Traditional Craft Product
Traditional craft products are crafts designated by the government under the Act on the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries as crafts that meet standards for techniques, materials, and place of production.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Regulatory Positioning
Traditional craft products are a national designation system based on the Act on the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries. They are not simply products made using age-old techniques or place names; they are crafts that meet the prescribed requirements.
Crafts involving textiles, such as woven goods, dyed goods, and braided cords, are also included. However, the system is not certification of a fabric's material name, weave structure, or quality performance; it is a system that evaluates the place of production and traditional production background.
Approach to Scope and Standards
Crafts eligible for designation are judged mainly by requirements such as being used in daily life, having major processes carried out in a certain area, being manufactured using traditional techniques or methods, and having main raw materials that have traditionally been used.
For apparel fabrics, even if the place of origin is well known, not all fabrics qualify as traditional craft products. For each designated item, it is necessary to check the applicable products, permitted raw materials and processes, and the scope of the production area.
- Do not judge a designated item by the fabric name or place of origin alone
- Check changes in raw materials, blending with synthetic fibers, and processing details
- Confirm which processes, such as weaving, dyeing, and finishing, were carried out in the designated area
Points to Check When Procuring Fabrics and Making Products
When procuring fabrics related to traditional craft products, confirm with the supplier the designated item name, manufacturer, applicable processes, raw materials, and the origin of each roll. If the raw materials or processing conditions differ between samples and mass production, confirm the regulatory handling again.
When a fabric is cut and made into clothing, or when printing, garment dyeing, resin finishing, or similar processing is added, it is not always possible to treat the finished product as a traditional craft product. At the planning stage, clarify whether the item to be labeled is the fabric or the finished product.
Notes on Labels and Certificates
The Traditional Craft Mark is a label used to indicate that an item is a traditional craft product. Whether the mark may be used and how it is displayed depends on the operation of the association or business operators in the designated production area, so it cannot be added at the discretion of the purchaser or sewing factory.
When describing traditional craft products or place names on product descriptions, hang tags, woven labels, and similar materials, obtain supporting documents from the supplier and confirm the scope of use. Do not decide on labeling based only on verbal explanations; keep written documentation showing the item name, applicable lot, issuer, and scope of application.
- Separately confirm certification for the fabric itself and whether it can be labeled on a product after secondary processing
- Confirm the data for the Traditional Craft Mark and whether permission to use it has been granted
- Confirm the details separately from country of origin labeling, blend ratio, and care instructions
Differences from Similar Terms
The place of origin of a fabric refers to the region or industrial cluster where the fabric is produced. By contrast, a traditional craft product is a designation system based on law, and being a fabric from a production area alone does not make it applicable.
Care labeling conveys information to consumers about fiber composition and handling. Since the designation of traditional craft products and the Traditional Craft Mark are not substitutes for care labeling, the necessary labeling for apparel must be prepared separately and appropriately.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a fabric is made in a traditional craft production area, can the Traditional Craft Mark be attached?
Not necessarily. In addition to being produced within the production area, it must meet the conditions for each designated item, such as raw materials, techniques, and processes, and follow the prescribed procedures. A business that purchased the fabric should also avoid using the mark on its own and should confirm with the supplier or relevant organization.
Can clothing made from traditional craft fabric be labeled as a traditional craft product?
Even if the fabric qualifies as a designated item, whether the same labeling can be used for clothing is a separate issue. This is because cutting, sewing, and secondary processing change the applicable scope and production-area conditions. The labeling text should express the origin of the fabric accurately, and use of the mark on the finished product should be confirmed in advance.
