How to Design and Apply Neck Labels for Clothing Brands

The Importance of Neck Labels

Neck labels are an essential component for any apparel brand. Placed inside the neck of a shirt, sweatshirt or other garment, neck labels provide vital information about the material content, sizing, and care instructions. For startup clothing lines and small businesses, ordering custom neck labels with your logo and brand information represents an opportunity to elevate your products and reinforce your brand identity.

Designing Your Neck Label

When designing a neck label from scratch, first decide on the shape and dimensions. The most common shapes are rectangular or square, but you can choose any silhouette. Standard industry sizes range from 1 inch x 2.5 inches up to 1.5 inches x 3 inches. Next determine the layout - do you want your logo top and center with product details below? Or maybe a simple line of text across the top stating your brand name and location? The possibilities are endless, so sketch out a few options before settling on a final design.

Critical Elements to Include

While you have creative freedom with the look of your neck label, certain elements are legally required. All clothing sold in the United States must contain several key pieces of information:

• Fiber content - List the materials that make up the garment, such as 100% cotton or 50% polyester, 50% rayon.
• Country of origin - Where the garment was manufactured.
• Care instructions - Washing methods and other care guidelines.
• Size - Numeric sizing (S, M, L) and/or dimensions.
• Company name and/or RN number - Your business name or registered identification number.

Including these vital details ensures your clothing meets legal standards for production and import. But beyond the regulations, detailed neck labels also communicate quality and reliability to your customers.

Ordering Your Neck Labels

Once your design is finalized, it's time to order neck label printing. Modern digital printing technology allows for affordable small batch orders perfect for startups. Here's an overview of the printing process:

1. Choose label material - Woven polyester and twill tape are common. Consider durability, stiffness, thickness and heat-resistance based on your product.
2. Select a size - Order labels in your desired dimensions based on garment type.
3. Decide on a shape - Rectangle and square are standard, but custom shapes also available.
4. Determine quantity - Order only what you need to start. Many printers have low minimums.
5. Send artwork - Supply your label design as a high resolution JPEG, PNG or PDF.
6. Confirm order - Double check details like materials, sizes, quantities before purchasing.
7. Receive label delivery - Printers can ship directly or many local sign shops also print labels.

How to Sew in Neck Labels

Sewing neck labels into your garments finishes them off with a polished look. With the right tools and techniques, this process is easy even for beginners. Follow this step-by-step guide to professionally insert labels every time:

Supplies Needed

• Neck labels
• Garment(s) like t-shirts, hoodies or blouses
• Sharp fabric scissors
• Straight pins
• Hand-sewing needle
• Thread in a color matching the label
• Seam ripper (optional)

Step 1: Mark Label Placement

Turn your garment inside-out. Measure and mark directly under the back center seam where you want your label placed. A standard position is 2 to 3 inches down from the bottom edge of the neck trim or binding. The mark should be horizontal and the same length as your label.

Step 2: Insert the Neck Label

Pin your label to the garment, centering it over the placement mark you made. The text should face out and be oriented correctly when the garment is right-side out. Leave the ends of the label loose, not pinned down.

Step 3: Sew Along the Top Edge

Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. Stitch closely along top edge of the label, sewing it down smoothly to the garment. Remove the pins as you sew. Only catch the few top threads of the garment so stitches don't show through to the right side. Backstitch at each end for durability.

Step 4: Check Positioning

Turn the garment right-side out and double check that your label placement looks straight and centered. Make any necessary adjustments before moving on.

Step 5: Hand Sew the Remaining Edges

From the inside, sew down the two side edges and bottom edge of the label using a whipstitch. Again keep stitches very shallow, catching just a thread or two of the garment fabric. Sew as close to the label's edge as possible for best results.

Using Heat Transfers for Neck Labels

As an alternative to sewn-in neck labels, heat transfer vinyl (HTV) labels offer a versatile, decorative option. With a standard household iron or heat press machine, HTV allows you to "iron-on" printed vinyl designs onto fabrics like cotton, polyester, cotton blends and more. The process bonds the vinyl to the garment permanently with heat and pressure rather than thread.

Advantages of HTV Labels

• Eye-catching metallic foil and glitter options
• No sewing skills or tools required
• Custom shapes and sizes
• Crisp, professional results
• Easy to apply evenly

Using HTV for neck labels keeps branding consistent across different garment types without the need to sew. And specialty materials like holographic vinyl can level up your presentation dramatically compared to basic woven labels.

How to Apply HTV Neck Labels

Follow these simple steps for flawless neck label application using HTV vinyl and a heat press or iron:

1. Print your design as reverse or mirrored image onto HTV vinyl sheets using an inkjet printer, or order custom pre-printed sheets.
2. Weed away excess material around your design so only the graphics remain on the clear vinyl backing.
3. Position the label inside the garment neckline and cover with a sheet like parchment paper.
4. Use heat press or iron to apply steady pressure and heat per material instructions, usually 305° to 315°F for 10 to 30 seconds.
5. After cooling completely, gently peel away clear carrier sheet.
6. Stretch and check label adhesion - repeat press if corners lift.

With the right HTV materials and controlled heat application, the labels bond securely inside garments and maintain their graphic quality over many wash cycles. Discovering this versatile labeling technique opens many creative possibilities for DIY designers.

FAQs

What material should I choose for my custom woven labels?

Woven polyester and twill tape are durable, flexible options suitable for most garments. Consider materials with heat-resistance if you will apply labels using a heat seal process.

What size should my neck labels be?

Standard sizes range from 1 inch x 2.5 inches to 1.5 inches x 3 inches. Choose dimensions appropriately based on your garment type and desired placement location inside the neckline.

Can I apply HTV vinyl labels without a heat press machine?

Yes, you can apply HTV using a standard household iron. Just be sure to use adequate heat (generally around 305° to 315°F) and apply firm pressure for the full contact time per the vinyl instructions.

How many labels should I order for my first batch?

Digital label printing allows for short runs of just a few dozen. Order only what you need to label your first production samples or crowdfunding campaign garments to minimize upfront costs.