Manufacturer · Fashion Accessories
Kraft hang tags are made of brown board produced from unbleached pulp, often with a share of recycled fibres. Their natural colour and visible texture immediately suggest an eco and artisan character, which is why they are used for denim, workwear, organic cotton, knitwear and handmade collections. With the right weight and finish, a kraft tag looks premium rather than cheap.
What kraft board is
The word "kraft" comes from German and means "strength". Kraft pulp is obtained by a process that preserves long, strong fibres, which is why kraft paper and board are tear-resistant. The unbleached version has a characteristic brown colour that ranges from light beige to dark brown depending on the raw material and the manufacturer.
- Natural (unbleached) kraft – the classic brown colour with visible fibres.
- Recycled kraft – with a more uneven tone and sometimes visible particles. It emphasises the sustainability message.
- White kraft – bleached, but retains the strength and matt texture.
- Laminated (duplex) kraft – two layers for a thicker tag, sometimes with a white or black back.
Kraft hang tags for clothing: which collections they suit
| Collection | Why kraft works | Recommended addition |
|---|---|---|
| Denim | combines with brown leather and copper | blind embossing or printing in dark brown |
| Organic cotton, linen | supports the eco message | water-based print, cotton string |
| Knitwear, handmade | artisan character | linen or jute string, single-colour print |
| Workwear and outdoor clothing | sturdy, practical look | black print, metal eyelet |
| Children's clothing | natural, warm | round shape, soft-coloured string |
Printing on kraft: what to expect
Kraft is not white, so inks blend with the brown background. This is the key to successful design.
- Dark colours – black, dark brown, navy and dark green look excellent and are the most legible.
- Light colours – yellow, pink and light blue almost disappear. If the logo is light, use another technique.
- White – impossible with ordinary CMYK. It is achieved with screen printing in opaque white, digital printing with white ink or white foil.
- Photographs – look dark and "vintage". If that is not the aim, do not put them on kraft.
- Absorption – uncoated kraft absorbs ink, so fine lines spread slightly. Use slightly bolder fonts.
How to make a kraft tag premium
A kraft tag can look like ordinary packaging board or like a refined tag for an expensive brand. The difference lies in the details:
- Thickness. Choose a heavy or laminated kraft. Thin kraft immediately looks cheap.
- Few colours. One dark colour or blind embossing alone looks better than a busy design.
- One strong finish. Gold or copper foil, white foil or an embossed logo.
- A quality string. Waxed cotton cord, linen string or natural jute instead of a plastic tag fastener.
- A clean edge. Precise cutting and, if needed, rounded corners. A deckled edge is a stylistic choice, not an accident.
- Eyelet. A metal eyelet in bronze or copper at the hole suits denim and leather.
Design that suits kraft
Clean compositions look best: a logo in the centre, one or two levels of text and plenty of free space where the texture of the board shows. Fonts of moderate weight read better than very thin ones, because uncoated kraft absorbs the ink. If the design includes an illustration, choose single-colour line art – it is reminiscent of a rubber stamp and reinforces the artisan character. Test the brand colours on real kraft, because the same ink looks different on light and dark board.
Is a kraft tag really eco?
A brown colour alone does not make a tag sustainable. If the eco message is important to the brand, check the whole tag, not just the board:
- Material – board with recycled content or from responsibly managed forests. State a certificate only if the board supplier actually provides it.
- Coating – avoid plastic lamination. If protection is needed, use a water-based coating.
- Inks – water-based or vegetable-based inks.
- Attachment – a string of cotton, linen or jute instead of a plastic tag fastener or nylon cord.
- Quantity – one well-designed tag instead of three separate ones.
You can state on the tag that it is recyclable and invite the buyer to put it in the paper recycling – a short and useful message.
The kraft tag and other accessories
Kraft hang tags combine naturally with accessories in warm tones – leather labels on the waistband of jeans, eyelets and buttons in copper or bronze, cotton cords. When all elements are in one colour family, the collection looks consistent. You will find kraft and other materials in our cardboard hang tags category.
Common mistakes with kraft tags
- A light logo printed with ordinary printing that is barely visible.
- Thin kraft that creases in the carton.
- Gloss lamination that hides the natural texture.
- An eco message on the tag, but a plastic tag fastener and nylon string.
- A barcode on dark kraft without a white field – hard to scan.
Kraft hang tags with logo from Polkom
Polkom makes custom kraft hang tags – in various weights and formats, with printing in dark colours, white foil, gold foil or embossing, with natural strings and metal eyelets. We will help you choose a combination that supports your brand message and send you a sample. Minimum quantities depend on the article. Send an inquiry with your logo and a description of the collection.
