Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
A leather label with a logo is made in several stages: preparing the vector file, choosing the material, making a die or setting up the laser, cutting out the shape and marking the logo. After an approved sample, the labels are produced in series. Every stage affects the final look, so it is useful to know what happens and what you decide.
Stage 1: preparing the logo
The basis of every leather logo label is the vector file – AI, EPS, PDF or SVG with outlines. A raster image (JPG, PNG) can only be used as a guide, because the die and the laser work with lines, not pixels.
- Convert fonts to curves so the font is not substituted.
- Remove gradients and shadows – they cannot be reproduced on leather.
- Check the thickness of the thinnest lines at the actual size of the label.
- Indicate which elements are the logo, which are text and which are the outline of the shape.
Stage 2: choosing material and thickness
The material determines which marking technique is possible. Genuine leather takes debossing and laser marking excellently, faux leather is more uniform and comes in more colours, and jacron is suitable for printing and debossing on jeans. Thickness is also important: thinner material is easier to sew and softer, while thicker material gives deeper relief and a more substantial feel. For clothing a balance between the two is usually sought – a label that looks solid but is not heavy and does not scratch.
Stage 3: die or laser programme
Die (cliché) for debossing
For relief debossing or embossing, a metal die with the mirror image of the logo is made. It is heated in a press and, under pressure, sinks or raises the logo in the leather. The die is a one-off investment – it is then used for all subsequent orders with the same design.
Laser engraving
With laser there is no die: the logo is supplied as a file and the beam burns a thin surface layer. This is convenient for small runs, frequently changing designs and very fine details.
Printing
For a coloured logo, screen printing or hot foil stamping is used. Foil also requires a die, while screen printing requires a stencil (screen) for each colour.
Stage 4: cutting out the shape
The shape is cut with a die-cutting knife or with a laser. A die-cutting knife suits large runs and standard shapes – rectangle, oval, circle. Laser cutting allows complex contours without a knife, but on genuine leather it leaves a slightly darkened edge, which many brands like. During cutting, holes for hand sewing or for rivets can also be punched.
Stage 5: finishing operations
- Edge finishing – painting or burnishing so the label looks finished.
- Decorative stitching – some labels are stitched around the contour during production.
- Adhesive backing – for certain applications, to fix the label temporarily before sewing.
Stage 6: sample and approval
The sample is the moment when you check everything in practice: whether the logo is legible, whether the colour suits the fabric, how the label looks after sewing and washing. We recommend sewing the sample onto an actual item and washing it according to the style’s instructions. Only then is series production approved.
If you have several options – for example different leather colours for separate lines of the collection – ask for a sample of each. Differences in the leather tone and in the contrast of the logo are often visible only in person, not on screen. Keep the approved sample as a reference: for later orders it serves for comparison and ensures that the new batch will look like the previous one.
Technical limitations worth knowing
Every technique has limits that depend on the material and the size of the label. They are not strict rules but a guide when preparing the design:
| Technique | Strength | Take care with |
|---|---|---|
| Relief debossing | Durability, classic look, low price for large runs | Very thin lines and small letters, which “fill in” |
| Laser engraving | Fine details, no die, flexibility for small runs | Faux leather – some coatings melt instead of darkening |
| Foil | Metallic sheen (gold, silver) and high contrast | Large solid areas and heavily textured leather |
| Screen printing | Accurate colours, multi-colour logos | Items with intensive rubbing on the label |
If you are not sure which technique suits your logo, send the file – we will advise you before the sample and, if needed, suggest slight adjustments to the line thickness.
What affects the price
We cannot give a general price, because it is made up of several factors:
- material (genuine leather, faux leather or jacron) and thickness;
- size and complexity of the shape;
- marking technique and number of colours;
- the need for a new die or knife;
- quantity and its distribution across variants.
For an exact figure, send a request for a quote with the details above.
Alternatives and combinations
If you are looking for even more durable marking, take a look at metal logo plates, which are often combined with leather – for example a metal emblem mounted on a leather base. You will find an overview of all types of labels in the Labels category.
Leather labels with logo made by Polkom
Polkom manufactures leather labels with logo to order for brands, factories and ateliers across Europe. We advise you on preparing the file and choosing the material and technique, and make a sample quickly. Send your logo and the desired size via the contact page.
