What Are Custom Clothing Labels?
Custom clothing labels are the branded and informational labels sewn or printed into a garment: the main brand label, the size label, the care and composition label, and extras such as country of origin or batch details. They do two jobs at once. They identify your brand to the wearer and they carry the information that tells people what the garment is made of and how to look after it. A well-chosen label can lift a simple garment, while a scratchy or badly placed one is a common reason customers cut labels out.
For a brand using private label production, labels are also what turns a factory's garment into your product. They are sourced separately from the fabric, they have their own lead time and minimum quantity, and they need to arrive at the factory before sewing begins. Labels are therefore easy to forget and costly to delay.
Those four points frame the rest of this guide. Below we look at the label types, how folds change the finish, where labels go and how to order them without holding up production.
Types of Clothing Label
Labels are grouped by function and by how they are made. Woven labels have the design woven into the thread, printed labels have the design printed on a tape, and heat transfer labels remove the separate label altogether by printing inside the garment. The table compares the main types.
Main types of clothing label
| Label type | What it is | Typical use | Points to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven main label | Design woven into the label with coloured threads | Brand label at the neck or hem | Premium look; detail limited by weave |
| Printed label | Design printed on a satin, cotton or polyester tape | Care, size and composition labels | Good for small text and many versions |
| Heat transfer label | Design pressed into the garment, with no separate label | Tagless neck print, size and care info | Comfortable; cannot be removed or replaced |
| Care and composition label | Label showing fibre content and washing instructions | Side seam or inside the neck | Must be legible, durable and accurate |
| Size label | Label showing the garment size | Neck, waistband or side seam | Often combined with the main or care label |
| Patch or badge | Woven, leather, rubber or embroidered external label | Visible branding on a sleeve, pocket or waistband | A decorative extra, not a replacement for required labels |
General overview. Suppliers use their own names for some of these label formats.
Most brands do not need every type. A typical starting set of custom clothing labels is one main brand label, one combined care, size and composition label, and a hang tag for retail. Add extra patches or flags only when they support the brand and the product, because each extra label is another item to source, sew and check.
Woven Labels: Damask, Satin and Taffeta
Woven labels are made on a loom, so the design is built from threads rather than printed. Three weaves are used most often, and they differ in detail, softness and cost. Damask is the finest and most detailed, taffeta is firmer and often the most economical, and satin is smooth and soft against the skin.
Woven label weaves compared
| Weave | Handfeel and look | Detail | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damask | High thread density, a crisp, slightly textured finish | Highest; fine lettering and detailed logos | Premium main labels and brand marks |
| Satin | Smooth, soft and lightly glossy | Good; detail is limited by the finer thread | Neck labels where softness matters |
| Taffeta | Firm, flatter and more matte | Moderate; best for bold designs | Practical labels, side seams and cost-led ranges |
| Cotton or twill tape | Natural, casual, textured | Low; large text only | Casual, heritage or sustainable-led brands |
General characteristics. The supplier's loom, thread and finishing change the result, so ask for a physical sample.
Whatever weave you choose, ask the supplier for the minimum text size it can weave clearly. Very small lettering can close up, particularly in damask. Choose a label edge that suits the garment: a cut edge is quick but can scratch, while a laser or ultrasonic seal gives a smoother edge, and a folded edge is smoother still.
Printed Labels, Heat Transfer Labels and Tagless Neck Prints
Printed labels are cheaper to vary and are well suited to care and size information, which changes by garment and size. They are printed on tape or fabric and cut to length. They carry small text and symbols well, and they can be produced for many different versions without a large set-up cost per design.
Heat transfer labels, often called tagless or neck print, are applied directly to the inside of the garment. They remove the scratchy tag that some wearers dislike, and they are common on t-shirts and base layers. The trade-off is that the label cannot be replaced, the print can wear over time, and the information has to fit in a limited area. Our guide to heat transfers explains how this kind of application works.
Sewn-in label or tagless neck print?
What each does well
- Sewn-in label: premium look, easy to replace, holds more information
- Sewn-in label: woven weaves give a strong brand signal
- Tagless print: no tag to scratch the neck
- Tagless print: cleaner inside finish on lightweight tees
What to watch
- Sewn-in label: a poorly chosen edge or weave can irritate
- Sewn-in label: extra cost and a separate supplier
- Tagless print: cannot be replaced and may wear with washing
- Tagless print: less space for sizes, care symbols and origin details
A guide to the trade-offs. Many garments use a tagless neck print plus a small side-seam care label.
Label Fold Types: End Fold, Centre Fold, Mitre Fold and Manger Fold
How a label is folded decides how it is attached to the garment and what the finished edge looks like. A fold can hide a raw edge, create a loop that shows on both sides, or give a neat pointed end. Terms vary a little between suppliers, so ask for a drawing and a physical sample to confirm what is meant.
Common label fold types
| Fold type | How it is made | Typical use | Looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight cut | Label cut to length with no folding | Neck labels sewn flat and care labels | A flat rectangle with raw cut edges, sealed if required |
| End fold | Both ends folded back and sewn down | Neck labels attached on all sides | A neat flat label with clean ends |
| Centre fold | Label folded in half and caught in a seam | Side seam and hem tabs, sleeve flags | A loop showing the brand on both faces |
| Mitre fold | Ends folded at an angle | Neck labels needing a tidy, pointed finish | A flat label with angled corners |
| Manger fold | A layered fold forming a small pocket-like finish | Premium neck labels | A raised, finished edge; confirm the style with the supplier |
Fold names are used slightly differently by different suppliers. Always confirm with a drawing and a sample.
