Why Care Labels Fade – And How to Prevent It

Faded care labels are one of the most common—and costly—problems in apparel production. When labels become unreadable, brands face compliance risk, customer complaints, and potential relabeling costs, even if the garment itself is otherwise intact.

Understanding why care labels fade—and how to prevent it—helps manufacturers protect their products, reduce risk, and maintain consistent quality at scale.

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Why Care Labels Fading Is a Serious Problem

U.S. regulations require care labels to be permanent and legible for the life of the garment. A label that fades after repeated washing may no longer meet compliance standards, even if it was correct at the time of sale.

Faded labels can lead to:

• Non-compliance exposure
• Retailer rejections or audits
• Customer misuse and garment damage
• Increased returns and warranty claims
• Costly relabeling or production rework

For uniforms, workwear, and safety apparel, the risk is even higher due to frequent laundering.

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The Most Common Reasons Care Labels Fade

1. Printed Ink Breakdown

Many labels rely on surface printing rather than woven construction. Over time, detergents, heat, and agitation break down ink, causing text to fade or blur.

This is especially common with low-quality satin or printed labels.

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2. High Heat Exposure

Industrial dryers, hot water washes, and ironing can:

• Degrade ink pigments
• Shrink or distort label fabric
• Accelerate fading

Heat damage often appears gradually, making the issue easy to overlook until labels become unreadable.

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3. Abrasion and Friction

Care labels experience constant friction from:

• Skin contact
• Seams and stitching
• Tools or equipment (for workwear)

Over time, abrasion wears away printed text and weakens the label surface.

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4. Improper Material Selection

Not all care label materials are designed for the same environments. Using a fashion-grade label for industrial garments almost guarantees early failure.

Material mismatch is one of the most common root causes of fading.

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How to Prevent Care Labels from Fading

1. Use Woven Labels for High-Durability Needs

Woven care labels embed the text directly into the fabric structure rather than printing it on the surface. This makes them:

• Highly resistant to washing
• Resistant to heat exposure
• Extremely durable under abrasion

For uniforms, workwear, and outdoor apparel, woven polyester labels offer the highest level of long-term reliability.

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2. Choose the Right Label Material for the Garment

Material selection should be based on:

• Wash frequency
• Dryer temperature
• Wear environment
• Garment lifecycle

For example:

• Woven polyester: Best for heavy use and long lifecycles
• Satin: Suitable for comfort-sensitive garments with moderate washing
• Cotton: Best for low-stress, low-wash applications

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3. Test Labels Under Real Conditions

Manufacturers should test care labels using:

• Repeated wash cycles
• Expected drying temperatures
• Real garment use scenarios

This ensures labels remain legible throughout the product’s intended lifespan.

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4. Work With a Supplier That Understands Compliance

Label fading is often a symptom of poor production planning. An experienced label supplier will:

• Recommend materials based on use case
• Flag durability risks early
• Provide samples for testing
• Support large production runs consistently

This prevents issues from appearing after garments are already in the market.

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The Cost of Prevention vs. the Cost of Failure

While higher-quality care labels may have a slightly higher upfront cost, they often save money long-term by:

• Reducing compliance risk
• Preventing relabeling
• Avoiding retailer chargebacks
• Protecting brand reputation

For bulk production, durability is an investment, not an expense.

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Final Takeaway for Manufacturers

Care labels fade because of ink limitations, heat exposure, abrasion, and improper material choice. Preventing fading requires selecting the right material, designing for real-world conditions, and working with an experienced labeling partner.

Manufacturers that prioritize care label durability protect both their products and their production timelines.

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Need care labels that won’t fade over time?
Lee Label has supported apparel manufacturers, uniform suppliers, and private-label programs since the 1980s with durable, compliance-ready care labels designed to withstand washing, heat, and abrasion. Samples and bulk pricing available.