Selling in Canada and the US.

Textile labels in Canada

Under the Textile Labelling Act, a garment sold in Canada carries a disclosure label. The dealer, which includes the importer, is responsible for its accuracy.

• Fibre content. The generic name of each fibre with its percentage by mass, in English and French. Shell and fill can be listed separately, as in the official examples.
• Dealer identity. Either the dealer’s name and full postal address, or a CA identification number issued by the Competition Bureau to a dealer in Canada. For private label, the label usually carries your own CA number, so apply for one before labels are made.
• Permanent label. Garments need a label that stays attached and legible through at least ten cleanings.
• Country of origin. CBSA requires imported apparel made of textile fibres to be marked with its country of origin; for goods from China the marking is in English or French. CBSA accepts it on the same label as the fibre content.
• Care instructions. Voluntary in Canada, but if you give them they must be accurate. The national standard for care symbols is CAN/CGSB-86.1. In the US, care labels are required (see below).
• Quebec. The province has additional French-language requirements.

Selling in the US

US federal rules, enforced by the FTC, require most textile garments to carry a label with fibre content, country of origin and the identity of the manufacturer or another business responsible for the item, which can be its registered identification (RN) number. A separate FTC rule requires care labels on clothing, attached permanently and legible for the life of the garment.

Official sources: Competition Bureau: textile labelling guide ↗Competition Bureau: CA identification number ↗CBSA Memorandum D11-3-1: marking of imported goods ↗U.S. FTC: textile labelling requirements ↗U.S. FTC: Care Labeling Rule ↗

Down and feather fill

If your outerwear uses down or feathers, the fill has its own labelling rules in Canada.

• “Down” on a label means the fill meets the definition of down or of “commercial down”: at least 75% down and plumules, with limits on feathers, fibre and residue.
• Commercial down may not be called “100%”, “pure” or “all” down, and its label adds the statement “Note: This product contains an amount of feathers not exceeding that allowable by law”, with the French version.
• Naming the bird, such as “duck down”, requires at least 90% of the plumage to come from that bird.
• If only the body is down-filled and the sleeves, hood or collar use another fill, the label must make that clear, for example “body down filled”.
• Synthetic fill is labelled by its generic fibre name. “Down-like” may be used only with a clear statement that the fill is not down.

Official sources: Competition Bureau: labelling of down and feathers ↗

Forced-labour import rules

Canada prohibits imports of goods mined, manufactured or produced wholly or in part by forced labour or, since 1 January 2024, by child labour (Customs Tariff item 9897.00.00; the child-labour wording was added by the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act). CBSA can detain suspected goods at the border, and its Memorandum D9-1-6 states that the importer is responsible for due diligence on its supply chains.

In the US, Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307) bars goods mined, produced or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labour in any country, and CBP can detain such shipments. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) adds a rebuttable presumption: goods made wholly or in part in Xinjiang, or by an entity on the UFLPA Entity List, are treated as made with forced labour and barred from entry unless the importer shows otherwise.

The supply-chain declaration

Because the importer carries this responsibility, brands usually ask their supplier for a written declaration of where each main input comes from, backed by records, so the chain can be traced from raw material to finished garment:

• Cotton. The country where the fibre was grown, and the spinner, weaver and dyehouse.
• Down and feathers. The processor, and where the birds were raised.
• Polyester and nylon. The fibre or yarn producer, and the mill that made the fabric or fill.
• Records. Supplier names and addresses, purchase orders, invoices and production records.

Which documents your order needs is agreed with us before the order is confirmed.

Official sources: CBSA Memorandum D9-1-6: goods produced by forced labour ↗Justice Laws: Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act ↗U.S. CBP: forced labor ↗U.S. CBP: Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act ↗U.S. DHS: UFLPA Entity List ↗

Documents for each order

• Labels. Fibre content, dealer identity and country of origin, plus a care label where it is required or used.
• Test reports. Those your brand asks for, such as fibre content, colourfastness or down composition. Agree the lab and test methods before bulk.
• Commercial invoice and packing list. For customs clearance in your country.
• Supply-chain declaration. With its supporting records, as above.
• Packing standard. Folded or hanging, polybags, carton marks, carton size and weight, and any retailer requirements.

Official sources: CBSA: importing commercial goods ↗

FOB or DDP?

Incoterms are trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce. They set who pays for what, and where the risk passes from seller to buyer.

FOB · Free On Board

The seller clears the goods for export and loads them on board the ship at the port of departure. From there, sea freight, insurance, import clearance, duties and taxes are yours, usually through your freight forwarder and customs broker. FOB is used for sea freight. For container shipments the ICC recommends FCA, which works the same way but passes risk when the goods are handed to the carrier.

DDP · Delivered Duty Paid

The seller delivers to the address you name, cleared for import with duties and taxes paid, so you have one landed price. The seller then acts as the importer in your country.

Which to choose

FOB gives you control of freight and customs, and a clear view of each cost. DDP is simpler if you have never imported before. The Incoterm and destination are agreed with each order.

Importing into Canada yourself

With FOB, you are the importer. CBSA assesses duties and taxes on commercial imports through its CARM system, and you need a business number and an import-export (RM) program account before you import. Release Prior to Payment is optional: to use it, you register in the CARM Client Portal, enrol, and post your own financial security. A licensed customs broker can file your entries and advise on each step.

Duty depends on each garment’s tariff classification and origin. We do not quote duty rates here; confirm them with CBSA or your customs broker.

Official sources: ICC: Incoterms rules ↗CBSA: CARM ↗CBSA: Release Prior to Payment ↗

A note on Australia and New Zealand

Winter in Australia and New Zealand runs from June to August, so their outerwear season is the reverse of North America’s. The same steps apply, counted back from a southern-winter launch. The rules there are different again: in Australia, for example, care labelling for clothing is a mandatory information standard.

Official sources: business.gov.au: product safety rules and standards ↗