The Evolution and Standardization of RFID Wash Care Labels

The origin and story of RFID care tags: from small Swiss tags to global standards

Have you ever noticed that there is a small RFID tag on clothes with some patterns like buckets, triangles, and irons? These patterns are actually telling you how to wash this piece of clothing, whether it can be dried or ironed. These “laundry symbols” look simple, but there is actually a long history behind them.

It all started in Switzerland

The earliest idea of ​​unifying these laundry symbols was born in 1963. At that time, there was an organization called “SARTEX” in Switzerland. They worked with the Swiss Textile Association to develop a set of standard patterns so that everyone could understand how to wash clothes without speaking or distinguishing between languages. It was like putting a “universal language” on clothes.

Before this, people’s clothes were mostly made of cotton or linen, and they were very simple to wash. Some were washed with hot water, and some were washed with water at 60℃. Washing machines had just begun to appear, and there were no complicated functions. But later, synthetic fibers (such as polyester and nylon) appeared in large quantities, and the fabrics became more and more diverse, and some were specially treated, making washing more complicated.

The birth of GINETEX: making labels the same all over the world

In response to the growth of global clothing trade, the International Textile Care Label Association (GINETEX) was established in Paris, France in 1963. Its goal is simple – to develop a set of standard laundry symbols so that people all over the world can see these icons and know how to take care of the clothes.

For example:

A bucket: indicates that it can be washed with water

Two horizontal lines in the bucket: indicates that it should be washed gently

A circle: indicates that it can be dry cleaned

A crossed-out triangle: indicates that bleaching is not allowed

These symbols are protected by law and cannot be changed at will, otherwise consumers may be misled and wash the clothes badly.

Summary

From the invention of the first set of standard laundry symbols in Switzerland in 1963 to the advent of smart RFID laundry tags today, these seemingly inconspicuous small pieces of cloth are actually an indispensable part of the modern textile and fashion industry.

They not only help us wash clothes better and protect clothes from damage, but also make the entire industry more standardized, more environmentally friendly and smarter.