Clothing Labels, Tags, and Packaging: The Details That Build Your Brand

Labels and packaging are the first things your customer touches after unboxing. They are the finishing touches that separate a generic garment from a branded product. They communicate quality before the customer even puts the garment on.

More practically, labels are a legal requirement. Every garment sold in the EU and most global markets must carry specific information. Getting this wrong can result in products being seized at customs or pulled from retail.

Main Label (Brand Label)

Your brand identity on the garment. Usually positioned at the centre back neck.

Woven labels: Fabric labels with your logo or brand name woven into the material. The premium standard. Durable, detailed, and professional.

• —Damask weave: Highest quality, smooth surface, fine detail. Best for intricate logos.
• —Satin weave: Smooth, shiny surface. Good for text-heavy labels.
• —Taffeta weave: More textured, slightly rougher. Most affordable option.

Printed labels: Satin or cotton tape with your design printed on. Softer against skin, lower cost, but less durable. Common in activewear and underwear.

Leather / faux leather labels: Debossed or printed. Common on jeans, jackets, and premium positioning.

Specifications to provide:

• —Dimensions (e.g., 50mm × 20mm)
• —Fold type: centre fold (sewn into seam), end fold (folded at edges), straight cut
• —Colour: Pantone references for background and logo
• —Material: satin, cotton, damask
• —Artwork: vector file (AI, EPS, or PDF)

Care Label

Legally required. Must include fibre composition and care instructions.

EU requirements:

• —Fibre composition by percentage (e.g., "100% Organic Cotton" or "80% Cotton, 20% Polyester")
• —Care symbols following ISO 3758 / GINETEX standard (wash, bleach, dry, iron, professional care)
• —Country of origin ("Made in Portugal")
• —Importer details (for goods imported into the EU)

Care symbols (the five basic categories):

• —Wash tub: washing instructions (temperature, hand wash, do not wash)
• —Triangle: bleaching (allowed, non-chlorine only, do not bleach)
• —Square: drying (tumble dry, hang dry, flat dry)
• —Iron: ironing (temperature settings, do not iron)
• —Circle: professional cleaning (dry clean, wet clean)

Placement: Usually sewn into the left side seam or below the main label. Many brands use a folded booklet label for multiple languages.

Important: Care instructions must be accurate for the specific fabric. Incorrect care labels can lead to garment damage and legal liability. Your manufacturer should provide the correct care instructions based on the fabric composition and finishing.

Size Label

Indicates the garment size. Can be:

• —Integrated into the main label
• —A separate woven or printed label
• —Integrated into the care label
• —Heat transfer printed inside the garment (tagless)

Tagless printing is increasingly popular for comfort, especially in t-shirts and underwear.

Flag Label / Tab Label

A small folded label that protrudes from a seam, usually on the side or hem. A subtle branding element.

• —Typical size: 10–15mm × 30–40mm (folded)
• —Often woven with a small logo or brand initial
• —Low cost but high-impact branding touch

The tag attached to the garment by a string, pin, or plastic fastener. Removed by the customer before wearing.

Design considerations

• —Size: Common sizes are 55×85mm, 65×90mm, or custom shapes
• —Material: 300–400 GSM cardstock is standard. Options include kraft paper, textured stock, soft-touch lamination
• —Content: Brand logo, tagline, size, price, product code/SKU, care summary, sustainability messaging
• —Finishing: Matte or gloss lamination, spot UV, embossing, foil stamping, die-cut shapes
• —Attachment: Cotton string (premium), plastic fastener (standard), ribbon

Information to include

• —Brand name and logo
• —Product name or style code
• —Size
• —Price (if retail)
• —Brief care or composition summary
• —Website or QR code (links to product page, brand story, or care guide)
• —Country of origin
• —Sustainability certifications (GOTS, OEKO-TEX logos if applicable)

Poly bags

The minimum packaging for shipping and storage:

• —Standard sizes: fit garment when folded (e.g., 30×40cm for a folded t-shirt)
• —Material: LDPE or biodegradable alternatives (PLA, compostable film)
• —Finishing: clear (standard), frosted (premium feel), printed with brand logo
• —Sustainability note: Many brands are switching to recycled or compostable poly bags. Cost increase is minimal (€0.02–0.05 per bag)

Folding

How the garment is folded before bagging:

• —Standard fold: Simple flat fold to fit poly bag. Most common.
• —Retail fold: Folded around a board insert for clean presentation. Higher cost.
• —Rolled: Garment rolled instead of folded. Used by some DTC brands for a different unboxing experience.

