Label is a tag attached with garment. Garment cannot be sold without some kind of labels and it may be required by law of importing country. Labels are source of information for the apparel firm that manufactures them, retailers that distribute the garments and the consumer who select and use it.
1. Types of Label
Different types of labels are attached with garment. Labels are not functional component of a garment but essential for many reasons. Each label has specific purpose and carries some kind of information including brand names, trademarks, fiber content, country of origin and care information. Label must be durable enough to last the life of the garment. The commonly used labels are;
1. Brand or Main Label
Main labels are the large, colorful, image builders that are strategically located on garment for obvious visibility. Main labels indicate brand name or brand logo of the company that sources and sells clothes. Brand labels play a big role to customers as because customers may select the garment according to brand as he/she loyal to. A brand label is associated with the product quality, durability and feel good factor.
2. Care Label
Care label is defined as permanent tag containing regular care information and instructions that are attached or affixed with garment in such a manner that it will not become separate from the product and will remain legible during the useful life of the product.
The purpose of care label is to warn wearers and cleaners about what not to do during washing, bleaching, drying, dry-cleaning, ironing, and color bleeding issues to avoid product damage caused by the use of improper cleaning procedures. It is also important for consumer to select suitable garment.
Care instruction either symbolic or descriptive. The instructions given are decided by testing garment in accordance with properties of clothing. A care label may include few other information such as;
1. Fiber content
2. RN, CA, UPC etc.
3. Size, Color, Style#
4. Country of origin
5. Care symbol and/or description
3. Size Label
Size label is a tag where the size of the garment is indicated by a word, letter or number that represents the buyers sizing system. Apparel sizing systems define body size, proportional relationship among body parts, gender, height, and dimensional size of body parts. Size label is attached with garment when size is not available to care label. Customer goes for shopping and pick garment according to his/her size that will fit them well.
4. Manufacturer Label
This label includes manufacturer’s code given by buyers. Most of the international buyers source garments from different part of the world and distribute those garment across the world. In case buyer needs to track the manufacturer of a particular product, they use this code.
5. Batch Mark Label
A label that indicates which sewing line or batch had made the particular garment. This label normally is not asked by buyers or brands. Few garment manufacturers add this label for the internal quality inspection process and rectify which line had made the garment and which checker had check the same. This label is normally attached at side seam under wash care label.
6. Flag Label
A small label attached at outside side seam. Flag labels are normally made of brand logos and it is primarily used as design features.
7. Special Label
100% Cotton, Organic Cotton are example of such special labels. Special labels normally attached to draw customer attention at time of purchasing.
2. Label materials
Label materials must be compatible with garment materials and must be appropriate for the location where the label is placed. Labels are available in nearly any fiber content, from 100% cotton to vinyl. Labels must be durable and easy to attach and must meet cost constraints. Labels are also many different types of fabrication including;
1. Nonwoven fiber web
2. Satin tape
3. Twill tape
4. Plain tape
5. Yarn dyed jacquard tape
6. Fabric
7. Heat transfer
3. Label messaging
Image and messages are woven into narrow width tape as a jacquard design or of printed on it. Woven in messages tend to be most durable but also be more costly. Apparel firms frequently use woven in messages for brand name and less-expensive printed labels for the rest of the information.
4. Label application methods
Label application methods are determined by the look desired, garment construction method, and equipment available. Labels are attached as separate pieces, sewn in seams, sewn to other labels or fused to the garment. If labels are inserted while seams are sewn, a separate label-setting operation is not necessary. Labels may be attached with garment in different ways such as;
1. Double with a single fold and open at one end
Labels that are double with a single fold are designed to be sewn into a seam or attached to another label. Information often both sides of fold so the folded end must be free.
1. Types of Label
Different types of labels are attached with garment. Labels are not functional component of a garment but essential for many reasons. Each label has specific purpose and carries some kind of information including brand names, trademarks, fiber content, country of origin and care information. Label must be durable enough to last the life of the garment. The commonly used labels are;
1. Brand or Main Label
Main labels are the large, colorful, image builders that are strategically located on garment for obvious visibility. Main labels indicate brand name or brand logo of the company that sources and sells clothes. Brand labels play a big role to customers as because customers may select the garment according to brand as he/she loyal to. A brand label is associated with the product quality, durability and feel good factor.
