GARMENT LABELLING & DIGITAL PRINTING

Author: Shirley

Jul. 02, 2024

GARMENT LABELLING & DIGITAL PRINTING

Garment & textile furnishing suppliers rely heavily on their brand identity to appeal to specific market sectors or age groups. They may have several brand names under their control outsourcing these to several manufacturers to produce on their behalf. The importance of labelling is high as it reflects quality & the branding of a product. In addition, labelling has to take into account legal legislation requirements as well as the image, thus the label is an important component to the brand and has to survive the life of the product.

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Methods of labelling come under 3 main divisions, and these have their own sub division in relation to method of production.

WOVEN LABELS: these are still perceived as a reflection of high quality and preferred but not exclusive to high value garments. Woven labels cannot carry a lot of detailed information so most products will carry additional printed labels for wash care instructions. Cost of production is higher than other methods because it can be slow.

PRINTED FABRIC LABELS (PFL) : Almost all garments will have a least one PFL label attached, if not several. These can carry detailed information in multiple languages, useful when garments are sent to several countries. PFL can be produced on a number of types of machines such as Flexo, Silk Screen, or Thermal Transfer equipment.  Wash care labels are ideal for PFL applications. Labels can be colourful and highly detailed. PFL is the most common way to label textile products because it lends itself to any type of application. It is cost effective and can be produced in low or very high volumes on the latest generation of equipment.

HEAT TRANSFER LABELS (HT) : HT labels are a more recent development and carried over from T-shirt graphics printing technology. HT labels are printed onto a carrier and applied direct to the garments through heat & pressure usually close to the neckline.  Applications include any garments in direct skin contact such as underwear, T-shirts etc. to avoid skin irritation. They have also found a place in the technical sports market where any weight is a consideration for that split second advantage. Like PFL they can carry a lot of information so compete with Woven & PFL. HT Labels are normally 1 or 2 colours because production is slow compared to PFL. Heat Transfers cannot be applied to all types of fabric, so careful selection is required.

OTHER LABELLING: There are other methods of branding & labelling directly on to products. These technologies are aimed at the Garment producers with their own in-house labelling division.  Pad printing technology has been used in the promotional industry for many years. For example Printed Pens, Golf balls, Tennis balls etc are printed by this method, and recently there has been growth in installations for in-house printing, for example on caps and low cost T-shirts . Another technology is Thermal Transfer Printers where a supplier can print their own labels on demand. There are advantages in that both are seen as reducing inventory of pre-printed labels & convenience. But they are expensive in terms of consumables such as Ink/Foil/Ribbons and you need additional staff to manage information & service production.

PFL-  Basic Brand & Wash Care Labels, Multi-colour Labels, Ribbons, Elastics

For most labelling applications, the Letterflex range of presses are the ideal flexographic solution for high quality PFL, whilst silk screen printing provides an alternative specialist solution. The Letterflex LX range from Focus is designed specifically to produce multi colour labels and ribbon trims, its high speed & quality being a strong factor in choice of production. 

Most fabric such as Polyester, Satin, Cotton, Taffeta, Poly-satin can be printed on the LX range. Silk screen may be considered for difficult substrates like organic cotton or black ribbons. Silk Screen is a slow process however and cannot compete for volume production. The LX Letterflex range from Focus has a broader scope for wider applications and, with additional options, the LX range can even print on elastic substrates. It can also produce heat transfers and dye sublimation papers for fabrics.

 

Commonly the volumes of labels required for garment applications ensure that Analogue printing remains king in this industry. The principles of printing have remained the same for over 30 years, although the latest technology around label production has improved to allow several ribbons to be processed without compromising quality, and jobs to be changed quickly for high productivity, maintaining high definition.

 

What can the LX Type of press do for me?