What Goes on Care and Composition Labels
A care and composition label should tell the wearer what the garment is made of and how to wash and dry it. The core items are the fibre composition, written as percentages by weight, and the care instructions, shown with the five standard care symbols for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional care. Many brands add the country of origin, size and a style or batch reference.
The rules about exactly what must appear, in which language and in what form, are specific and change over time, so they are not set out here. Our guide to UK clothing labelling requirements explains the basics, and you should confirm the current rules with Trading Standards or a qualified adviser before printing. Check that care advice matches the garment: test it on a washed sample, and make sure the fibre percentages match the fabric supplier's records.
Care symbols and fibre percentages belong to your garment, not to a competitor's. Copying a label from a similar product can give wrong washing advice or a wrong composition. Base every label on your own fabric specification and test results.
Where to Place Labels on a Garment
Placement affects comfort, appearance and how easily the label can be read. The position should be agreed in the tech pack, not left to the sewing operator, because small differences are visible across a whole production run. As a general rule, put the brand label where it can be seen and comfortably worn, and put the care label where it can be read without being felt.
Common label positions by garment
| Garment | Main label | Care and size | Extra branding |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirt | Inside back neck, or a neck print | Side seam, or combined with the neck label | Hem flag or sleeve tab |
| Hoodie or sweatshirt | Inside back neck seam | Side seam or inside the hem band | Pocket, cuff or sleeve badge |
| Polo shirt | Inside back neck | Side seam | Embroidered logo, placket tag or hem tab |
| Joggers and trousers | Inside waistband | Side seam or waistband | Back pocket tab or leg badge |
| Jeans and denim | Inside waistband | Inside the back waistband or pocket bag | Back patch or pocket flag |
Typical starting points only. Confirm exact positions in your tech pack.
Think about how the garment is worn when choosing a position. A label at the centre back neck sits against the skin and the collar, so softness matters, while a side-seam label is felt less but is easier to read. Where several custom clothing labels share one seam, check that the stack is not so thick that it creates a lump under the fabric.
Indicative Ratings by Label Type
The matrix below compares the most common label types on four buying factors. It is indicative only, but it shows why most brands combine two or three types, such as a woven main label with a printed care label, rather than relying on one.
Indicative comparison of label types
1 dot = low, 5 dots = high
| Wearer comfort | Durability | Premium feel | Cost level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damask woven label | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Satin woven label | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Taffeta woven label | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Printed care label | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
| Heat transfer neck print | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● | ●●●●● |
Indicative ratings based on typical label characteristics, not test results. In the cost column, more dots means a higher relative cost.
Artwork, Colour and Size for Custom Clothing Labels
Label artwork needs to be simple and legible at a very small scale. A logo that works on a website can fill in when woven at label size, so supply vector artwork and expect the supplier to simplify the design. Thread colours are matched to a colour reference rather than to a screen, which makes physical proofing worth the wait.
Label specification checklist
- Supply vector artwork of the logo with fonts converted to outlines.
- List the label types needed: main, size, care and composition, and extras.
- State the weave, fold type, width and length, and the edge finish.
- Give thread and background colours with a colour reference.
- Agree the minimum text size that will stay legible when woven or printed.
- Provide the fibre composition and care instructions from your own tests.
- Mark placement for every label on the tech pack drawing.
- Ask for a digital proof and a physical sample before approving production.
Minimum text sizes and supplier formats vary, so confirm them before finalising artwork.
How to Order Custom Clothing Labels
Order labels early, because they are made by a separate supplier and must be on site before the factory can sew. The route is similar for every type. Many label suppliers set a minimum order for woven labels, so confirm the quantity, lead time and how overages are handled before you place the order. Our garment production process shows where labels fit in the schedule.
From label brief to labels at the factory
- 1Decide the label setList every label the garment needs, and where each one goes.
- 2Prepare the artworkCreate clean vector files and a colour reference.
- 3Choose type and foldSelect the weave or print method, fold style, size and edge.
- 4Approve the proofCheck the digital proof, then a physical sample for colour and legibility.
- 5Confirm quantity and timingAgree minimum quantity, lead time and delivery to the factory.
- 6Check on the first sampleVerify placement, fold and comfort on the first garment sample.
Minimum quantities and lead times vary by supplier and label type. Ask each one for its own terms.
Order slightly more labels than the production quantity, since the factory will need spares for sampling and for any replacement of damaged pieces. If you are producing under a private label arrangement, our private label guide shows who normally supplies what.
How Ruhrose Approaches Labels and Trims
Ruhrose develops hoodies, jersey (t-shirts, polos and joggers), denim and woven casualwear, with production in Bangladesh and buyer support in the UK. Labels are specified in the tech pack with the garment, so the type, fold and placement are agreed before sampling, and the first sample shows how the label sits and feels. We keep your label and trim details together with the approved specification, which makes reorders more consistent.