Most brands know a garment needs wash symbols. Fewer realise that the "Made in India" and "100% Cotton" declarations are just as important — and are exactly what customs officers, e-commerce marketplaces and switched-on customers look for. Getting them wrong can hold up an export shipment or a marketplace listing.
This is a plain-English guide to the country-of-origin and fibre-content information Indian sellers and exporters must print, and how to place it. It's a practical overview, not legal advice — confirm the current rules for your product and markets.
This is guidance, not legal advice. Labelling rules change and vary by product type, sales channel and market. Confirm the current requirements for your situation with an official source or advisor before you print in bulk.
Country of origin: "Made in India"
A country-of-origin label states where the garment was made. For Indian-made garments sold at home or abroad, Made in India is the standard declaration. It tells the buyer and customs where the product originates and is required for imports, exports and many retail and e-commerce listings. It usually sits on the main brand label or the care label.
Fibre content: what it's made of
- By percentage of each fibre, by weight
- Descending order: 80% Cotton 20% Polyester
- Single fibre shown as 100%
- Required in India & export markets
- Helps allergies, care & value
- Must match the actual fabric
Accuracy is not optional. The percentages must reflect the real fabric. A wrong fibre declaration is a compliance issue and can cause problems at customs or with marketplaces.
What a compliant garment label carries
For garments sold in India, the label and packaging generally need to cover:
- Fibre / fabric composition — by percentage
- Country of origin — e.g. Made in India
- Manufacturer / importer details
- Size
- MRP and pack declarations (under Legal Metrology packaging rules)
- Care instructions — strongly expected (see our care label guide)
Where it goes on the garment
Country of origin and fibre content usually appear on the main brand label at the neck or on the care label in a side seam, alongside the wash symbols. Many brands combine fibre content, origin and care on a single sewn-in care label. The key rule: it must be permanent and legible for the life of the garment.
Not on a hang tag alone. A hang tag is removed after purchase, so the compulsory declarations must be on a permanent sewn-in or heat-pressed label. You can repeat the info on a tag or care card for the shopper, but the label carries the legal version.
Exporting? Check each market
Every export market has its own rules. The US, UK and EU all require fibre content and country of origin, each with specific formats and language requirements — sometimes stricter or differently formatted than India's. If you export, you must meet the destination market's rules. Confirm them before you print. Our India + export care label guide covers the wash-symbol side.
The short answer
Indian clothing sellers must print, on a permanent sewn-in label: the fibre content by percentage (e.g. 80% Cotton 20% Polyester, accurate to the real fabric), the country of origin (Made in India), plus manufacturer details, size and the required pack declarations — with care information alongside. It goes on the neck brand label or the side-seam care label, never on a removable hang tag alone. Exporters must also meet each destination market's rules. This is guidance, not legal advice — confirm current requirements, then share your product and markets with us and we'll make sure the label carries everything before bulk.