The fibre content on the label, how to read it

Short answer: Fibre content is listed in percent and sorted by amount. The first fibre makes up the most, and the last is often elastane at a few percent. Once you know the order, you can quickly tell how a fabric will feel.

The percentages follow a set order

On the label of a bamboo garment, the fibres are listed as percentages. The order is not random, because the fibres are sorted by amount. The first fibre on the list makes up the most of the fabric, and the next ones make up less and less. Read the label from top to bottom and you know the mix.

The first fibre decides the feel

If the label says ninety percent viscose and ten percent elastane, the viscose decides how the fabric feels on your skin. It makes up almost all of the fabric, so it is what you notice when you put the garment on. That applies to bamboo slips, where viscose comes first on the label and so counts most.

The last fibre is often elastane

The last item on the list is often elastane, and only at a few percent. The final line on the label therefore looks small, but it matters. Read the label to the end and you know what the fabric mostly consists of, and whether a little elastane is in the mix to follow your body as you move through the day.

A few percent of elastane make a difference

Two to five percent elastane is enough for the fabric to keep its shape and follow the body. That sounds like very little, but this small share is what stops the fabric going slack. The elastane works in the background while the first fibre takes care of softness. You get feel and fit from the same fabric.

Without elastane the garment sags

Without elastane, a bamboo hoodie for women would sag after a day of wear. The fabric would give way and not return to its shape. That is why the few percent are not decoration on the label but part of the recipe. If a hoodie should hold its shape day after day, look for elastane at the end of the fibre list.

Fibre content is required in the EU

Fibre content is required by law in the EU, while the care instruction is voluntary. That means the maker cannot skip the fibre list, so you always have something to read when you hold an item. The care instruction may be missing, which is one more reason to learn to read the fibres, since that detail is always there.

It is on socks and small items too

Because fibre content is required, you always find it, even on socks for women. The rule does not apply only to large pieces like hoodies and dresses, but also to the smallest items in the drawer. You read the label in socks the same way as in a sweater: the largest fibre first and the elastane last.

How to read the label in practice

Start with the first fibre, because it tells you how the fabric feels at its core. Then look at the very end for elastane, which shows whether the fabric holds its shape. The fibres in between each add something, typically softness, strength or stretch. Read the label in that order and you quickly know what to expect without guessing.

Frequently asked questions

What does viscose from bamboo mean

It means the fibre is made from bamboo as a raw material through a chemical process. Bamboo is the starting point, but the garment contains a viscose fibre, and that is what the label states.

Can you trust the percentages

Yes, the percentages are regulated by law with a narrow tolerance. The figures on the label may not differ much from what is actually in the fabric, so you can rely on them as a picture of the blend.

Why does the label list several fibres

Because each fibre contributes something, typically softness, strength or stretch. By blending them, the fabric gets more qualities than a single fibre could give alone, which is why they are all listed on the label.