Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1451361
3 8 G R A P H I C S P R O A P R I L 2 0 2 2 G R A PH I C S - PR O.C O M SAFETY FIRST One issue is safety. We all know there are safety regulations that center on children's clothing and how it is decorated. Choking is one concern. Anything that could be pulled o a garment and swallowed, like a pom-pom, charm, or rhinestone, could be a potential hazard. Decorators who use these sorts of items need to ensure every- thing is well secured and can't be removed. Lead can also be another issue, with the total lead content on children's clothing limited to no more than 100 ppm. is can be an issue when it comes to vinyl and crystal rhinestones. Some vinyl is also made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which can be toxic to young children. There is also the issue of flammabil- ity. Certain types of fabrics can't be used in children's clothing at all because they burn too easily. Embroidered designs may cause issues if there are loose threads, or if the back of the embroidery scratches or abrades tender skin. Child safety is clearly important, and the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) has sev- eral regulations related to infant and chil- dren's products to make sure kids stay safe. e good news is that complying with these regulations isn't as dicult as some might want to make it seem. Yes, it may require a bit of research and extra work, but the payo is safer children and merchandise that can be sold without the worry of a lawsuit in the future. Let's start with ink. To protect yourself against any issues, make sure the ink you use on children's clothing comes with documenta- tion from the supplier or manu- facturer that shows that the ink has been cleared according to CPSIA. Make sure this documen- tation is kept on le and can be produced regarding any clothing you make for children. Another way to get around this issue is to print with water-based ink, which doesn't have any of the compo- nents that cause issues. Like screen printing ink, CP- SIA compliant vinyl can also be purchased for use on children's clothing. As with the ink, you should be able to get documen- tation from your supplier that the vinyl in question has been tested and meets the necessary requirements. For embroidery, protecting children may be as simple as covering the back of the embroidery with fusible poly mesh stabi- lizer, ensuring there will be no abrasion or rubbing. is is a common technique that is often used with infant onesies. Another best practice for embroiderers who deal with childrenswear is to make sure all gar- ments are meticulously trimmed and that any hanging or protruding decorations that could be pulled o are rmly secured. Decorators that use rhinestones will want to determine the lead content of the stones they use, and the chemical makeup of the glue used to hold the rhinestones to the item being decorated. e glue also needs to be strong enough to hold the stones in place securely, so they can't be removed and swallowed. CPSIA compliant stones are available, so decorators who use rhinestones on childrenswear will want to pursue that option. CURRENT TRENDS Now that the safety issue has been dis- cussed, the next question is what are the current trends in kidswear? While Bobby might love his SpongeBob applique shirt and Mikayla may nd delight in her prin- Make sure the ink you use on children's clothing comes with documentation from the supplier or manufacturer that shows that the ink has been cleared according to CPSIA. (Image courtesy Fat Dad Custom Designs) mbellished clothing for kids is big business and can be a significant profit center for a garment decoration shop, re- gardless of the type of decoration done. (Image courtesy Fat Dad Custom Designs)