  • Low & High Volume production
  • More colours
  • High production speeds & maintained quality 
  • Multiple ribbon printing
  • Fast set up & turn around, less down time between jobs
  • Clean up away from the press, while the press still in production. 
  • Improved Drying systems 
  • Continuous printed images (no gap)
  • Print on wide range of Ribbon types, from Nylon, polyester, cotton, poly satin to Elastic
  • Smaller production area than silk screen equipment


    LX6 Press



Typical Silk Screen Printing Press

 

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

Focus are well known for production of specialist high speed equipment for printing garment labels, decorative ribbons & elastics. One reason for the comparatively slow growth of digital printing on textiles may be related to the extreme demands of the textile applications and the wide selection of types of textiles used in the industry. Fabric has always been inherently more difficult to print due to its variety of types & flexible nature. The level of flexibility varies from warp to weft and with each degree around the bias, so guiding the fabric precisely through a digital printing press has proven to be very difficult, not forgetting the challenges of softness, fading, rub and wash resistance.

Digital textile printing is described as method of printing colorants onto fabric. Most notably, digital Ink Jet textile printing is referred to when identifying either printing smaller designs onto garments (T-shirts, dresses, promotional wear; abbreviated as DTG, which stands for Direct to Garment) and printing larger designs onto large format rolls of textile. The latter is a growing trend in visual communication, where advertisement and corporate branding is printed onto polyester media. Examples are: promotional & lightweight sports apparel flags, banners, signs, retail graphics. 

                                                                

Types of digital printing can be divided into:  

  • Multi Pass
  • Single Pass
  • Direct Print
  • Pigment Print
  • Reactive Print
  • Acid print
  • disperse print
  • Specialty Print

 

Digital printing labels for Garment/Apparel

There are a number of digital printing technologies currently used for garment labelling & branding. The most common system is a development of analogue hot foil stamping. This digital development uses thermal transfer properties to melt a coloured foil and transfer is directly to the textile ribbon so it becomes fixed. The heated platen/print head is programmed to produce an image as the textile Ribbon & ink foil pass under the print head. However, it is relatively slow and expensive, as much as 90% of the special foil is wasted. These systems are mainly used within in-house garment producers for their own labelling applications.

 

Multi Pass scan or Single pass Ink jet:

For printing of wide textiles multi pass, scan printing is well established. Operating in a similar way to your desk top printer at home. These scanning printing systems are relatively low cost compared to a single pass print engine. But multi pass systems are relatively slow and restricted to production speeds of a few metres per minute. In comparison Single pass systems are very fast with printing speeds ranging from 20 to 80 Mts per min. There are no moving parts in a single pass printing head, only the web is moving, transported below the print head. For this reason, the wider the print width the higher cost of the print engine as it will use more print heads than a scanning system. Recently we have seen special scan printers adapted & used for direct CMYK printing of elastics & ribbons from the likes of market leading textile machinery producer Jakob Muller. The limitations on scan printers can easily be seen in speed, but also limitations in using dye sublimation inks which is only printable on polyester products reduces choice of fabric type. Despite this the results are excellent and deserve serious consideration for those in that line of business.

 

 

Wide web Multi pass (scanning) Printer

 

Wide Web Single pass Print Engine

 

 

 

 Narrow Ribbon Singe pass print engine

For the remainder of this article, we are going to concentrate on single pass Ink Jet technology for printed garment label applications, narrow web ribbons & elastics. Digital &#;Ink jet&#; is the latest technology to present the possibilities for higher volume output more in line with analogue printing, providing the flexibility & advantages of digital printing with the durability and economies of volume production. As with analogue printing the ink used is the only consumable, but without the added cost of printing Plates or Screens. 

Focus has been supplying digital print engines & hybrid flexo machines within the packaging industry for several years and has taken its expertise in analoge printing for garment labels & ribbons and integrated the digital technology from its packaging sector equipment. The modular nature of digital print heads makes it a perfect match for narrow ribbon printing using single pass technology. It has allowed us to strip the engine components down to produce an affordable single pass solution for this niche market. In Focus launched its concept new digital Ink jet system , shown in production at the showcase ITMA show in Barcelona. The launch has created a lot of interest within the leading label producers in the garment & retail sectors. The technology of choice is single pass Ink jet for production of branding wash care labels. At DPI the systems will handle small text & variable data, meaning in theory every label printed could be different incorporating unique data for tracking, production control and market data. Watch this space for commercial news and  details on equipment beta trials.  This highly sought after technology is certainly likely to be the future for printing garment labels.

