Other Fibers

Definition and regulatory position

Specified non-designated fiber is not a name used to certify fiber performance, environmental properties, safety, or similar characteristics. In the care tag for textile products in Japan, it is a notation used to indicate fibers that do not fall under the designated fiber terms used for composition labeling.

In labeling, the notation is written as “specified non-designated fiber” followed by the specific fiber name in parentheses. For example, in textile containing acrylate fiber, it may be shown as “specified non-designated fiber (acrylate)” together with the blending ratio.

What it applies to and how the criteria are understood

Whether it applies is determined not by the general common name of the fiber, but by whether it falls under a designated term that may be used in the care tag. For new synthetic fibers or specially modified fibers, the material name may not be replaceable by an ordinary designated term.

Whether labeling is required according to the blending ratio, and how the fiber name written in parentheses should be handled, must follow the product category and the rules of the labeling system. A proprietary material name in raw material documentation alone does not necessarily mean it can be used as-is on the product label.

Checks for procurement and product development

When procuring textile, confirm not only the blending ratio but also the official name of any component that falls under specified non-designated fiber, the part used, and the fiber origin with the supplier. Manage outer fabric, lining, and separate fabric separately, and keep the wording consistent across the product specification sheet, hangtag, and care tag draft.

Because raw materials or blending ratios may change between prototyping and mass production, it is important not to judge based only on documents from the adoption stage. Obtain composition information for the final production lot, and compare it with the textile specification sheet and test results before creating the label.

• The composition table provided by the supplier and supporting documents for the specific fiber name
• The structure of each labeled part, such as outer fabric, lining, interlining, and decorative parts
• Consistency across label drafts for blending ratio, fiber name, country of origin, and similar details
• The labeling system, language, and test documents required by the selling country or customer

Points to note for labeling and certificates

The phrase “specified non-designated fiber” itself does not prove third-party certification or environmental consideration. If you are promoting recycled content, bio-based content, or specific functionality, confirm the certificates and management records that support that claim separately from the composition label.

Care tag information must be checked for each product unit sold. Do not simply copy the wording from the textile maker’s catalog or verbal explanation; the person responsible for labeling should check the latest laws, labeling rules, and customer standards, and then decide the final wording.

Differences from easily confused terms

Blending ratio is a number showing the proportion of fibers that make up a product or part. Specified non-designated fiber, on the other hand, is the labeling category used for the fiber name within that proportion. Even if something is labeled as specified non-designated fiber, that does not mean checking the blending ratio is unnecessary.

Care tag refers to the overall labeling that conveys composition, care instructions, and the labeler to consumers. Certifications such as OEKO-TEX, GOTS, and GRS are separate systems that define the scope and verification method, and their purpose differs from specified non-designated fiber.

Frequently asked questions