A garment label establishes your apparel and brand recognition and provides instructions that help clients care for the garments even years after purchase. A garment cannot be marketed in a foreign market without a label.
A garment's label is an essential component. There is more to a garment label than a piece of cloth that interacts directly with the customer. It captures the customer's undivided attention and defines the product's quality. Based on the garment labelling, the buyer decides whether or not to purchase the garment. As a result, the label is quite significant in marketing the garment. This article discusses the many forms of garment labels and the information contained within them.
What is a Garment Label?
Garment labelling is thus a vital concern and consideration for a manufacturer. It is a way of quietly promoting the brand and the clothing. The label's fabric and style should be chosen after carefully considering many criteria. A clothing label serves as a link between the customer and the merchandise. A garment label provides information about the garment, such as the manufacturer’s name, the nation of origin, the kind of fabric, the type of yarn, textile component, garment fit, specific care instructions, etc.
Also Read: How to start a Readymade Garment Store? A Complete Guide
Basic Information Found on Label Tags
A simple tag on the inner centre of a garment mentioning the brand or country does not suffice. To further assist you in navigating the care and manufacturing details of the garment, certain basic information is provided on the labels. This helps you understand the fabric's maintenance and whether it suits you in size or any other details. The labels on garments carry these essential instructions about the kind of fabric, its care and maintenance and sometimes the city/country of origin.
1. Washing and Care Instructions
Washing and care instructions are critical information that is often included on the labels of products that require cleaning or maintenance. These instructions help ensure the product remains in good condition and lasts longer. This information is intended to guide consumers in correctly cleaning and maintaining their products. The information helps consumers avoid damaging or ruining their products, which can result in costly repairs or replacements.
2. Country of Origin
The country of origin refers to the country where the product was made or produced. This information is typically included on product labels to provide consumers with important information about where their products come from. The country of origin can significantly influence a consumer's purchase decision.
3. Size
Garment labels also specify the size of the specific ready-to-wear garments. These can be just symbols like “L” for Large or “XL” for extra large sizes. Some labels mention size in different country measurements like “US” or “ EU”; this means the standard sizes of these countries apply.
4. Fibre Content
All functional fibres of the garment are mentioned on the labels. However, non-functional fibres are not if their percentages in the final garment are less than 5% a piece. Alternatively, under the title "other fibres," these fibres might be given as a total percentage. These items are generally mentioned in decreasing order by percentage, and non-fibrous materials are not included in this list. Organic fibre content is valued these days; that information is carried on the labels.
5. Specific Information
A certain type of clothing is designed for a certain group, such as for children, teens, or the elderly. The labels do carry such specific information as well. The labels also carry information as specific as the flammability of the fabric. If the fabric or textile does not meet specific fire safety regulations, the label indicates "KEEP AWAY FROM FIRE”.
6. Brand Information
It is common for a small brand logo to appear on the label, which specifies the manufacturer and the brand. This branding is essential to apparel manufacturing; even something as basic as a tiny logo can make a big impact. The label is the first place where we check for brand names.
Also Read: Mandatory Machinery For A Garment Manufacturing Business.
Different Types of Clothing Tags
There are 13 various types of garment labelling in clothes, which may be classified based on four factors: materials, functions, stitching methods, and manufacturing procedures.
Classification Based on Material
Their materials classify clothing labels as metal-based, leather, PVC, fabric, and TPU labels.
1. Metal Labels
Metal labels are badges and attachments embossed with company logos on garments, caps, or luggage. Metal labels come in a variety of materials, including aluminium tags, steel tags, brass labels, copper tags, galvanised alloy labels, etc. Metal labels have many uses and strict procedures, including embossing, etching, laser cutting, etc.
2. Leather Labels
Leather labels are made of leather. They are also known as leather tags or leather badges. They have synthetic, authentic, and microfiber labels. It is appropriate for jackets, jeans, hats, and bags. Furthermore, all leather labels may be customised with imprinting, engraving, or precious metal hot pressing. Adding these labels includes stitching, ironing, sticking, and using Velcro.
