Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Paper labels for clothing are used as temporary labels – hang tags, price stickers, packaging inserts and stickers on bags. They are not sewn into the seam, because paper cannot withstand washing and wear. For hang tags, heavy paper with a high grammage – in other words card – is used in practice, and for permanent information inside the garment textile labels made of woven or printed fabric.
Paper labels for clothing: paper or card
In everyday language, "paper label" often means any label that is not made of fabric. In printing, the difference between paper and card is the grammage: materials up to about 200–250 g/m² are called paper, and heavier ones card. That is why most hang tags we call paper are actually made of card.
| Material | Grammage | Use with clothing |
|---|---|---|
| Thin paper | up to about 120 g/m² | wrapping paper, inserts, thank-you notes |
| Heavy paper | about 150–250 g/m² | price tags, leaflets, folded multi-page labels |
| Card | about 300 g/m² and more | hang tags |
| Self-adhesive paper | varies | price stickers, labels for bags and boxes |
When a paper label is suitable
- A hang tag for temporary information – price, barcode, logo, message. Removed after purchase.
- A price sticker – a self-adhesive label placed on the hang tag or on the packaging.
- A packaging insert – a thank-you card, care instructions, returns information for online sales.
- A packaging label – a sticker with size, colour and barcode on the bag or box.
- A label for samples and the warehouse – internal identification of styles in production.
When a paper label is not suitable
Information that must stay with the garment throughout its life cannot be on paper. This applies to:
- the fibre composition – required by Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 to be durable, legible and easily accessible;
- the care symbols under ISO 3758 – washing, bleaching, ironing, dry cleaning, drying;
- the size, if it must remain visible after purchase;
- the brand in the neck or waistband seam.
Paper disintegrates in the first wash, the ink runs and the edges irritate the skin. For these cases textile labels are used – woven from polyester, printed on satin, cotton or nylon tape.
Paper versus textile: comparison
| Criterion | Paper/card label | Textile label |
|---|---|---|
| Withstands washing | no | yes |
| Position | hangs outside or is in the packaging | sewn into the seam |
| Lifespan | until purchase | as long as the garment is worn |
| Design freedom | great: full-colour print, foil, embossing | limited by the weaving or printing technology |
| Typical content | price, barcode, story | brand, size, composition, care |
How to choose the right paper label
For a hang tag
Choose card of sufficient thickness – thin paper creases, tears around the hole and looks cheap. A good starting point is card of about 300–350 g/m², and heavier for more expensive products. You will find details of materials, shapes and finishes under hang tags.
For a price sticker
Self-adhesive paper should have an adhesive that holds on the chosen tag but can be peeled off for a markdown without tearing the card. Check compatibility with laminated and varnished surfaces.
For a packaging insert
Heavy paper of about 150–250 g/m² is sufficient. The insert can share the design of the hang tag and carry a longer story, care instructions or a discount code.
A folded multi-page paper label
When the brand wants to give the buyer more information – its story, care in several languages, warranty terms – heavy paper folded like a small booklet is used instead of card. Such a label can have a cover of heavier card and inner pages of thinner paper, held together with a staple or by the string. It suits technical garments, shoes, expensive coats and products with special care. It is important that the booklet is not too thick, otherwise the tag is heavy and turns over. The care information in it is a supplement and does not replace the sewn-in label with the symbols.
Paper labels and sustainability
Paper and card are easily recycled if they are not covered with plastic laminate and not glued to plastic parts. For eco collections, choose recycled paper or kraft, water-based inks and a natural string. Avoid self-adhesive labels on card when they are not necessary – the adhesive complicates recycling.
The combination that works
Most brands use a combination: a card hang tag for the price and brand, a woven label in the neck with the logo and a printed care and composition label in the side seam. If you want sewn-in labels with full-colour printing, see printed labels – they give design freedom close to paper but withstand washing.
Common mistakes
- A paper size sticker stuck inside the garment instead of a sewn-in label.
- Thin paper for a hang tag, which tears around the hole.
- Care instructions only on the paper insert, without a sewn-in label.
- Different fonts and colours on the paper and textile labels.
Clothing labels from Polkom
Polkom manufactures card hang tags and woven, printed and care and composition labels to order, so that the whole labelling system of a collection comes from one manufacturer and in one style. Minimum quantities depend on the article. Send an inquiry and we will help you choose the right label for every position on the garment.
