Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
A label sample is a trial piece made with the actual tape, ink and method before serial production. It lets you check the size, legibility, colour, softness and behaviour in the wash, and spot mistakes in the text. Approve a sample only after you have sewn it onto a garment and washed it at least several times at the setting that will be stated on the label.
Label samples – why they are an essential step
With printed labels, a small mistake is multiplied by the number of pieces. A wrong percentage in the composition, a size that cannot be read or a colour that does not match the brand is most often discovered only when the labels have already been sewn in. Then the correction means unpicking or a new order. A sample costs a little time at the start and saves a lot at the end.
The sample is also useful for the manufacturer. They see how the chosen tape takes the ink, whether fine lines survive and which settings are needed for the run. This way serial printing starts with tested parameters.
What to send to get an accurate sample
- Final artwork in vector format, with text converted to outlines.
- Tape material and colour – satin, taffeta, polyester or cotton.
- Print colour with a Pantone reference.
- Size of the finished label and the cutting and folding method.
- Preferred printing method or a description of the desired result.
- Type of garment and the washing conditions.
If you have several variants – for example sizes – the sample is usually made for one or two representative variants, and the rest are checked from a digital proof.
Digital proof or physical sample
Before the physical sample you usually receive a digital proof – an image of the label at actual scale with the dimensions, colours and text marked. It is useful for checking the content and the layout, but it does not show how the ink sits on the tape, how soft the label is or how it behaves in the wash. That is why a digital proof does not replace a physical sample for a first order, a new tape or a new printing method. Use it to correct the text and the layout, and the physical sample to confirm the material and the quality.
How to check the sample
1. Visual check
- Compare the text word by word with the approved file – especially the composition percentages and the translations.
- Check the colour of the print and the tape in daylight, next to the Pantone fan or the garment fabric.
- Make sure the smallest text and the care symbols can be read without a magnifying glass.
2. Size and position check
- Place the label where it will be sewn – collar, side seam, waistband.
- Check that the text does not fall into the seam and that the label does not stick out.
- With a folded label, see whether both sides are positioned correctly.
3. Softness check
Run the label along the inside of your wrist or your neck. If the edges scratch, discuss ultrasonic cutting or a different fold. If the print itself is stiff, the ink layer is probably too thick for a label worn next to the skin.
4. Wash test
- Sew the sample onto a piece of the garment fabric.
- Wash at the maximum temperature given by the care symbols.
- Dry as permitted – on a line or in a tumble dryer.
- Repeat several times and compare with an unwashed sample.
After the test, check for fading, peeling, shrinking of the tape, frayed edges and colour change in the fabric around the label.
Approval checklist
| Check | Approved if… |
|---|---|
| Text and composition | Match the approved file exactly |
| Legibility | All symbols are clearly legible with the naked eye |
| Colour | Within acceptable tolerance of the reference |
| Size and position | The label fits in the seam without sticking out |
| Softness | Does not scratch or irritate the skin |
| Washing | No visible change after several cycles |
How to give feedback
If something is wrong, describe the problem specifically and with a photo: “the elastane percentage is 3 instead of 5”, “the white print is semi-transparent on the black tape”, “the corners of the label scratch”. General comments such as “I don't like it” do not help the manufacturer find a solution. The problem is often solved by changing the tape, the ink or the cutting method, without changing the design.
Samples for repeat orders
If the label has already been produced and nothing has changed, a new sample is usually not needed – the run is compared with the reference from the previous order. A new sample makes sense when you change the tape, the colour, the printing method or the text. When only the composition of one article changes, a digital proof approved in writing is often enough.
Sample, pilot run and production run
For new collections, some brands order a small pilot run after the sample – labels for the first sewn styles that go to photo shoots or for testing with customers. This is useful when you have no experience with the particular tape or when the product is of high value. With woven labels the logic is the same, and with care and composition labels particular attention is paid to the text.
Printed label samples from Polkom
Polkom is a Sofia-based manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags with over 30 years of experience. We make samples of printed labels quickly and move on to serial production after approval. We deliver across the EU. Send the design and details via Contact to request a sample and a quote.