The powerful graphics software is tailored towards textiles with CMYK colour management system allowing greater control of ink processing across a range of textiles, with ability to process & print complex graphics, variable information relative to sizes, composition, store codes, dates etc., without stopping the press. Available printing widths are 72, 145 or 212mm in full process CMYK colour printing, spot colour or mono print options with printing on both sides of the ribbon. We offer special Infra-red or LED UV drying options, subject to Ink type used. Developments on new inks continue, however in the main they are pigment based in order to cover as many textile applications as possible. Some pre & post print treatments may be required for print quality optimization.

 

 

Let&#;s be clear that digital printing technology is a sizeable investment needing careful consideration, machines are high value, digital Inks are more expensive than analogue inks, textile ribbons may require special pre-treatment & post treatments before the label is ready to deliver to the end client, but this all has to be factored against huge benefits. The traditional industry still looks at digital textile printing parameters from the context of what it &#;can&#;t do,&#; compared to conventional printing. Conversely there are many things conventional print cannot do compared to Ink jet. It is true that presently digital is a new technology and does have some limitations so let us concentrate on what Ink jet printing can do.

 

What can Digital ink Jet do for me?

  • Minimal set up costs &#; short runs and samples are economical &#;   Costs per print are the same for 1 or 10,000
  • There is no down time for set up &#; the printer is always ready to print &#; so there is also increased productivity
  • Unlimited repeat length
  • No Screens
  • No Printing plates
  • Continuous printed images (no gap)
  • Variable Information printing including Bar code & QR codes are possible.
  • Job Que for economic production. 
  • Instant size changes
  • Faster turnaround time &#; and very fast design changes. (Turnaround time for samples can be reduced from several days to a few hours)
  • Print on demand, dramatically reducing time to market
  • Just-in-time customisation or personalisation
  • Lower energy cost
  • Smaller production area

Now for the challenges

  • There are many types of Ribbons used in garment labelling applications. combinations of synthetic and natural fibers, each with its own ink compatibility characteristics (one ink does not fit all & pre-testing is always recommended) 
  • In addition to dealing with a fabric that is stretchable and flexible, it is often a highly porous and textured surface (additional Finishing /Pre-coating may be required to present a printable surface for this process) 
  • End user requirements include light fastness, water & wash fastness (sweat, too) through finishing operations and often outdoor use, heavy wear, abrasion, and cleaning (post treatment may be required to meet specific performance characteristics)   
  • The label not only has to look & feel good, but the information printed must be legible and withstand up to 50 washing cycles or the lifetime of the garment. (again, post treatments may be required to achieve wash resistance targets)
  • Fabric has much greater absorbency, requiring many times the ink volume compared with printing on papers. (pre-coating or finishing may be required) 
  • Before any printing is carried out, the designs need to be developed in a digital format that can be read by the print engine. 
  • Safety standards: Inks, fabrics & additional processes must pass strict safety tests for application in within garments or any skin contact application.
  • Limited Colour pallet to CMYK plus one or two spot colours. Whilst this is the case CMYK will cover 80% of the pantone range & corporate colours. Fortunately, the majority label printing does not require a wide range, and colours are often limited to just black & red.  

    In the face of such odds, digital textile printing is happening. And now! Digital inkjet printing has become one of the most important textile production printing technologies and is, in fact, transforming the industry and will continue to grow. All future development has to be based on co-operation between the design & graphics software companies, the ink manufacturers, the fabric/ribbon manufacturers and the printing machine developers. If you want to take a step into the digital revolution, contact Focus today or arrange an appointment to discuss the possibilities.





    We are very happy to discuss your situation with you in person too, and come up with a plan that matches your business goals and budget.

    Visit our web site at

    www.focuslabel.com

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    Call us on

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    Or visit us at ITMA in June in  Milan, Italy.

