyester 65%, cotton 35%" (ポリエステル65% 綿35%) — the composition label on a garment decides how to wash it, how it feels and how long it lasts, yet few people read it. This article explains how the Household Goods Quality Labelling Act (Japan's labelling law) works and what each fibre is good and bad at.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Household Goods Quality Labelling Act (Textile Goods Quality Labelling Regulations): fibre composition (%), care label and the labeller's name are compulsory |
| Composition | Fibre name and percentage, largest first, e.g. "all cotton" (綿 全量), "polyester 65%, cotton 35%" (ポリエステル65% 綿35%). Lining and filling are labelled separately |
| Exceptions | Range labelling such as "wool 90% or more"; fibres under 5% may be grouped as "other" (その他) |
| Designated terms | Cotton (綿), linen/hemp (麻), wool (毛), silk (絹), rayon, cupro, polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyurethane and so on: the names fixed by law must be used ("コットン" and "ウール" may be added in brackets) |
| Fibre | Good at | Bad at | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton (綿) | Absorbency, feel on the skin, hard-wearing | Slow to dry, shrinks, creases | Easy to wash. Shrinks in the dryer |
| Linen / hemp (麻) | Breathable, absorbent, quick-drying | Creases, shrinks, fluffs | Hand-wash or gentle cycle |
| Wool (毛) | Warm, springy, creases recover | Shrinks (felting), moths | Hand-wash if the label allows |
| Silk (絹) | Sheen, lightness, warmth | Weak against water, light, sweat and rubbing | Neutral detergent if hand-washable (see the silk article) |
| Polyester | Quick-drying, hard-wearing, crease-resistant | Holds skin oil, static, pilling | Easy to wash |
| Nylon | Hard-wearing, light, stretchy | Yellows with heat and UV | Low temperature |
| Acrylic | Light, warm, wool-like | Pilling, static | Easy to wash |
| Rayon | Drape, absorbency, cool feel | Shrinks and weakens in water | Hand-wash or not washable (see label) |
| Polyurethane (elastane) | Stretch | Degrades with heat, chlorine and age (2–3 years) | 30°C or below, no bleach |
[Verify] Check the labelling rules against the Consumer Affairs Agency's "Textile Goods Quality Labelling Regulations". The fibre properties are the standard descriptions given by textile associations.
It depends on the purpose. Quick-drying polyester for sportswear, cotton for underwear, wool for a winter coat. Choose "because it is natural" and you end up with a T-shirt that will not dry or a shirt full of creases.
Cotton shrinks a few per cent in the wash and more in the dryer. Natural fibres are the more shrink-prone group.
It is a performance fibre — quick-drying, durable, crease-resistant — and the mainstay of sports, outdoor and school-uniform clothing. Its weaknesses are holding skin oil and static (see the articles on sportswear and static).
The composition is a clue to care, but the care label decides. With a blend, follow the more delicate fibre (if there is wool in it, handle it as wool).
Cut off the composition and care labels and a dry-cleaner may refuse the item, and there is nothing to judge by if something goes wrong. If you must cut it, photograph it first, or move where it is sewn in.
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https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/guide/fiber/
https://www.jcfa.gr.jp/
https://www.qtec.or.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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