2. Care Label
Care label is defined as permanent tag containing regular care information and instructions that are attached or affixed with garment in such a manner that it will not become separate from the product and will remain legible during the useful life of the product.
The purpose of care label is to warn wearers and cleaners about what not to do during washing, bleaching, drying, dry-cleaning, ironing, and color bleeding issues to avoid product damage caused by the use of improper cleaning procedures. It is also important for consumer to select suitable garment.
Care instruction either symbolic or descriptive. The instructions given are decided by testing garment in accordance with properties of clothing. A care label may include few other information such as;
1. Fiber content
2. RN, CA, UPC etc.
3. Size, Color, Style#
4. Country of origin
5. Care symbol and/or description
3. Size Label
Size label is a tag where the size of the garment is indicated by a word, letter or number that represents the buyers sizing system. Apparel sizing systems define body size, proportional relationship among body parts, gender, height, and dimensional size of body parts. Size label is attached with garment when size is not available to care label. Customer goes for shopping and pick garment according to his/her size that will fit them well.
4. Manufacturer Label
This label includes manufacturer’s code given by buyers. Most of the international buyers source garments from different part of the world and distribute those garment across the world. In case buyer needs to track the manufacturer of a particular product, they use this code.
5. Batch Mark Label
A label that indicates which sewing line or batch had made the particular garment. This label normally is not asked by buyers or brands. Few garment manufacturers add this label for the internal quality inspection process and rectify which line had made the garment and which checker had check the same. This label is normally attached at side seam under wash care label.
6. Flag Label
A small label attached at outside side seam. Flag labels are normally made of brand logos and it is primarily used as design features.
7. Special Label
100% Cotton, Organic Cotton are example of such special labels. Special labels normally attached to draw customer attention at time of purchasing.
2. Label materials
Label materials must be compatible with garment materials and must be appropriate for the location where the label is placed. Labels are available in nearly any fiber content, from 100% cotton to vinyl. Labels must be durable and easy to attach and must meet cost constraints. Labels are also many different types of fabrication including;
1. Nonwoven fiber web
2. Satin tape
3. Twill tape
4. Plain tape
5. Yarn dyed jacquard tape
6. Fabric
7. Heat transfer
3. Label messaging
Image and messages are woven into narrow width tape as a jacquard design or of printed on it. Woven in messages tend to be most durable but also be more costly. Apparel firms frequently use woven in messages for brand name and less-expensive printed labels for the rest of the information.
4. Label application methods
Label application methods are determined by the look desired, garment construction method, and equipment available. Labels are attached as separate pieces, sewn in seams, sewn to other labels or fused to the garment. If labels are inserted while seams are sewn, a separate label-setting operation is not necessary. Labels may be attached with garment in different ways such as;
1. Double with a single fold and open at one end
Labels that are double with a single fold are designed to be sewn into a seam or attached to another label. Information often both sides of fold so the folded end must be free.
2. Flat with no end folded
Flat labels are finished on two sides and heat-sealed as they are cut on the other two sides. This prevents raveling so they can be applied almost anywhere on a garment. Flat labels can be superimposed on a garment and sewn on all four sides. Sewing all four sides is probably the most secure approach but it is the most likely to show problems with differential shrinkage.
3. Flat with end folded
Flat labels with folded ends are another commonly used style. The ends are folded towered the underside so that the cut edge dose not ravel or become irritating to the wearer. The often are not heat-sealed when cut in order to provide a soft hand.
4. Folded loops
Folded loop labels are functional as well as informative. They have a horizontal orientation with diagonally folded ends that are inserted in a seam. This type of label is usually a brand label and most often is inserted in neckline seams of jackets and sportswear.
3. Flat with end folded
Flat labels with folded ends are another commonly used style. The ends are folded towered the underside so that the cut edge dose not ravel or become irritating to the wearer. The often are not heat-sealed when cut in order to provide a soft hand.
4. Folded loops
Folded loop labels are functional as well as informative. They have a horizontal orientation with diagonally folded ends that are inserted in a seam. This type of label is usually a brand label and most often is inserted in neckline seams of jackets and sportswear.