Be an alert consumer, make an informed choice,” says the Union ministry of consumer affairs in its numerous advertisements. But how does one make an informed choice, when the information that is so crucial to decision-making is denied to the consumer? I refer here to the readymade garments industry, which seems to have scant regard for the consumer’s right to information.

Just look at the labels on apparel (particularly those meant for women) sold in the market. Most of them have no information on the kind of fibre or fabric used. For that matter, most of them do not provide washing and maintenance instructions.

Let’s talk about hosiery or knitted garments in specific. These days, there is a wide variety of styles and designs in this range of clothes. But it’s impossible to make out the fibre content by just looking at the product. And the tags are of no help.

There are so many new varieties of synthetic fabric and blends available that it is difficult for a consumer to even make a guess. Is it 100 per cent cotton or is it a blend? Is it meant for summer or winter? How does it respond to washing? Does it shrink or expand ? Will the colour run? Does it require cleaning? How should it be ironed? In most cases, the labels ? particularly the ones on women’s clothes ? lack this kind of relevant information.

Then there is no standardisation in regard to size. While with some garments, sizes is expressed in numbers, with others, the words ‘small’, ‘medium’ or ‘large’ indicate the same. Most often, a ‘small’ size of one make might be ‘medium’ in another. In some cases, the actual size may not actually be what the label shows.

It’s time the government made it mandatory for all readymade garments to carry the following label information: the composition of the fabric used; whether it is meant for summer or winter (or is it an all-weather garment) and in case of cotton, whether it is pre-shrunk and if not, the percentage of shrinkage expected, etc. They should also carry washing and ironing instructions.

Besides the price of the garment, the label should carry the name and complete address of the manufacturer and the date of manufacture. Similarly, the sizes should be standardised and mentioned on the label. And the information should be so displayed as to make it possible for the consumer to read it at the time of purchase.