Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, the Wool Products Labeling Act, and their accompanying rules, both natural and man-made fibers must be identified by their generic names. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recognizes certain names that must be used to identify man-made fibers. In addition, the FTC recognizes the names listed in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 2976: 1999(E), "Textiles-Man-made fibres-Generic names." While many of the names listed in the ISO standard do not appear in the FTC's rules, they may be used on labels to satisfy the fiber content disclosure requirement.

A few common fibers recognized by the FTC have different names in the ISO standard. For example, the ISO standard uses the name "viscose" for the predominant form of "rayon," and "elastane" for "spandex." A label may use either name.

When a manufacturer develops a new fiber, the name may not be used on labels until it is recognized by the FTC. The manufacturer may seek recognition by the ISO or file a petition with the FTC. However, the FTC can more easily recognize the name, and forgo the petition process, if the name is first recognized by the ISO.

Biconstituent or Multiconstituent Fibers

If a manufactured fiber is a mixture of two or more chemically distinct fibers, combined during or before extrusion, the fiber content disclosure must state:

(1) whether it is a biconstituent or multiconstituent fiber;

(2) the generic names of the component fibers, in order of predominance by weight; and

(3) the percentage of each component by weight.

For example:

"100% Biconstituent Fiber

(65% Nylon, 35% Polyester)"

Premium Cotton Fibers

The fiber content disclosure may include the name of a type of cotton (such as Pima, Egyptian, Sea Island, etc.) as long as it is not deceptive. A label for a shirt may say "100% Pima Cotton" as long as the garment contains 100 percent Pima cotton fibers. If only 50 percent of the cotton in the shirt is Pima, and the label refers to Pima, the label must indicate that Pima constitutes 50 percent of the fiber content. For example, the label could say: "100% Cotton (50% Pima)," "50% Pima Cotton, 50% Upland Cotton," or "50% Pima Cotton, 50% Other Cotton." The label must show that it is 100 percent cotton and, if it includes the word "Pima," that only 50 percent of the cotton fibers are Pima. The label may not say "100% Cotton, Pima Blend" without disclosing the Pima content. If a reference to "Pima" is placed somewhere else on the garment (such as on a hangtag), the fiber content information must be repeated on the tag. This includes use of a trademark that implies the presence of Pima cotton.

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