3. PVC Labels
PVC tags are manufactured from soft rubber. Rubber labels include PVC and silicone tags. They also specialise in tag and patch stitching for clothes such as coats, backpacks, caps, and equipment. A corporate logo or registered trademark may be added to PVC labels to enhance brand reputation. Therefore, they may be used with stitching, self-adhesive, and soft magnet supports. In any case, make sure that they fit your style and personality.
4. Fabric Labels
Fabric labels are constructed of sturdy and comfortable textile fabrics, including printed fabric tags. Chiffon, silk, satin, nylon, velcro, thread, non-woven cloth, and cotton cloth are among the materials used. As a result, they are suitable for shirts, jackets, pants, children's apparel, etc.
5. TPU Labels
Thermoplastic polyurethane labels are thin labels with rubber-like designs, commonly known as transparent garment labels. They are more environmentally friendly than silicon and vinyl. Furthermore, they use digital printing, matte, glossy, tanning, and other techniques to create labels. These tags are clear, translucent, or thin in appearance and thus are appropriate for swimwear, undergarments, etc.
Also Read: List of 10 Popular Garment Manufacturers in India
Classification of Sewing or Attaching Methods
Labels are classified into four types based on their stitching methods:
- Iron-on labels
- Thermal transfer labels
- Stitching labels
- Metallic labels & tags fastened with rivets
- Flexible legs
1. Iron-on Labels
Iron-on labels are made of heat-epoxy adhesive that can be peeled off and pressed onto materials with an iron. They are water-resistant, long-lasting, and beneficial for the skin. They suit shirts, jerseys, t-shirts, pants, bottoms, uniforms, etc. They can then be customised with brand names, logos, contact information, websites, care symbols, etc.
2. Heat Transfer Labels
Heat transfer labels are primary garment labels created by heat pressing the logo or design onto special paper, synthetic fabric, or plastic film. They can be taken off the film and applied to the clothes fabric. As a result, they can also be called tagless or thermal transfer labels.
3. Stitching Labels
Sewing labels are garment labels applied to materials using a sewing machine. Its edges leave grooves or holes that can be repaired. Sewing labels include woven, printed, leather, cloth, PVC, or metal.
4. Metal Labels with Rivets
The following two methods are used for attaching metal tags and labels. That is held together with rivets or a flexible leg. When creating metal labels, consumers typically select one of two methods for attaching labels to garments, caps, bags, etc.
Classification Based on Manufacturing Method
Labels can be classified based on manufacturing processes. They can be woven, printed, hot-stamped leather, casting metal & PVC, embroidered, and high-frequency labels.
1. Woven Labels
Woven labels are a primary label for clothing manufacturers made from damasks, rayon, silks, taffetas, and cotton. These labels come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Cotton woven, denim woven, damask woven, satin woven, crochet knitted, and iron-on woven labels are some examples.
2. Printed Labels
Printed labels are frequently seen on garment labels and are used to boost brand image by printing logos, product information, business names, contact information, or site connections. They come in various styles, such as care or wash labels, size labels, etc.
3. Stamped Leather Labels
Hot-stamped leather labels are commonly found on jeans' back waist and luggage, handbags, shoes, and caps. Leather labels are often made by high-temperature pressing and timed ironing.
4. Embroidered Labels
An embroidered label on the garment is made of interlocking thread stitching. Flat, 3D, towel, sequins, cloth, hand-beaded, and so on are the most common forms of embroidery labels. Embroidered labels can be attached to things by sewing or hot pressing.
Conclusion
As we all know, garment labels are a significant element of clothing ornamentation. They are more than just a swatch of fabric or a tag. They may record the company logo, garment size, component list, origin, manufacturer, care instructions, etc. Many buyers will decide whether to buy clothing based on the label. As a result, labels are critical to product sales.
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