Clothing labels are not well designed,
The population cannot read the texts, do not understand the washing symbols and are not accessible for people with disabilities and seniors.
They are uncomfortable because they scratch the skin.
The most common solution among consumers is to cut them to improve comfort.
As a result,
1. We lose all information, from how to wash and care for the clothes, to the composition, origin or brand.
2. We generate more unnecessary waste.
3. And finally, it makes recycling and recovery of raw materials more difficult because we do not have the information about the composition of the clothes.
European Regulations
As part of the Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission presented in March 2022, the “Strategy for the Circularity and Sustainability of Textile Products”.
Its aim is to extend the life of textiles, eliminate waste, reduce the consumption of virgin raw materials, assess the traceability of the garment, among other factors.
Companies will have to comply with a number of requirements starting 1st January 2025, such as the elimination of the incineration of surplus waste, or the obligation to collect all materials, pre-consumer and post-consumer, for reuse and recycling.
In this context, the European Commission will carry out a review of the Textile Labelling Regulation by 2023 in order to achieve the proposed targets.
Working with the EU
MovingMood contacted the commission in 2022 to let them know of our interest in reviewing the accessibility of textile labels, both digital and physical.
How can we promote good use of clothes and encourage the circular economy if information does not reach consumers?
The response from the commission was surprisingly good, pointing out that accessibility is a key issue in the revision of the regulation.
Project
MovingMood together with Badia Boutique Studio and its founder Lisi Badia, we have been working for more than 1 year on the accessibility of the labels.
The result is a document of policy recommendations on accessibility of textile labels, which will be sent this June 2023, directly to the EU policy makers reviewing the textile labelling regulation.
A unique opportunity to improve textile labelling, making it accessible and sustainable, promoting the independence of all people to buy, wash, care for and recycle their clothes.
Stakeholders
Rethinking labels has participated in the S4F programme, Sustainability for fashion, of the EU Cosme programme.
We have been working on studies, workshops and tests with people with disabilities and experts such as the Once Foundation and Immserso.
Consultancy
The interest shown in this project and the excellent response to the tests carried out with fashion brands has led us to start an accessibility consultancy service for textile labels.
If you have any doubts about how to make your labels accessible and sustainable, write to us and we will advise you!
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English (UK)