Custom Clothing Labels
Nevear makes custom woven and printed labels for brands and sews them into the clothing we produce for you: neck labels, care and content labels, size labels and side-seam tags, made with your order from 50 pieces per style.
Here is how to choose between woven and printed labels, where they go, and what the law requires them to say in each market.
- Label types
- Woven and printed
- Placement
- Neck, side seam, hem, care and size labels
- Minimum order
- Typically 50 pieces per style
- Lead time
- Samples 2–3 weeks; bulk 3–4 weeks from order
Woven or printed labels?
| Woven labels | Printed labels | |
|---|---|---|
| How they are made | The logo is woven in with coloured threads | Ink is printed onto satin, cotton or polyester tape |
| Look | Textured and premium | Smooth and flat |
| Detail | Bold logos and short text; very fine lines are limited by the thread | Small text and many lines |
| Feel | Thicker; softer in fine weaves | Thin and soft |
| Durability | Very hard-wearing | Good; the print can fade over many washes |
| Best for | Brand neck labels and side-seam tags | Care and content labels, size labels |
Woven labels come in different weaves. Damask uses fine threads for sharp detail and a soft hand; taffeta is a lower-cost, crisper option; satin weave has a smooth, shiny face. Another option to ask about is tagless printing, where the logo and size are printed straight onto the inside of the garment, so there is no label to scratch.
Folds and placement
- Straight cut: a flat label sewn down on all four sides or along two edges.
- End fold: both ends folded under and sewn down; a common neck label.
- Centre fold (loop fold): folded in half and sewn into a seam, so it hangs as a loop; used for side-seam tags and care labels.
- Mitre fold: folded into a hanging loop at an angle, usually sewn into the neck seam.
The brand label usually goes at the inside back neck, with the size on it or on a small label below. Care and content labels usually go in a side seam, and a small woven tag on the outside of a side seam or hem adds a brand detail on the outside of the garment.
What your labels must say, market by market
| Market | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Fibre content, country of origin, maker identity, care instructions | Origin on the front of a label at the inside centre of the neck on garments with a neck. Maker identity is your company name, or an RN number for US businesses. The care label must be permanent. |
| Canada | Fibre content in English and French, dealer identity | Dealer identity is your name and postal address, or a CA number for Canadian businesses. Care labelling is voluntary. |
| United Kingdom | Fibre content in English | Approved fibre names with percentages. Care and origin labels are voluntary, but any claim must be accurate. |
| European Union | Fibre content in the language of the country of sale | Approved fibre names with percentages, and "contains non-textile parts of animal origin" where it applies, such as a leather patch. |
| Australia | A permanent care label in English | Fibre content and origin are voluntary, but must be accurate if shown. |
| New Zealand | Care, fibre content and country of origin, in English | Fibre and origin lettering at least 1.5 mm high. |
Our guides for the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand explain each market's rules, and our spandex vs elastane guide lists the fibre names each market accepts.
Care labels and symbols
- United States: the care label must be permanent, easy to find and give at least a washing or dry-cleaning instruction. The ASTM care symbols can replace words; the ISO symbols cannot.
- New Zealand: written care instructions in English are required; symbols can be added but do not replace the words.
- Australia: the instructions must be in English and clearly legible, and the international care symbols can be used.
- Canada, the UK and the EU: Canadian, UK and EU law do not require a care label, but almost every brand includes one, and anything you state must be accurate.
If you sell in several markets, care instructions in English words plus symbols, with the fibre content in each language you need, is the usual way to cover them with one label; check each market's language rules first. Plan the text before production, because the labels are made and sewn in with the order.
What to send us
- Your logo as a vector file, and the label size you want.
- Woven or printed, the fold, and the colours as Pantone references.
- The care and content text for each market you sell in, or ask us to suggest it from the confirmed fabric.
- Your size range and where each label goes on the garment.
Labels are part of making clothing under your own brand; see our private label and cut and sew pages. At Nevear the minimum is typically 50 pieces per style, samples take 2–3 weeks, and bulk orders usually arrive 3–4 weeks from the order date, shipping included.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between woven and printed labels?
Woven labels have the design woven in with coloured threads, which looks premium and lasts. Printed labels have ink printed onto tape, which handles small text better and suits care and content labels.
What must a clothing label include in the US?
Fibre content, the country of origin, your company name or RN number, and care instructions on a permanent label. On garments with a neck, the origin goes on the front of a label at the inside centre of the neck.
Can I use care symbols instead of words?
In the US, yes, if they are the ASTM symbols. In New Zealand the words are required and symbols can only be added. In Australia the instructions must be in English, and symbols can be used alongside them.
What is an RN number?
A Registered Identification Number issued by the US Federal Trade Commission. US businesses can show it on labels instead of their company name; it is not issued to businesses outside the US.
Do you make labels for the clothing you produce?
Yes. Custom woven and printed labels are made with your order and sewn in during production.
Ready to make your custom labels?
Tell us the style, fabric and quantity. We will confirm the minimum, a sample timeline and the price per piece in your quote.