Selling apparel in the United States means complying with FTC labeling rules, CPSC flammability standards, and US Customs country-of-origin requirements. For international brands, these rules are different from what you're used to in Europe, Asia, or Australia — and the penalties for getting them wrong include product seizure, FTC enforcement action, and major retailer chargebacks. Here's what every apparel brand needs to know before shipping to the US.
Every garment sold in the US must carry a permanent, legible care label with washing, drying, ironing, bleaching, and dry-cleaning instructions. The FTC Care Labeling Rule (16 CFR Part 423) requires that care instructions be based on testing and that labels remain legible for the useful life of the garment.
Care symbols (ISO 3758) are acceptable in the US, but if symbols are used, English instructions or a reference to a guide must be included. Many brands use both symbols and English text. Labels must be securely attached and placed where consumers can reasonably find them — typically at the back neckline or side seam.
All textile products must bear a label disclosing the fiber content by percentage in descending order. Every fiber constituting 5% or more of the product must be listed by its generic name (e.g. 'cotton,' 'polyester,' 'nylon') — trade names alone are insufficient. Fibers under 5% can be listed as 'other fiber(s).'
The label must include: fiber content, country of manufacture, and the Registered Identification Number (RN) or the full name of the manufacturer or marketer. RN numbers are issued free by the FTC and allow you to abbreviate your company name on labels.
Apparel must carry a label stating the country where the product was manufactured. 'Made in [Country]' must appear on a permanent label, typically attached at the neck or waist. If an item is assembled in multiple countries, 'Assembled in [Country] of imported components' or 'Made in [Country] of US fabric' must be used, depending on the specific manufacturing steps.
US Customs enforces country-of-origin requirements on all imported goods. Misrepresentation of country of origin — including falsely claiming 'Made in USA' — carries significant penalties and is actively enforced by the FTC.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) enforces flammability standards for apparel under the Flammable Fabrics Act. Key standards include: FF 3-71 (children's sleepwear sizes 0-6X), FF 5-74 (children's sleepwear sizes 7-14), FF 1-70 (general wearing apparel), and FF 2-70 (carpets and rugs — not apparel but often confused).
Children's sleepwear is the most regulated category — garments must either be made from inherently flame-resistant fibers or be tight-fitting (close to the body). Loose-fitting children's sleepwear from non-flame-resistant fabrics is prohibited. Brands must maintain records of compliance testing.
The FTC's 'Made in USA' standard requires that a product be 'all or virtually all' made in the United States. This means all significant parts, processing, and labor must be of US origin — not simply assembled in the US from imported components. Using 'Made in USA' incorrectly is one of the FTC's most actively enforced labeling violations in apparel.
If your product is assembled in the US but uses imported fabrics, you must use qualified claims such as 'Assembled in USA of imported fabric' or similar. Unqualified 'Made in USA' claims on imported or partially-imported apparel risk FTC investigation and retailer liability.
Register for a free Registered Number (RN) at the FTC's RN database (ftc.gov). You'll need: business name and address, and product categories. Processing is typically within a few days. Your RN can then replace the full company name on textile labels. Keep your RN registration current — the FTC audits RN records and deregisters inactive numbers.
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