SIBL > Science and Technology Information > Apparel, Fashion & Textiles

What are standards and regulations and how do I find out the ones related apparel/fashion/textiles?

The American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI) defines standards as documented agreements containing technical specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions of characteristics, to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purposes.  There are both voluntary and mandatory standards that can also become government regulations.

See SIBL’s Science & Technology web page on Standards for additional information.

See also the following for industry specific standards information:

• ASTM Standards (American Society for Testing Materials) Section 7: Textiles.  See (*R-SIBL TA401.A653) See also: http://www.astm.org/cgi-
  bin/SoftCart.exe/DATABASE.CART/MARKETINGCODES/TX1.htm?U+mystore+osej9290 for the dates of most current revisions and reapprovals.
• Code of Federal Regulations: See 16 CFR 1610, 1615-16, 1630-32 for flammability regulations; 16 CFR 300, 303, 423, 500 for care labeling regulations.
• Fit 2000: The Fit Symposium (http://car.clemson.edu/fit2000/references.htm)
  A bibliography of resources on voluntary standards for body measurements and sizing, garment fit, pattern development, sizing research and grading.
• Unit Method of Clothing Construction/Iowa State University Press. 1990.  (JSF 93-221)