Why Are Clothing Labels So Important In The Apparel ...

Why Are Clothing Labels So Important In The Apparel Industry?

Introduction

Young designers today may be focused on the shape or size of a dress, and may not think so much about how to make a clothing label. However, clothing labels are an integral part of a fashion item. They give important information about the product. They also communicate the details of the fabric. Today's consumers are increasingly leaning towards environmentally-friendly or conscious products, so a label is an integral part to showcase the components of the fabric.

Consumers do not want to buy plastic polyester or nylon; they have real ethical choices about which cloth to buy. Plastic product-based material is not ideal for the environment, and these materials are made of non-renewable resources that take up lots of energy and are non-biodegradable.

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A surprising fact about clothing brands is that 60% of the new clothes end up in the landfill within 12 months every year, while another third of the material in the supply chain ends up in the dump before reaching the clothing rack. A good clothing company should be honest with consumers about the material used in the garment, and help them choose the right type of clothing. They can do this by ensuring they have accurate labels.

Types of clothing labels

There are six popular types of clothing labels found on a garment. These are brand labels, size labels, care labels, flag labels, manufacturer codes, and special labels. Each label has some purpose and information about the garment. It must display information on lab paperwork, equipment, specimens and testing tools. These labels represent a heavy chunk of details selected by each lab. Most of the time, the label is also used to track information on a particular piece of clothing through a unique number that relates to some demographic information.

Brand label - The brand label of a company helps to sell clothes. It plays an important role because customers trust the brand and only then buy from them. A brand is identified with product durability, longevity, aesthetic appeal, and so on.

Size label - The size label defines a specific measurement of the human body. Size labels are printed to denote specific sizes like S for small, M for medium, and L for large. A customer knows well which size is best for them. This is a very crucial label on any piece of clothing, as without it, the item becomes useless. 

Care labels - This label includes wash care and ironing instruments. Care details are attached on the side seam. The purpose of this label is to ensure that the garment gets the care it deserves, to preserve its shape and form. Some labels may have care instructions on washing, drying and ironing to maintain color. Some labels even give warnings about color bleed and shrinkage issues.

Flag label - Flag labels are attached outside the side seam. A flag label is a logo that is used for primary designs. These labels help garments stand out from the rest, and help build brand recognition.

Manufacturer label - This label includes the manufacturer code for distributing garments worldwide. This label helps to track the garments.

Special label - 100% cotton or 100% polyester are examples of a special label. Special labels attract customers while purchasing the product.

Does clothing really require a label?

Yes, an article of clothing requires a brand to make a clothing label because it promotes identity and gives customers the best information about a garment and its care. Clothing labels are so important that consumer protection in the USA, UK, Australia, and other countries have stringent care labeling requirements. In addition, certain independent organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have their own labels for various products. Labeling helps you to hone the efficiency of your organization. The labeling solves your business problems and helps you to meet desired expectations and standards. 

Benefits of labels in clothing

Provide sole identity to a brand - A clothing label helps identify creators from the various brands in the industry. Most importantly, it serves to differentiate the company from the rest. 

Gives customers important information - The label consists of essential information details that include the name, tagline of the manufacturer, the washing instructions, etc. For example, clothes with the term "delicate" written on the label may need different care while washing. It helps to put this on the label so that customers are aware of this right from the start.

Helps the company to stand out from competition - In the current scenario, being neck-to-neck with competitors is tough. One of the ways to stand out in the crowd is through string branding and labeling. It also reinforces brand copyrights.

Ensures longevity with accurate care instructions: Labels give correct information on how the clothes should be cared for. This is very useful for customers. Ultimately, customers want to invest in products that last. So, if you help them do this by putting accurate instructions on a label, they are more likely to purchase from you in the future.

Display your brand - Well-made labels do not fade easily after a wash, and your brand tag stays on throughout the life of the garment. This strengthens brand recall.

 

Why clothing labels are so important in the apparel industry

 

Why clothing labels are so important in the apparel industry

Young designers might be so focused on the shape, colour, and cut of their dress, they may not give much thought to clothing labels that are added after production.

