Manufacturer · Fashion Accessories
A tagging gun is a hand tool that uses a hollow needle to push a plastic fastener through the fabric, attaching a hang tag to the garment. It is used in shops, warehouses and garment factories for cardboard tags with price, size and brand. For fine fabrics a gun with a fine needle and thin fasteners is used, while a standard needle is used for jeans, coats and towels.
How a tagging gun works
The plastic fasteners come on a clip – a strip with many fasteners with T-shaped ends. The clip is loaded into the gun. When the trigger is pressed, the needle pierces the fabric and pushes the T-end of the fastener through to the other side, where it opens out and prevents the fastener from coming back. The other end holds the tag. The fastener is cut from the clip automatically.
Types of guns and needles
| Type | Needle | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Thicker, sturdy | Jeans, jackets, coats, towels, shoes, bags |
| Fine | Thin | T-shirts, blouses, underwear, jersey, delicate fabrics |
| Special for socks/pairs | Short | Joining a pair of socks or gloves |
The gun and fasteners must be compatible – standard fasteners do not pass through a fine needle and vice versa. Needles are replaceable and wear out, so it is good to have spares.
Plastic fasteners: length and material
Fasteners come in different lengths – from very short for socks to long for thick products and bags. Choose a length at which the tag hangs freely but not too far from the garment, so it does not snag. The material is usually polypropylene or nylon, and the colour clear, white or black. Clear ones are the least noticeable.
Where to attach the tag so as not to damage the fabric
The basic rule: never pierce the visible part of the fabric. Suitable places are:
- through the textile label – the brand label or care label – so the fastener goes through the tape, not the garment;
- through the seam – for example the side seam or sleeve seam;
- through the belt loop or the buttonhole on trousers and jeans;
- through the lining on coats and jackets.
Best practice is for the fastener to pass through the sewn-in textile label. This way the hole stays in the tape, not in the garment, and is not visible after the hang tag is removed.
How to use the gun step by step
- Load the clip of fasteners until the first fastener is in front of the needle.
- Thread the hang tag onto the needle through its hole.
- Push the needle through the chosen spot – textile label or seam.
- Squeeze the trigger fully and pull the gun straight back.
- Check that the T-end has opened out on the other side.
Most common problems
- A hole in the fabric – a standard needle was used on fine jersey, or the tag was attached through the face of the fabric.
- The fastener does not come out – the clip is incompatible or the needle is blocked.
- A broken fastener – the gun was pulled out at an angle or the fastener is too short for the thickness of the material.
- A blunt needle – the needle is replaced before it starts breaking threads.
Maintaining the gun
A well-maintained gun works for years. Clean plastic residue and fibres from the needle, especially after working with plush, terry and knits. If the trigger starts to stick or the fasteners come out crooked, check that the clip is fully inserted and the needle is not bent. Do not use the gun on materials it is not designed for – such as thick leather or several layers of card – because the needle bends. In a high-volume factory, it is practical for each workstation to have its own gun and a stock of needles so that work does not stop because of one broken needle.
Safety at work
The needle is very sharp and hollow. Do not point the gun at your hand, protect the needle with its cap when not working, and keep the gun out of children's reach. When changing the needle, follow the tool manufacturer's instructions.
Alternatives to plastic fasteners
For premium products, strings of cotton or waxed cord, threads with a metal or plastic seal, and attachment with a safety pin are often used. They look more refined and do not pierce the fabric. For babywear, some brands avoid plastic fasteners altogether so there are no remnants a child could swallow. The hang tag can also be attached to a factory-sewn tape loop.
The hang tag and the sewn-in label work together
The cardboard hang tag carries temporary information – price, barcode, a short description. The sewn-in textile label carries the permanent information – brand, size, composition and care instructions. When you plan them together, the textile label can also serve as an "anchor" for the fastener. That is why, when ordering the brand label or care label, consider where the fastener will go and leave a suitable area without text.
A tagging gun in the shop and in the factory
In the shop, the gun is used for re-tagging – changing a price or adding a promotional tag. There it is important that staff know where piercing is allowed, so that products are not damaged and then returned as defective. In the factory, tags are attached at the end of production, before packing, and the volume is much higher. It is a good idea for the tech pack of each style to specify the exact fastener position, so that all pieces look the same on the rail.
Labels from Polkom
Polkom is a manufacturer of custom textile and cardboard labels with your logo, as well as a supplier of haberdashery for garment production. We can prepare a set of labels in a unified style – sewn-in brand label, care label and hang tag. Send an inquiry via our contact page and you will receive samples and a quote.
