How to avoid the problem of small string with children's clothing export

In recent years, it has been common for children's clothing to encounter problems in the export of clothing in China. The “bow tie” and “small string strap” and other seemingly inconspicuous decorations have not been given sufficient attention in the aspect of clothing design, resulting in products that do not conform to the relevant regulations of the importing country when exported, and to the children’s clothing export enterprises in China. There have been times when business has brought about certain effects. According to the EU RAPEX CHINA early warning system, 306 cases of garments exported to the European Union were notified in 2012, of which 267 cases were due to children's clothing and ropes not complying with the above directives, accounting for 87.3% of the total number of notifications. China's children's clothing companies have issued notifications to Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain and other countries. The problem of small straps is already a big issue that should be taken seriously. These notifications and even recalled cases have brought warnings to China’s children’s clothing export companies. How can companies effectively avoid the occurrence of similar situations in the future?

Recently, the reporter learned from the Nanjing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau Textile Department that, according to the EU "Basic Instructions for Product Safety", the safety performance of children's clothing ropes and belts sold within the EU should meet the requirements of the EN14682-2007 standard. “The EN14682-2007 standard mainly stipulates the string requirements for children's clothing. In Europe and America, there is a special REPAX-China system that informs children of unqualified children's clothing. Every year, children's clothing exported from China is notified that it does not meet this standard. There have been hundreds of corporate cases recalled, and the number has remained high. Due to the lack of understanding of this standard by enterprises, the export of children's clothing in China has had a great impact.” said Hou Yufeng, Nanjing Textiles and Textiles Administration of Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. . In 2007, the European Union promulgated the standard requirements for children's clothing, such as tethers and drawstrings. However, for example, what are the requirements for the design of the tethers at different parts of the clothing body? The circumference of the tethers must not exceed the number. Is there a functional tether? With such minor problems, the lack of attention paid by some companies has led to some enterprises being faced with the embarrassing situation of being recalled. However, we understand that there are some companies that have a high pass rate for spot checks. The reporter interviewed several companies to see how they did it.

After understanding the requirements, strict quality inspection manager of Nanjing Hantian Garments Co., Ltd. said that the relevant departments of entry and exit inspection and quarantine will regularly provide training and guidance to garment export enterprises and publish the new standards to enterprises at the first time. “Generally speaking, we will hold a salesperson meeting after receiving the notification to convey the new standard requirements and strictly control the products whose production process does not conform to the standards. At the same time, our European customers will also issue their own national product quality manuals. As well as informing product design requirements and helping us to obtain the latest standard terms in the first time, in addition, they will send products to the authorized clothing accessories manufacturers for testing, such as Shanghai SGS (Brands Standard Technology Service Co., Ltd.) ) Testing Center to ensure the procurement of qualified products.

Scarlet Boulevarade, a children's wear brand registered in Los Angeles, USA, mainly exports children's clothes to Germany, France, the Netherlands and other European countries. The reporter learned from the interview that Jim's strict control of quality and the practice of Hantian Garments Co., Ltd. have similarities. Jim Zhou's manager said: “We have hired foreign designers to design our garments. If we find that the product design does not meet the standards of the domestic and export markets, we will communicate with foreign designers and propose changes to the design program. Production companies arrange production orders, and our designers sometimes provide design solutions for manufacturers such as ropes and belts, which will also reduce the rate of failure in the production process.If the selected products fail, we will face The risk of being recalled.” Manager Zhou said that Jim will not only strictly control the design details of the product against the relevant standards, but also send carefully selected products to ITS (Intertek Testing Services) inspection and testing centers for product quality. Detection, from all aspects to avoid product problems.

According to Hou Yufeng, the policy guide has introduced quality issues. The Nanjing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau regularly conducts training and instruction for children's wear enterprises. The number of trainings for different types of companies is also different. For example, training for a class of grade companies is usually 1 or 2 times. For the second and third class companies, it is generally 3 to 4 times. The relevant departments will send the adjustment plan to the employees of the company and guide them. For the unqualified companies, they will urge the production factory to make corrections, and the export companies will adjust the procurement plan. Jim Zhou's manager also said that the last time there were more than 20 corporate executives attended the training meeting, everyone at the meeting to better understand the new standards, but also promote mutual exchanges.

The Nanjing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau also made suggestions to the export enterprises: pay close attention to the requirements of foreign mandatory technical specifications, understand the relevant contents, interpret and analyze trade barriers, increase the control of upstream design processes, raise salary at the bottom, and prevent trade barrier risks; Test self-control ability, improve the level of inspectors, effectively deal with trade barriers; timely track down information on recall of substandard products, as a guide to the past, reduce the risk of trade barriers; enhance legal awareness, do not blindly cater to customer design needs, remove luck, quality and safety In practice, avoid problems and avoid major economic losses due to unqualified garment designs. In addition, relevant state departments will also take effective measures to help enterprises actively respond to and break through trade technical barriers to ensure the quality and safety of exported children's clothing.