The same goes for consumers; how an item of clothing looks and what it costs tend to be the main concerns for buyers, but clothing labels shouldn&#;t be ignored so easily.

Clothing labels offer important information about the product, information which might just be the difference between an item being purchased or put back on the rack.

Clothing labels communicate the details of materials

One of the most important aspects of clothing labels is the description of the materials the item is made from.

Today&#;s consumers are more environmentally conscious than they&#;ve ever been, and not all materials are made the same way. With so many materials made from plastic (lycra, polyester, nylon for example), consumers now have a real ethical choice about which clothes to buy.

Plastic-based material is bad for the environment for a number of reasons. These materials are created from non-renewable natural resources, require a lot of energy to manufacture, and are not biodegradable.

An astonishing 60% of new clothes will end up in a landfill within 12 months, while a third of all materials in the supply chain will end up as waste before a garment even reaches the clothing rack.

A good clothing label will have detailed information about the material used to make the garment, allowing the consumer to decide whether or not to buy.

 

Care and Content labels

Proper care for a garment is of course important. Without it, some clothes might rip, shrink, or the colours might run if the warning on the label isn&#;t adhered to. Some fabrics shouldn&#;t even be put into a washing machine and need special treatment like dry cleaning.

Some materials react adversely to heat, and care and content labels will explain the correct temperature to wash them in, or if they are unsuitable for a tumble dryer. Knowing how to properly care for clothing means they will last longer, reduce the need to buy more items, and decrease the need for companies to produce more.

Branding

Clothing labels may be a necessity, but they&#;re also an opportunity for designers to promote their brand. Your clothing label doesn&#;t just have to have technical information on it about materials and temperatures; it can be used as a platform for your brand identity.

A great, recognisable brand builds trust with customers, encouraging loyalty, and can make the difference between success and failure of a company.

Clothing labels can show your logo, slogan, or a promise to the buyer. They can convey a message about your company&#;s commitment to sustainability or explain the eco-friendly manufacturing process of the garment.

Some brands use their clothing labels as a platform for humour, adding funny jokes or holiday wishes.

 

Types of clothing labels

 

Swing tags

Available in a range of materials, including paper-board, fabric, plastics, metal and even wood, our swing tags carry both brand messaging and item identification.

 

Woven labels

While swing tags are removed after purchase, woven labels stay in the garment permanently.

We have over 40 years&#; experience in the manufacture of woven labels, with our world-class artwork and design facilities combining with the latest yarn and weaving technologies to deliver the highest quality labels.

Non-Woven Labels

Non-Woven Labels are popular with emerging designers or a brand seeking a look and feel that is somewhat &#;different&#; to the mainstream.

Non-Woven Labels can be manufactured from a wide range of fabrics, using a variety of imaging techniques, including printing, embossing, and embroidery.

Care & Content labels

Care & Content labels advise the consumer on how to look after their new purchase in order to get the best out of it.

We use the standard international symbols and terms which are universally recognised for care and content labels, as well as a range of soft, durable fabrics, all tested to the strictest standards.

Plantable seed labels

One of the latest offerings from us is a remarkable new type of label which consumers can bury after they remove it from the garment.

These plantable seed tags are made from a biodegradable eco-paper (post-consumer materials) with flower seeds embedded within.

When the paper is planted in a pot of soil, the seeds grow and the paper composts away. All that is left behind is flowers, herbs or vegetables, and no waste!

Let us handle your clothing label needs

While often overlooked, clothing labels are an essential part of the apparel industry.

They not only provide important information to your customers and represent your brand, but they&#;re also legally required to have the correct information, which is why it is so important to get it right in the first place.

We work with small and large businesses, recognising the importance of clothing labels as an essential part of delivering a successful end product.

There is no substitute for top-quality labelling and good design, and with almost 50 years of creating clothing labels, you can rely on us to get the job done right.

From basic nylon printed to beautifully woven silk, our global supply chain and contacts can produce and deliver the goods, where and when you need it.

