Interesting Label for the detectives
- Thread starter Emma catchpole
- Start date
Shusteroo
VFG Member
Hi Emma, care symbols were generally adopted in the 1960s (countries vary on the date), but they didn't exist in the 1940s. Another thing against the 40s is Western Germany wasn't formed until 1949. It may well be the 1970s, could you share a photo of the sweater as that may help with the dating.
Emma catchpole
Registered Guest
Attachments
Shusteroo
VFG Member
It's lovely! It looks great quality, I think that textured style is called popcorn knit although if I'm wrong on that hopefully others will correct me. I think it may be 1970s, or possibly the late 60s. There are some Hudson Bay labels in the VFG label resource, but none are the same as yours.
I'm not sure when the F in a circle dry cleaning symbol came into use, that may help pinpoint the date a little more.
I'm not sure when the F in a circle dry cleaning symbol came into use, that may help pinpoint the date a little more.
Emma catchpole
Registered Guest
Did the F in the car label mean dry Flat
Shusteroo
VFG Member
No, the F relates to the dry cleaning process itself. Garments marked with F cannot be cleaned in the same dry cleaning machines as those used for P cleaning, as they are cleaned using highly flammable, petroleum-based solvents that are not suitable for the dry cleaning machines.
Wikipedia has a pretty good article on reading care tags, and Sarah is exactly right about F in a circle.
The Vintage Vendeuse
VFG Member
There used to be a pdf documenting the history of the UK use of Ginetex care symbols, and I used to refer to it often, but the link is now broken. 
(Linking it here in case the page ever comes back: https://dressandtextilespecialists....ads/2021/08/Wash-codes-for-dating-objects.pdf )
Ginetex was formed in 1963 but some sources say that Germany, France, and Switzerland had started using symbols in the late 1950s.
In Europe, early incarnations used three/four symbols with the fifth symbol added in 1985.
It's interesting that your wash and iron symbols have temperatures listed, that makes it seem "later". (And why would someone iron a wool sweater?
)
It's also interesting that your garment doesn't have the Woolmark symbol, which was initiated in 1964.
(Linking it here in case the page ever comes back: https://dressandtextilespecialists....ads/2021/08/Wash-codes-for-dating-objects.pdf )
Ginetex was formed in 1963 but some sources say that Germany, France, and Switzerland had started using symbols in the late 1950s.
In Europe, early incarnations used three/four symbols with the fifth symbol added in 1985.
It's interesting that your wash and iron symbols have temperatures listed, that makes it seem "later". (And why would someone iron a wool sweater?
)It's also interesting that your garment doesn't have the Woolmark symbol, which was initiated in 1964.
Last edited:
Shusteroo
VFG Member
I find the guide below really helpful, it goes into quite a lot of depth - I refer to it often! Most of the info at the top relates to UK labels, but if you scroll down quite a way, it does show a few examples of symbols used in Europe - there is a symbol of an iron that looks similar to yours that was used from 63-85.
Using care labels to date vintage clothing (The Collectors Companion)
I wondered about the lack of Woolmark, but it is not a legal requirement. It can help with dating if it is there (in the sense you know the item can't date from before the symbol was first used), but lack of the Woolmark doesn't necessarily mean it is pre-Woolmark era, it may just mean the company didn't pay to license use of the trademarked logo.
The other thing that may possibly help with dating is the word on the label that seems like a trademark for some type of fabric, I can't quite read - looks a bit like arlam?
Using care labels to date vintage clothing (The Collectors Companion)
I wondered about the lack of Woolmark, but it is not a legal requirement. It can help with dating if it is there (in the sense you know the item can't date from before the symbol was first used), but lack of the Woolmark doesn't necessarily mean it is pre-Woolmark era, it may just mean the company didn't pay to license use of the trademarked logo.
The other thing that may possibly help with dating is the word on the label that seems like a trademark for some type of fabric, I can't quite read - looks a bit like arlam?