Children as special people who do not possess or are not fully capable of self-protection have special requirements in the design and production of clothing. In some countries, the quality and design requirements for children's wear are also increasingly stringent. The company strictly controls product testing, communicates with buyers in a timely manner, and changes the design and production process so that it will not be held back by "small ropes."

The European Union's safety requirements for children's clothing ropes under the age of 14 The European Union EN14682:2007 standard stipulates the safety requirements for children under the age of 14 on the string of clothing, the specific content of which is as follows:

1. General requirements a) The free end of the drawstring, functional string, knotted belt, or decorative belt cannot have a three-dimensional ornamentation. If there is no danger of pinching the end of the string, double pleats or hems can be used at the end.

b) Socket buckles are only used on straps or decorative straps that do not have free ends.

c) The string should be sewn on the garment, at least in the middle of the two exit points to be fixed on the garment, and can be knotted and fixed.

d) After the lanyard fixed on the garment is tightened, the protruding circumference on the garment shall not exceed 7.5cm; when the lanyard is laid flat, the protruding length between the two points fixed on the garment shall not exceed 7.5cm. .

e) The length of the zipper slider on the zipper slide lock shall not exceed 7.5cm, and the zipper slider shall not hang below the bottom of the garment. The zipper slider shall include any decoration.

2. Head and neck area a) 0 to 7 years old (height less than 134cm) children's clothing: no ropes are allowed; the length of the adjustable tab cannot exceed 7.5cm; if the shoulder strap is made of continuous material or rope The strap is fixed to the front and rear of the garment, the shoulder strap is acceptable, but the decorative rope fixed on the strap cannot have a free end of more than 7.5cm in length, and the circumference of the fixed loop cannot exceed 7.5cm; Tie-belt garments must not have free ends in the head and neck regions; decorations, such as bows, that are sewn or otherwise fixed to the garment cannot have free ends that are longer than 7.5 cm; the circumference of any loop must not exceed 7.5cm.

b) 7 to 14 years old (boys 134 to 182 cm tall and girls 134 to 176 cm tall). Children's clothing: When clothing is spread to the maximum size and laid flat, there must be no protruding strings; when clothing is spread to the minimum size, ie When the clothing target is of suitable size, the circumference of the protruding loop cannot exceed 15cm; functional or decorative ropes and adjustable hooks, the length of each end can not exceed 7.5cm, and the above-mentioned string can not use elastic rope; If the straps start from the attachment point, the length of the free end shall not exceed 14cm, and the circumference of the fixed bead shall not exceed 7.5cm; in the neck tie-type clothing, the unfastened end of the head and neck region shall not be present.

c) Jackets with a chest circumference ≤ 44cm: No strings are allowed.

3. Front and rear waist regions a) When the rope has free ends, the protruding length at each end cannot exceed 14cm. When the garment is unfolded to its maximum size and laid flat, ie, it becomes the specified target size, the overall extension length cannot exceed 28cm; When there is no free end, a loop will be formed. When the garment is the specified target size, the circumference of the loop cannot exceed 28 cm.

b) The protruding length of a functional or decorative rope and adjustable tab cannot exceed 14 cm, and the decorative rope includes its ornament.

c) The knotted belt or decorative belt on the front and back shall not exceed 36cm in length from the point of attachment. For children aged 0 to 7 years, the waistband shall not exceed the bottom of the garment when it is not tied.

4. Bottom bottom area a) When the bottom of the garment is placed below the crotch, the bottom strap, functional or decorative ropes do not hang below the bottom of the garment.

b) The drawstring or string at the bottom of the garment should be flat against the garment, even when the garment is tightened.

c) At the bottom of the clothing at the ankle, the strap at the bottom of the pendulum, the functional or decorative rope should be completely inside the garment, but the stirrups at the bottom of the trousers are acceptable.

d) The length of the adjustable crotch is not more than 14cm, and it does not hang below the bottom of the garment.

5. The back area must not have any functional or decorative strings, except for knotted belts and decorative belts.

6. Sleeve a) When the clothing is fastened, the string of the long-sleeve sleeve is completely inside the garment.

b) Short-sleeve garments with sleeves above the elbow, when the sleeves are unfolded to the maximum size and laid flat, the straps at 0- to 7-year-olds shall not protrude more than 7.5 cm from the sleeves. For children aged 7 to 14 years, The length of the strap at the sleeve is not to exceed 14 cm.

c) If the adjustable length of the sleeve on the sleeve does not exceed 10cm and the opening does not hang below the bottom of the garment.

7. Other parts of the above-mentioned items not mentioned in the clothing, when the clothing is unfolded to the maximum size and laid flat, the length of the string cannot exceed 14cm.