Tissue paper

Acid-free tissue paper wrapping the garment inside the poly bag or box:

• —White (standard), black (premium), or custom printed
• —Adds €0.10–0.30 per unit
• —Significant perceived value increase for the unboxing experience

Boxes

For brands that ship direct-to-consumer:

• —Mailer boxes: Corrugated, branded. The standard DTC packaging. €0.50–3.00 per box.
• —Rigid boxes: Non-collapsible, premium. Used by luxury brands. €2–10+ per box.
• —Printed with brand: Minimum order for custom printed boxes is usually 100–500 units.

Stickers and extras

• —Branded stickers sealing tissue paper or closing boxes: €0.02–0.10 each
• —Thank you cards: €0.05–0.20 each
• —Product care cards: €0.05–0.15 each

European Union

• —Fibre composition (by percentage, in descending order)
• —Care symbols (ISO 3758)
• —Country of origin
• —Importer name and address (if not manufactured in EU)
• —REACH compliance (restriction of certain chemicals)

United Kingdom (post-Brexit)

• —Same as EU requirements
• —UK importer details required

United States

• —Fibre composition (FTC requirement)
• —Care instructions (can use symbols or text)
• —Country of origin
• —RN (Registered Number) or company name
• —No requirement for care symbols to follow ISO standard (US uses ASTM D5489)

Canada

• —Bilingual labels (English and French)
• —Fibre composition
• —Care symbols or instructions
• —Dealer identification

When placing an order, provide:

For woven labels

• —Vector artwork file (AI, EPS, or high-res PDF)
• —Dimensions (width × height)
• —Fold type
• —Colour Pantone references
• —Material preference (damask, satin, taffeta)
• —Quantity (your manufacturer will advise on minimum runs — typically 1,000+ pieces)

For care labels

• —Fabric composition for each style
• —Target markets (EU, US, UK — determines legal requirements)
• —Languages required
• —Your manufacturer should generate the correct care instructions and symbols

For hang tags

• —Print-ready artwork (front and back)
• —Paper stock and weight
• —Finishing (lamination, foil, emboss)
• —Attachment method
• —Quantity

For a typical order of 200 units:

• —Woven main labels: €0.15–0.35 each (minimum run 1,000+, so you will have spares)
• —Printed care labels: €0.05–0.15 each
• —Size labels: €0.05–0.10 each (or integrated into care label)
• —Flag labels: €0.10–0.20 each
• —Hang tags: €0.15–0.40 each (depending on finishing)
• —Poly bags: €0.05–0.15 each
• —Total per garment: €0.50–1.35

For a premium finish adding tissue paper, stickers, and a custom mailer box, add €1.50–4.00 per unit.

At White Cotton, we handle all labelling and packaging as part of your production. We work with specialised label suppliers in Portugal to produce custom woven labels, care labels, and hang tags to your specifications.

If you do not have label designs yet, we can help. Many of our clients start with a brand name and a rough idea — we connect you with our labelling partners who can design and produce your full label set.

We ensure all labels meet the legal requirements for your target market. If you are selling in the EU, US, and UK, we produce multi-market compliant labels from the start.

Pedro Carreira

Founder of White Cotton, a textile manufacturer in Barcelos, Portugal. Producing custom clothing collections for brands across 15+ countries.

Continue Reading

Guide

Screen Printing vs DTG vs Embroidery: Choosing the Right Decoration Method

Guide

Your First Clothing Sample: What to Expect, What It Costs & Timeline

Guide

Manufacturing Oversized Streetwear: Patterns, Fabrics & Production Tips

Guide

Polo Shirt Manufacturing: Piqué, Jersey & Premium Construction

Guide

How Joggers Are Made: The Complete Manufacturing Process