Handle with care. Social labelling through the symbol of clothing care label

Abstract

This Bachelor's thesis uses the symbol of a clothing care label to explore the invisible ways we’re labelled in society. Woven into our garments, these tiny tags tell us how to treat clothes – but they also quietly speak about value, origin, biases and care. In this project, I collected personal stories reflecting on how people have been labelled by themselves or others. Their words were printed as real care labels and sewn into a book, paired with portraits and factual personal data. The structure invites the reader to confront their assumptions – first by seeing, then assuming, and finally by putting in the effort to understand and get to know the person. It’s an intimate reflection on identity, categorisation, and the overlooked systems that shape how we relate to one another.