SGS Helps Manufacturers Access China’s Growing Market for Pet Apparel

SGS expert explains the standard for pet apparel to help manufacturers access China’s growing market for pet clothing. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) April 24, 2019 - China has a growing market for pet apparel. Manufacturers are advised to follow the voluntary pet apparel standard - FZ/T 81013-2016 – to help them successful access this lucrative opportunity.

FZ/T 81013-2016 is technically the standard for dog apparel, but it actually covers clothing made from textiles for all pets. It covers:

1. Instructions for use – must conform to GB/T 5296.4 and label chest girth and top length in cm
2. Specification – main parts should be designed by manufacturer. If the specification deviates, the manufacturer should refer to the standard
3. Raw materials – meet the requirements of relevant nation and industry standards
4. Color difference – no lower than grade 4 among each fabric part
5. Appearance defects – refer to standard
6. Sewing – refer to standard
7. Ironing – each part shall be flat and neat, without over press, water spot or pressing marks. Degumming, bleed through, wrinkling, bubbling or gum stains are not allowed at the fusible interlining placements
8. Physical and chemical properties – cover fiber content, formaldehyde content, pH value, decomposable carcinogenic arylamine dyes, odor, dimensional change after washing, color fastness to washing, and color fastness to rubbing (both dry and wet)

China has a particularly profitable sector for pet clothing. In 2018, 73.55 million people were reported to be owners of pets. The vast majority of these were urban dwellers (56.48 million), accounting for around 91.49 million cats and dogs. In 2018, pet owners contributed CNY 170.8 billion to the economy, a rise of 27 percent on 2017.

The increasing spend on pets is linked to the rise in living standards across China. Many urban Chinese citizens see the ownership of a cat or dog as akin to a surrogate child. They therefore dress them as they would another member of the family.

The market for pet apparel in China is therefore growing to take advantage of these opportunities. It offers boots, shirts, dresses, hoodies, sweaters, costumes and raincoats for all popular breeds, allowing owners to synchronize clothing with their pets.

Pet owners, however, should follow basic advice about dressing their pets:

1. Only dress if appropriate – dogs are generally cold-resistant animals, especially longhaired breeds. It is therefore not necessary to dress longhaired dogs for warmth
2. Consider other factors – body size, fat content etc. will all impact on the pet’s ability to keep warm and therefore its clothing requirements. In general, small dogs with less fat get cold easily
3. Not only warmth – clothing can also help protect the pet’s body from sharp objects
4. Protecting you and your pet – clothing can reduce dander from dogs, which may induce respiratory allergies, and can keep your pet free from ticks and fleas
5. Cats need to clean – they lick their hair to clean themselves every day. Make sure clothing is removed to allow them to perform this natural habit
6. Size is important – as with humans, ill-fitting clothes can be uncomfortable for the pet

The growing market in pet clothing offers considerable economic returns for clothing manufacturers but they must always consider the well-being of the pet.

SGS SOLUTION
With a global network of over 40 specialist state-of-the-art laboratories focusing on softline products, SGS helps manufacturers bring safe and compliant products to the marketplace. Our cost-effective solutions come with fast turnaround times, helping business take advantage of the expanding pet apparel market in China. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services. [www.sgs.com/softlines]

For more information, please contact:

Craig Zhang
SGS Global Softlines
SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services Co., Ltd.
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines

About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 97,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

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