Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Hang tags for clothing usually carry the brand name and logo on the front, and on the back the model or article number, colour, size, price and barcode. Optionally, a QR code, a short message and information about the material are added. The fibre composition and care symbols must remain on the sewn-in textile label, because the hang tag is removed after purchase.
Hang tags for clothing: what to print – a short list
Before you start the design, divide the information into groups. This shows how much space you need and whether a larger format or a folded tag is required.
| Group | Elements | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | logo, name, slogan, website | front |
| Product | model, article number, colour, size, season | back |
| Retail | price, EAN barcode, internal stock code | back, lower part |
| Marketing | QR code, story, material, raw material certificate | back or inside the booklet |
The front: the brand, nothing more
The front of the tag is seen first, when the garment hangs on a hanger or is folded on a shelf. The strongest tags have only a logo and plenty of white space. If you want to add something else, limit it to a slogan of a few words or the website address.
- The logo should be a vector file so it prints sharply and can be executed in foil or embossing.
- Think about how the tag looks when turned over – the string allows it to rotate, and the buyer often sees the back first.
- If you sell in several countries, the front is the language-free area, and translations go on the back.
The back: product data and price
Article number, model and colour
This data serves the warehouse and the sales staff. Use the same codes as in your accounting and stock system so no manual matching is needed. If you have many colours of one model, add the colour name as well, not just a code.
Size
The size on the hang tag must match the size on the sewn-in label. If you sell in different markets, you can give European, international (S, M, L) and UK or US sizes in a small table. For children's clothing, height in centimetres or age is often added.
Price
The price is either printed directly or applied with a sticker in a field provided for that purpose. A pre-printed price looks cleaner, but if the price changes the tags become unusable. A sticker is flexible, but there must be space where it does not cover anything important.
Barcode
EAN-13 is most commonly used – unique for each combination of model, colour and size. The barcode is printed in black on a light background, with a white margin around it, so it scans first time.
What is not mandatory on a hang tag
The fibre composition and care symbols according to ISO 3758 must be permanently attached to the product. That is why their place is on the care and composition label sewn into the side seam. You can repeat them on the hang tag as a convenience for the shopper, but this does not replace the sewn-in label.
The same applies to the manufacturer's or importer's details – they usually appear on the sewn-in label or on the packaging. If the retailer you supply has its own requirements, follow those.
Marketing content that works
- QR code to a product page, a fit video or registration for a loyalty programme.
- A short story – two or three sentences about who is behind the brand and why it makes this garment.
- Material and technology – organic cotton, recycled polyester, merino wool, water-repellent finish. State only what you can prove.
- A thank-you – one sentence to the buyer is often more memorable than a long text.
If the text does not fit, rather than reducing the font size, choose a folded booklet-style tag or a second small tag on the same string.
Example layout for a 50 × 90 mm tag
- Front: logo centred in the upper two thirds, hole at the top end.
- Back, top: model, colour, size – one line each.
- Back, middle: QR code or a short message.
- Back, bottom: price and EAN-13 barcode horizontally.
You will find ready-made solutions for format, board and attachment under hang tags with logo.
If you supply retail chains
Large retailers and online platforms often send their own labelling guidelines. These usually specify the position and size of the barcode, the price format, whether a sticker is allowed and the size of the attachment hole. Some also require their own internal article number next to yours. Ask for these guidelines before the design, not after the tags have been printed.
Checks before sending to print
- All figures, sizes and codes have been checked against the stock system.
- The barcodes have been tested with a scanner on a printout at actual size.
- The text is at least 6–7 points and legible in poor lighting.
- There is a safe zone without text around the hole and along the edge – at least 3 mm.
- The logo colours match the sewn-in label and the packaging.
- The spelling has been checked by a second person, especially for texts in a foreign language.
Ordering hang tags from Polkom
Polkom produces custom hang tags with your design and logo, as well as sewn-in and care and composition labels for the same collection, so that all the information is consistent. Send us the list of data you want on the tag and we will suggest a suitable format. Minimum quantities depend on the article – send an inquiry for a quote and a sample.
