How to prepare UK footwear material labels
Prepare a component material record before approving label artwork. Identify the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole; check material proportions, then approve the words or pictograms and the attachment on a finished shoe. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate these checks with its own staff in China.
Build the material record before the artwork
Footwear composition labels identify the materials of the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole. The lining and sock means the lining of the upper and the insole. Ask the factory to map its material specification to these parts, with photographs and material supplier references.
Keep this label record separate from fit approval and the commercial product description. A description such as synthetic trainer does not explain the materials used inside the shoe. Use the own-brand footwear guide for the wider specification and physical checks.
Check proportions rather than guessing from appearance
Official guidance uses an 80% threshold for the upper surface area, lining and sock surface area, and outer sole. It also says that where multiple materials are used, the 2 main materials must be shown. Ask the factory for a component breakdown and its calculation method before approving a mixed-material label.
Do not substitute a whole-shoe weight calculation or a visual guess for a component assessment. For a mixed outer sole, request the material volumes and construction drawing for review. If the basis remains unclear, seek clarification from Trading Standards before printing. Keep the calculation with the approved material record.
Approve words or pictograms against the shoe
Confirm with Trading Standards whether your proposed pictograms or words meet the material-labelling requirements. Prepare an approval sheet that pairs each footwear part with its material indication. Ask the factory to explain every symbol it proposes; avoid accepting an existing label simply because it has been used for another customer.
Review the actual print proof beside the finished sample. Check that the upper information has not been swapped with the lining information and that symbols remain distinguishable at the intended print size. Record the artwork revision, style and colour references together, and flag any colourway that uses different materials.
Approve attachment on the finished footwear
Confirm with Trading Standards where the composition label must be attached and whether your proposed box labelling is sufficient. Specify the intended position and attachment method in the factory instructions, and approve a finished shoe with the label applied.
As a practical check, unpack and handle the sample as a shop or customer would. Look for labels that lift, rub away, become hidden or damage the finish. Photograph the approved location and attachment so production staff can reproduce it without interpreting a loose artwork file.
Release production against the approved record
Give the factory a joined approval pack containing the material record, proportion calculations, artwork and attachment photographs. Require written approval before material substitutions or label changes. Use the bulk production and sample guide to control changes between the approved sample and production.
At pre-shipment inspection, compare labels on production footwear with the approved record across styles and material variants. Record missing labels, mismatched symbols and attachment problems, then check corrected stock before release. Cambridge China Bridge can ask its staff in China to coordinate the factory handoff and preserve the inspection photographs.
Frequently asked questions
Which parts need a footwear material label?
The upper, lining and sock, and outer sole. Lining and sock means the lining of the upper and the insole. Ask the factory to map its material specification to these parts.
What if my shoes use mixed materials?
Official guidance says the 2 main materials must be shown where multiple materials are used. Obtain a component breakdown and calculation method rather than copying a label from another style.
Can the footwear material label go only on the box?
Confirm with Trading Standards whether a box label alone is sufficient and where the composition label must be attached. Approve its position and attachment on finished footwear before production.
Should I use footwear pictograms or words?
Confirm with Trading Standards whether your chosen words or pictograms meet the material-labelling requirements. Approve the chosen indications against the actual materials, and check a print proof on the finished shoe before releasing the artwork.