How Do We Choose Clothing ?

The gift-giving season is approaching. Most of us tend to choose clothing or household items made from various textiles or leather. But hold on! Textiles? Leather? Synthetic leather for those who wish to avoid products of animal origin, or simply as an alternative?

Pay close attention to product labelling and care symbols, as it can be surprisingly easy to be misled.

When we think of textiles, we often imagine natural fibres such as cotton, wool (especially at this time of year), cashmere, linen, or hemp. However, we may also come across unfamiliar materials and complicated terms on labels that even a chemistry teacher might struggle to understand, particularly as clothing made entirely from natural fibres seems increasingly difficult to find.

Read the label carefully and make sure you know what you are buying and what gifts you are giving. Pay particular attention when purchasing clothing for children who have sensitive skin or conditions such as dermatitis or atopic eczema.

Do not buy an item simply because you like its design or because it looks good on you. Read the label! Check the materials used to manufacture the clothing you purchase, especially when shopping for children.

After all, you wouldn’t expect Santa Claus to carry synthetic products in his sack all the way from Lapland!

Remember! Product labels must provide the required information in Romanian, so consumers can understand what they are purchasing. The textile fibre composition must also be indicated in descending order of percentage by weight.

It is equally important to pay attention to the care symbols when washing, cleaning, and maintaining clothing. Nowadays, different fabrics require different washing temperatures, cleaning methods, storage conditions, and care instructions.

So, always read the label!

Ask for your receipt!

And if you encounter a problem, take action! If you believe you have been misled, submit a consumer complaint !

If there is something on a product label that you do not understand, visit the dictionary section of the free InfoCons App to find the information you need and make an informed decision!

Sorin Mierlea – President of InfoCons