If you would like to know more about our clothing labels, then please don&#;t hesitate to contact us today.

Our friendly and experienced staff will be happy to help in any way they can.

 

The Value of Clothing Labels

 

A clothing label is often the finishing touch to a designer's product. Clothing and accessory designer/manufacturers have spent a lot of time and effort to make sure that their products are top quality and the label is a reflection of the total product. Designers want to make sure that their labels reflect the attention that has gone into their new creation. Oftentimes, the care placed into creating the garment is mirrored in the label. One of the first things that a potential buyer looks at before purchasing an item is the label. Consumers read the labels for many purposes, and the labels are often the "icing on the cake" for their products.

When a consumer buys a garment or an accessory, they are making an investment. They want to keep their clothes in good shape. So they need to know exactly what types of fabrics are in the garment and how to care for these fabrics. It can be difficult to actually identify the materials in clothes at times. The care needed for synthetic fabrics may be very different that the care needed for cotton fabrics. Labels are the primary means of communicating this important information. Washing instruction, types of fabrics, union affiliation - these are all important factors when a customer decides to purchase an item. Labels enable our manufacturers to communicate this information in their own special style.

Labeling has become so important in our culture that we now buy certain products just because of the label. The labeling process has taken front and center stage in American society! "Branding" is now an entire industry, and labels are one of the basic branding tools. When purchasing garments, a customer may look at the garment first, but she usually looks at the label second, to determine the brand. It's important for the label to reflect the brand and the quality that the customer is looking for. Branding typically includes a special word, color, mark or symbol. It's important that this be consistent and easily recognizable by the consumer. A label provides consistency within a brand that might have a large variety of pieces and styles. Brands and labels are one of the primary methods of distinguishing products in the marketplace. "Brand equity" is the idea that there is definite value associated with the brand that a customer is seeking. Without labels, branding would be impossible. The label should reflect all of the qualities and characteristics of the brand. A customer looks at the label to find the brand, thereby assuring that customer of the quality of the product. Brand recognition is an important component of a successful and growing clothing line.

Custom woven labels and hangtags communicate the creator/ manufacturer's information. They help make sure that accurate information gets to the consumers who purchase the products. Beautiful woven labels are a classic addition to any garment. Creating woven name/logo labels, care labels and tags, content labels and tags that describe the products' ingredients, and size labels are imperative. Labels can also include a combination of these things. Attractive and professional hangtags with state-of-the-art production are also an important means of branding and communication. They are a perfect finishing touch to any garment!

Labels come in a variety of finishes and fabric choices: damask, semi-damask, satin, and taffeta. Satin is the most popular choice, but not always the wisest. Satin is thin and can snag easily, making it more likely to be cut out than other labels. Though it looks very pretty originally, you need to keep the customer in mind when choosing your label. Taffeta is stiffer than satin and can stand up to a bit more snagging. However, with both satin and taffeta the finished edges of the labels can be stiff, leading to the prickly feeling or which labels are famous. Semi-damask is a mid line choice when it comes to labels. It has many of the qualities of damask at a slightly lower price point. Damask is a tighter weave fabric that remains very soft, even with finished edges. It's a top choice when quality is a top priority for the seamstress. Damask provides the best finish with a smoothness that reflects style and comfort.

After a producer decides on his fabric choices, he must decide on the finish, and decide on the style. One can choose from folded, end-fold and all ends finished. The folded style eliminates the issue of having a raw back showing and allows room for care instructions. They come in two variations: a side folding label or a bottom folding label. A common way to attach a label is to order an end fold label that is tacked down on the ends. However, this method is not flexible enough for most small-scale sewers and lacks the professional touch. You can ensure maximum flexibility by ordering labels that are finished on all sides with enough seam allowance to be used in a variety of ways.

Labels serve many purposes. They communicate care instructions and the fabrics included in the garment. They help brand the garment and identify the company's name and logo. And they truly reflect the quality and the attention that went into the production of the garment. Labels are an important consideration in any clothing and accessory business, and their importance should not be understated.

 

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