“Custom labels” covers more ground than it first appears — woven neck labels, printed care labels, and branded interior tags all fall under the term, and each serves a different function on a finished garment.
Labels vs. Hang Tags: A Quick Distinction
A hang tag is removable, typically carrying price and marketing information, and is discarded after purchase. A label is sewn permanently into the garment and stays with it for the product’s life — carrying brand identification, sizing, and required care information. They’re complementary, not interchangeable, and a brand needs both for different reasons.
It’s worth thinking of labels as part of the garment’s construction, not an add-on applied at the end — label placement and attachment method are typically specified in the same tech pack as every other construction detail, not handled as a separate, later decision.
Woven Labels
Woven labels are made by weaving thread into the label itself, similar to how the garment fabric is constructed, producing a durable, soft-edged label that holds up to repeated washing well. They’re the standard choice for neck labels, where the label sits against skin and durability and comfort both matter. Woven labels generally cost more per unit than printed alternatives and support a more limited color palette, since the design is woven rather than printed.
Printed (Satin) Labels
Printed labels use a satin or similar smooth fabric base with the design printed directly onto it, supporting finer detail and a wider color range than weaving typically allows, at a lower cost per unit. They’re common for care labels and interior branding where cost and print flexibility matter more than the woven label’s premium hand-feel.
Care Labels and Required Information
Care labels typically carry washing instructions, fiber content, and country of origin — the specific information required varies by the market a garment is sold into, and it’s worth confirming current requirements for your specific target markets with a compliance-knowledgeable source rather than assuming a standard set of symbols applies everywhere. This is one of the few label types where the content isn’t a design choice — it needs to be accurate and legible above all else.
Label Placement Options
Standard neck placement remains the most common, but side-seam labels, waistband labels (on bottoms), and hem labels are all reasonable alternatives, particularly for brands wanting to avoid a visible neck label on certain designs or simply looking for a distinct placement as part of their visual identity. Placement affects both the sewing process and the customer’s physical experience of the label, so it’s worth deciding deliberately rather than defaulting to neck placement automatically.
Custom Label Shapes and Folds
Beyond a standard flat label, common fold styles include the center-fold (folded in half and sewn at the fold), the end-fold (folded at both ends, exposing more of the design), and the mitred fold (folded at an angle for a more tailored look). Each fold style changes how much of the label design is visible and how it sits against the seam it’s sewn into — worth reviewing physical samples of each before deciding, since the difference is hard to judge from a flat digital mockup.
Ordering Considerations for a First Run
Minimum order quantities and lead times for custom labels vary meaningfully by supplier, material, and complexity, and it’s worth getting a real quote before finalizing a design around an assumed budget. Ordering enough labels to cover a full production run plus a reasonable buffer for future reorders of the same style avoids a mismatched minimum order the next time that style needs restocking.
It’s also worth ordering labels with enough lead time to arrive ahead of the garments they’re sewn into — labels are typically applied during construction, not after, so a late label order can delay an entire production run rather than just the finishing step.