What do people get wrong about reading the fabric composition label on clothes?
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 It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.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.
How the label works
| 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) |
Main fibres and their properties
| 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.
Misunderstanding 1｜Natural fibres are always better
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.
Misunderstanding 2｜All-cotton does not shrink
Cotton shrinks a few per cent in the wash and more in the dryer. Natural fibres are the more shrink-prone group.
Misunderstanding 3｜Polyester is cheap stuff
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).
Misunderstanding 4｜If the percentages are given, you know how to wash it
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).
Misunderstanding 5｜It is fine to cut the label off
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.
---
Sources
- Consumer Affairs Agency, "Household Goods Quality Labelling Act — Textile Goods Quality Labelling Regulations" (composition labelling, designated terms) [消費者庁「家庭用品品質表示法 繊維製品品質表示規程」]
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/representation/household_goods/guide/fiber/
- Japan Chemical Fibers Association, "Types of fibre and their characteristics" [日本化学繊維協会「繊維の種類と特徴」]
https://www.jcfa.gr.jp/
- Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Center (QTEC), "Basics of fibres" [一般財団法人日本繊維製品品質技術センター「繊維の基礎知識」]
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.
About this article
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.
Sources
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