There is no way anyone has not seen the tiny tags inside a piece of cloth. They are known as clothing labels. You might have noticed they come in several sizes, feel different in touch, and carry some drawings or written information.
You might feel that they serve no other purpose than to annoy you by itching or bothering your skin. But that is not true. The clothing labels serve many purposes.
Types of clothing labels:
Clothing labels are grouped into categories based on different criteria. The following types are based on the material used in manufacturing them:
- Fabric labels:
As suggested by their name, they are made out of fabric. Usually, the material used in making clothing labels is cotton or polyester since they’re readily available and comparatively cheaper. Other than cotton or polyester mix, silk, rayon, nylon, and satin fabrics are also used widely.
- Plastic labels:
Plastic labels are named so because they are made out of plastic. In comparison to the other types of clothing labels, plastic labels are not popular in the textile industry.
- Leather labels:
Leather labels are generally used for garments like jeans, jackets, and blazers. They’re synonymous with classy in the clothing label industry. They can cost a bit high but since they’re long-lasting and look good, big brands use them. Leather labels are also strong and durable. Working with leather labels requires skill. They’re embossed using heat. Since they look good, they can be attached to the outside of garments.
Fabric labels are then sub-divided into two categories:
- Printed Labels:
Printed labels usually are made out of cotton or synthetic fabrics like nylon, satin, etc. The information is printed on these labels in permanent ink. They are cheaper but not very long-lasting when compared to their other counterpart.
- Woven labels:
Woven labels might cost extra, but when it comes to quality, they are the better alternative to the printed labels. These labels are made of expensive fabric like silk. The information on the woven labels is less likely to fade or get damaged.
Based on how they are put to use, or how they are attached to clothes, clothing labels are grouped into three categories:
- Iron-on labels:
This type of label can be put on clothes with the help of heat from an iron.
- Adhesive labels:
They are the easiest to use as you simply need to peel them and stick in place on the cloth. Good quality adhesive labels or stick-on labels won’t come off in the wash and are safe.
- Sew-on labels:
Sew-on labels are popular among clothing labels and, as the name suggests, they need to sewing onto the clothes.
Purpose of clothing labels:
Clothing labels are not put on clothes as mere decorations. Instead, they serve a variety of purposes like:
- They are used to display information regarding the fabric of the garments and their size. (small, medium or large)
- Many times the information about the care of the garment is also mentioned on the label. For example, how to wash it, whether or not you can use bleach on it, whether you should dry it in the shade, if you can iron a particular cloth, etc.
- One of the common uses of clothing labels is to communicate the brand name or the name of the designer who designed the apparel.
- It can also serve the purpose of identification. Such is the case with custom labels wherein you can write the desired information and attach it to the clothes.
Even if they seem pretty insignificant, clothing labels can carry a considerable amount of information about your clothes.
