Apparel Brand Packaging VI Content

Although there are innumerous types of clothing labels, the following categories are the most common:

Main Label
The main label, also known as a trademark, cloth label, or weaving mark, is used to indicate the brand name or trademark. Main labels are often displayed in the collar of a shirt or the back of pants and skirts. These labels are also known as “weaving marks,” since the process for weaving the label is similar to the process for weaving cloth. Specific patterns and characters are constructed by warp and weft yarns that are generally black and white in color. However, if there is a special requirement for a color label, the warp yarn can be dyed to create a “dyeing trademark.” The various classifications of trademark labels are assigned according to the different machines and processes utilized.

Main Label Sample Image

Hang Tags
Hang tags or cards are mainly used to highlight specific appeals of the brand. Hang tags are usually printed paper products, but there are also screen printed plastic products as well. While most of the materials used to make hang tags are paper, other materials like plastics, metals, and fiber fabrics are also available. In fact, in recent years, new hang tags made from holographic anti-counterfeiting materials have appeared. As for the shape of hang tags, these labels can be created as long rectangles, circles, triangles, slip pockets, half folds, or other special shapes. Hang tags traditionally have detailed designs to convey the brand’s style. Although each hang tag will have its own unique characteristics, most tags include the factory name, factory address, telephone number, zip code, and brand logo. The pictures below show an example of a front pattern paper tag.

Hang Tags  Sample Images

Size Label

The size label identifies the size of the garment. Size labels are usually located under the main label, but may also appear on the care label or hang tag. Specific symbols, letters, or numbers may be added to the size label to help consumers quickly check the size of the garment. However, different countries and regions have their own methods for sizing and labeling clothing. In China, for example, size labels will include two numbers separated by a slash and one specific letter. Each one of these symbols corresponds to a specific measurement of the human body.

The first number details the length of the clothing based on the height of the wearer in centimeters. The second number refers to the circumference of the bust or waist of the clothing and is also measured in centimeters. Finally, the letter represents the “type” of body shape of the consumer. The type of body shapes are measured based on the ratio between the chest and waist and are labeled as either: Y, A, B, or C. According to the “clothing number series” standard, the numbers and type must be indicated on the clothing with a diagonal line between the two numbers, followed by the letter. For example: 170/88A would mean 170cm (5.5 feet) tall, an 88cm (34 inches) bust circumference, and an “A” body type which indicates that the chest to waist drop is between 16cm (6.3 inches) - 12cm (4.7 inches).

Size Label  Sample Images

Care Label 
A care label includes information on the clothing’s materials, as well as the correct methods for washing the clothing. Care labels may instruct the consumer to dry clean, machine wash, or hand wash the clothing and detail drying methods, ironing instructions, and whether or not the clothing can be bleached. In addition to text instructions, care labels usually include certain logos to indicate care instructions. Five of the most common care logos include: 1) A grooved water line for wash instructions; 2) A circle logo for dry clean instructions; 3) A triangle symbol for bleaching instructions; 4) An iron symbol for ironing instructions; 5) Various shapes and symbols to indicate drying instructions.

Care Label Sample Images

Brand Logo
A brand logo is a small mark that identifies the brand. A brand logo uses simple, easy to recognize objects, graphics, or texts to quickly convey the brand identity. In addition, a brand logo can express meaning, convey emotion, or command attention. The brand logo is commonly displayed across the clothing, as well as in the main label, tags, zippers, buttons, care labels, or other areas.

Brand Logo Sample Images

Barcode Label
A barcode label helps to automatically identify information about a clothing item. Barcode technology possesses the following advantages:

1. Fast Input Speed:The input speed of information through a barcode greatly outpaces the input speed of manual entry through a keyboard. With a barcode, data can be instantly inputted.
2. High Reliability:The error rate of barcode technology is less than 1 in 1 million, compared to the 300 in 1,000 error rate of keyboard input and an error rate of 1 in 10,000 of optical character recognition technology.
3. High Rates of Information Collection:The traditional one-dimensional barcode label can collect dozens of characters at one time, while the two-dimensional barcode label can collect thousands of characters with an automatic error correction system.  
4. Flexible and Practical:Information collected from barcode labels can be used alone or it can be combined with other information and equipment to create automatic identification or automatic management.

In addition, barcode labels are very easy to make and don’t require special equipment or materials. The barcode identification equipment is also easy to operate, relatively cheap, and doesn’t require any special training.

To create a successful barcode, the following needs must be met:

1. Unique:One unique barcode should be assigned to each unique product. Different product properties such as weight, packaging, smell, color, shape, size, etc should each have their own unique barcode.  
2. Permanent:Once a barcode is created and assigned, it can no longer be adapted or changed. The unique barcode will be permanently assigned to one unique product code or good.
3. Random:In order to be successful, the barcode label must be designed from a meaningless sequence of code, so as not to be confused with any other codes.

