Private Label Labels and Hang Tags: What to Specify
Labels and hang tags are what turn a blank garment into your brand. They are also where many first orders go wrong, because details are left to guesswork. This guide lists what to decide before you brief a manufacturer.
- A private label garment usually needs a brand label, a size label, a care and content label, and a hang tag.
- Fibre content, care instructions and country of origin rules differ by market, so check them for where you sell.
- Send artwork, sizes, placement and attachment method in writing and approve a label sample before bulk production.
- Order quantities and costs for labels are confirmed in the quotation, not assumed.
Label and Tag Types at a Glance
When brands talk about private label, they usually mean the garment leaves the factory carrying their name, not the manufacturer's. That happens through a handful of items. If you are still deciding between private label and other models, the OEM vs ODM vs private label guide explains the differences.
| Item | What it does | Typical options |
|---|---|---|
| Main brand label | Shows your brand name or logo, usually at the neck | Woven, printed satin, heat transfer, leather or PU patch |
| Size label | Tells the buyer the size, and sometimes the fit | Sewn into the main label, a separate label, or printed |
| Care and content label | Fibre content, care symbols, origin and legal details | Printed satin or woven, sewn into a side seam |
| Hang tag | Price, barcode, style, brand story | Card stock, with string, loop pin or plastic fastener |
Main Brand Labels
The main label is the most visible mark of your brand inside the garment. Woven damask labels look durable and suit premium positioning, but fine detail can blur at small sizes. Printed satin labels hold thin lettering better and are softer on the skin. Heat transfer labels remove the neck label altogether, which many buyers prefer for activewear and T-shirts because nothing scratches.
Maswiz product pages list branding such as logos, patches, badges and labels, along with logo options including satin stitching, silk printing, normal and 3D embroidery, and heat transfer print. Tell us which method you want for the label and the price, minimum order and lead time are confirmed in the quotation.
Hoodie ART# MI-8603
Charcoal pullover hoodie with a front pouch pocket. A neck label or inside-neck print suits this style.
Gym T-Shirt ART# MI-9404
Navy marl short-sleeve tee with a round neckline. Tees are where tagless neck prints are most common.
Polo Shirt ART# MI-8703
Navy polo shirt with white-striped collar and cuffs. Polos often carry a sewn neck label plus a chest logo.
Care and Content Labels
This label is the one most likely to cause trouble at customs or in a retail audit, so treat it as a compliance item rather than a design item. As general guidance, garments sold in the USA are expected to show fibre content, country of origin, the business identity of the brand or importer, and care instructions. The UK and EU require fibre composition labelling using approved fibre names, and care symbols are widely used even where they are not required. Rules change and depend on the product, so confirm what applies to your market with your compliance adviser or freight forwarder before you finalise wording.
Hang Tags and Retail Tickets
A hang tag does the selling and the stock keeping. Decide what must appear on it before you design it.
- Brand name and logo, plus a short line about the product if you want one.
- Style name or number, size and colour, so stock can be counted without opening every bag.
- Barcode (UPC or EAN) if your retailer or warehouse scans items. Generate the codes yourself and give the manufacturer the finished numbers per size and colour.
- Price or a blank price area, depending on whether retailers will add their own ticket.
- Material and care summary, if you do not want to rely only on the sewn-in label.
Card stock thickness, finish and corner shape change how the tag feels, so ask for a physical sample if your brand relies on a premium look.
Placement and Attachment
Specify where each item sits and how it is fixed. A neck label can be sewn on all four sides, or on the top edge only so it folds over. A care label is usually sewn into a side seam near the hem. Hang tags can use a string through a seam, a loop pin, or a plastic fastener, and each leaves a different mark on lightweight fabric. Hoodies and thicker fleece take a tag fastener easily, while thin sublimated fabrics can show a pin hole, so test the attachment on the real fabric.
What to Put in Your Brief
- Send artwork as vector files.Logos should be supplied as editable vector artwork, with Pantone or colour references where they matter.
- State sizes and wording.Give label dimensions, text for each language, and the size range the labels must cover.
- Mark placement on a sketch.Show the neck, side seam and hang tag position for each style.
- Name the attachment method.Say sewn, printed or heat transferred for labels, and string, pin or fastener for tags.
- Ask for a label sample.Approve it in the same way you would approve a garment sample, as covered in how to approve a sample before bulk production.
Minimum order, lead time and sample terms are confirmed in the quotation. The quote process is laid out in how to get a custom sportswear quote.
Common Label Mistakes
Wrong or missing content
Fibre content or origin copied from another product, or left off the label entirely.
Unreadable small text
Thin type on a woven label that fills in and blurs once stitched.
Barcode mismatch
One barcode used for every size, so stock counts fail at the warehouse.
Itchy neck labels
A stiff woven label on a base layer. Consider a heat transfer print instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can the manufacturer supply labels with my brand name?
Maswiz product pages list branding with logos, patches, badges and labels, with private label options. The exact label types, quantities and costs for your order are confirmed in the quotation.
Do I need a hang tag on every garment?
Not always. Tags matter most for retail sale. For team uniforms and staff wear, a sewn label and a size label are often enough.
Which label is best for a T-shirt?
Many brands use a printed inside-neck label on T-shirts to avoid scratching, and a sewn care label in the side seam. It depends on your market rules and brand style.
Who is responsible for the legal wording?
The brand selling the garment is normally responsible for correct labelling in its market. Confirm requirements with your compliance adviser or freight forwarder.
Ready to brief your labels?
Send your artwork, styles and sizes and request a quotation. Minimum order, lead time and sample terms are confirmed in the quote.
