In plain English: Dry the garment away from direct sunlight. UV will fade the dye or degrade the fiber.
What it looks like on the tagOne or two diagonal lines in the upper-left corner of the square drying symbol, combined with the line-dry, flat-dry, or drip-dry mark.
What to do
- Dry indoors, under a covered porch, or anywhere out of direct sun.
- Combine with the base symbol: shade + line dry, shade + flat dry, etc.
- If outdoors is the only option, turn the garment inside out and pick the shadiest spot.
What happens if you ignore it
Sun-fading is uneven and permanent — shoulders and folds bleach first. Silk and some nylons also weaken structurally under UV.
Where you'll see it
Dark and saturated colors, silk, linen with vivid dyes, and printed pieces.
Common questions
Does shade drying take much longer?
Somewhat — but airflow matters more than sun. A shaded spot with a breeze outdries a sunny still corner.
Is indoor drying always “in shade”?
Effectively yes, just avoid hanging directly in a sunny window — glass doesn't block the fading wavelengths completely.
Related symbols
- Line Dry / Hang Dry — hang the garment to dry
- Dry Flat — lay the garment flat on a surface to dry
- Machine Wash Cold — wash this garment in cold water
Or just scan the label
CareLabl reads the entire care label in one photo — every symbol on it, decoded into plain English, plus the fabric composition. Works with international and US labels. Try Pro free for 3 days, no credit card needed.