Barcode Label Sample Images

Special Label
In some cases, clothing items may require a special label that includes a certification mark. Special labels, such as IS09001/9002, reflect the quality assurance of a product. Additional labels include: environmental protection IS014000, 100% cotton, pure wool, European green label Oeko-TexStandard100, European eco-label Eco-1abel, and DuPont licensed labels such as “cool-max.” Attaching these labels illustrates the quality of the clothing, associates the brand with this quality, and helps to win the trust of customers.

Special Label Sample Images

There are several methods for packaging clothing, however the following factors are the most influential when deciding how to package clothing:

Purpose of the Packaging
When it comes to the purpose of the packaging, it’s important to consider the following types of purpose packaging: Industrial, sales, and special.

Industrial packaging includes sturdy protective materials such as cartons, wooden boards, foam plastics, etc. and is generally used for large-volume shipments. This type of packaging is extremely firm, easy to transport, and helps protect the clothing during shipping. However, industrial packaging is not intended to be aesthetic or play a role in the overall appearance of the shipment.

Sales packaging is a type of packaging that’s intended to help sell the product. This packaging protects the clothing, but also promotes it with decorative designs and fonts to attract customers. Sales packaging is great for making a product appealing, while also advertising the brand and converting sales.

Finally, special packaging is used to protect products in a specific way that’s agreed upon between the shipper and the receiver. Instructions for special packaging are usually conveyed in a set of special documents.

Sample Images of Industrial packaging, Sales packaging, and Special packaging

Material of the Packaging
Packaging can also be categorized according to its material, including: wooden box packaging, cardboard box packaging, and plastic packaging. For clothing specifically, packaging material usually includes paper or plastic film.

Paper

With paper packaging, there are two specific subtypes: base paper and processing paper. Base paper includes kraft paper, parchment paper, translucent cellophane, and cardboard. Processing paper, however, is the outer layer that can include moisture-proof paper, anti-rust paper, corrugated core paper, high-density polyethylene synthetic paper, and more.

The different types of packaging papers all have various uses, depending on their characteristics. For example: Kraft paper is the most widely used because of its durability, strength, and ability to block out air. Moisture-proof paper is often used in the inner layer of clothing packaging since it’s lightweight, thin, and able to protect the clothing from moisture. Corrugated core paper is usually used for outer packaging, as the material for corrugated box production. Cardboard and paper bags can also be used as outer packaging, although cardboard is often used as support in inner packaging layers. High-density polyethylene synthetic paper is a fairly new type of packaging material that’s known for its strength, stretch, and ability to prevent lint, rust, and mold.

Plastic

Plastic film is very popular in clothing packaging because of its lightweight and transparent qualities. The brace around a shirt collar, for example, is made of stiff plastic film to protect the collar’s shape. Additionally, plastic clips, hangers, pins, tags, and other items are featured in clothing packaging to protect items like swimsuits or children’s clothing during shipping.

Sample Images of Packaging Material

Layers of Packaging

Packing can also be divided into inner layers and outer layers of packaging. Inner packaging, also known as sales or small packaging, usually refers to the packaging for a single piece of clothing. Inner packaging helps protect the products, promote sales, and also facilitate an easy counting and assembly process. Outer packaging, also known as transport or large packaging, refers to the outer layer of packaging that transports multiple pieces of clothing at once. Outer packaging ensures the safety of the clothing in the circulation process and should be easy to load and unload, easy to store, and easy to transport. These characteristics allow outer packaging to improve the overall handover, inventory, and inspection processes for clothing orders.

Sample Images of Inner Layer Packaging

Sample Images of Outer Layer Packaging

Method of Packaging
For the packaging method, consider the following types: Traditional packaging (paper bags, plastic bags, carton packaging, etc), vacuum packaging, and three-dimensional packaging.

For clothing items, packaging methods can be further divided into: paperback packaging and hanging packaging. Paperback is a method that requires folding the clothing into specific sizes or shapes before loading them into their packaging containers. Hanging is a type of packaging method where clothing is organized on hangers based on various characteristics. The hanging method is great for protecting the shape of clothing, quickly counting or selling clothing, and is most often used for coats and suits. The paperback method, however, is neat, beautiful, space-saving, and ideal for a wide range of garments.

Determining the method of packaging is not just based around the production or sales constraints, but also on the type, grade, and conditions of the product and its transportation. Knitted garments, for example, can be packed in plastic bags for the inner packaging with a wooden or cardboard outer package. High-end suits or coats may require a three-dimensional packaging to avoid wrinkling and damage, while down jackets or cotton clothing can be vacuum-packed to reduce their overall volume and weight in shipping.

Sample Images of Method of Packaging