Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
A hang tag with a QR code links the physical garment to the brand's digital content – a product page, video, material information or a loyalty programme. Together with a short story of two or three sentences, it turns the hang tag from a price carrier into a sales tool. For it to work, the QR code must be large enough, have a clear call to action and lead to a page optimised for mobile.
Why the brand story belongs on the tag
In a shop the buyer compares several similar garments. When price and quality are close, the decision is often made on emotion – who made the garment, from what and why. The hang tag is the only place where the brand speaks directly to the buyer at the moment of choice, without a sales assistant. With online purchases the tag is part of the unboxing and leaves the final impression.
What to write: content ideas
- Origin. "Designed and made in Bulgaria" – if it is true and verifiable.
- Material. What the fabric is, why it was chosen and how it feels.
- Process. Handmade, small batches, special finishing.
- People. Who is behind the brand – one sentence from the founder.
- Care. How to extend the life of the garment.
- Thanks. A short personal message to the buyer.
- Cause. If the brand supports a particular initiative, name it specifically and link to more information.
- Collection. The name and idea of the seasonal collection, linking the garment to the other styles.
Write briefly. Two or three sentences on a small tag get read; a paragraph does not. If the story is longer, put the beginning on the tag and the continuation behind the QR code.
Example of a short text
"This shirt is made from heavy linen in a small atelier. Each batch is limited, so every shirt is slightly different. Scan the code to see how we made it."
Hang tag with a QR code: where should the code lead?
| Goal | Where the QR code leads | Benefit for the brand |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | product page, the whole collection | additional purchases, online shop |
| Trust | page about materials and production | supports quality claims |
| Engagement | video, lookbook, social media | followers, shares |
| Loyalty | sign-up, discount on the next purchase | customer data, repeat purchases |
| Care and warranty | instructions, product registration | fewer complaints |
Use a dynamic QR code or a short URL that redirects to the page. This lets you change the target page without reprinting the tags.
Technical requirements for the QR code
- Size. On a hang tag the code is usually at least about 15–20 mm per side, so it can be scanned easily with a phone at a normal distance. The longer the URL, the denser the code and the larger it must be.
- Contrast. A dark code on a light background. An inverted (light on dark) code is not read by all apps.
- Quiet zone. Around the code there must be an empty border at least as wide as several modules of the code.
- No finishes. Do not print the code in foil or over varnish – reflections interfere.
- Call to action. Next to the code, write what the buyer will get: "See how it's made", "The whole collection", "10% off your next purchase".
- Test. Scan the code from the print proof with several different phones.
A folded booklet tag for more story
When the story is an important part of the brand, a folded tag gives more space without increasing the visible size. The logo and data stay on the outside, and inside there is text, an illustration or a map of origin. Folded tags suit premium collections, limited editions and brands with a strong sustainability message. With heavy board the fold is creased so it does not crack.
A second tag instead of more text
Another option is a small additional tag on the same string – for example a round tag with the QR code and call to action, or a material tag ("organic cotton", "recycled polyester"). The main tag stays clean, and the additional one can be changed for different lines.
How to measure the effect
The advantage of a QR code is that the result can be measured. Add tracking parameters (such as UTM) to the URL, different for each collection or sales channel, and track in your analytics how many scans come from the tags and what visitors do next. If there are few scans, check whether the call to action next to the code is clear enough, whether the code is visible and whether the page loads quickly on a phone. Even a small change in the text next to the code often increases the number of scans.
Be careful with claims
Everything you write on the tag must be true and provable. Phrase environmental claims especially carefully – "sustainable", "eco", "recycled". State specifically what share of the material is recycled or organic, and use certificates only if your suppliers actually provide them. General and vague eco promises are viewed ever more critically by buyers and regulators.
The story and the garment's other elements
The story the hang tag tells can continue in the garment itself – with a sewn-in "handmade" label, a leather label with the brand's founding year or an inside label with a short message. You will find hang tag options, including folded ones, among our hang tags.
Story and QR code tags from Polkom
Polkom, a label manufacturer, produces custom hang tags – single, folded and sets of a main and an additional tag, with QR codes, variable data and finishes. We will check the QR code's readability and send a sample before the run. Minimum quantities depend on the article. Send an inquiry with your text and design.
