I just mounted a pair of Continental Gatorskins with the labels on the same side and the "tread pattern" goes in opposite directions. It's really just a decorative design not a real tread. I'm doing my best to ignore it.

In case you're wondering if you can fit 28mm Gatorskins on your bike, don't worry about it. They are really only 25mm's wide. I think you have to buy 32's to actually get 28's. The only tires I have that measure as wide as they're supposed to be is a pair of Tufo 28mm tubulars.