Fashion is something that has been around for hundreds of years, and is an industry that continues to thrive, excite and amaze. Some of the modern fashion houses have created some truly unique garments over the years, and all owe a debt of gratitude to Charles Frederick Worth, who in 1858, was the first fashion designer who had his own label sewn into each of the pieces of clothing he created.

Clothing labels are a part of garments that are often overlooked, but which actually play a very important role. In addition to promoting the brand or fashion house that created them, there are also important instructions about how best to care for the specific item.

The types of clothing labels
Brand labels are ones that are usually attached to prominent positions in the piece of clothing, such as at the back of the inner neck region on shirts and T-shirts. These labels act almost as an advertisement of the manufacturer and also provide some basic information about the garment such as the size and where it was made.

The care label is usually a second, separate label that is attached to a more discreet part of the clothing, usually on one of the sides around the waist area. This label is purely for care purposes and gives you information about how best to wash the piece of clothing and at what temperatures, as well as whether or not it can be dried in a tumble dryer, or should be left to dry naturally.

Materials used labels
As the brand and care labels are going to be on the inside of the garment, it’s important that they are not too obtrusive or uncomfortable. The last thing you want when wearing a piece of clothing is for the label inside to be running on your skin causing you to feel itchy or irritated.

There are a number of different materials that can be used for clothing labels, and below we will take a look at some of the most popular.

Satin Polyester
This is one of the most popular materials used for clothing labels, as it is a very soft material, making it ideal for labels where there will be close contact with the skin. Satin labels, which are sometimes confused with the sateen material, are much loved by fashion houses and designers as they convey a sense of quality and luxury.

The most popular weave colours for satin polyester labels are a white or black base, though you can easily use another colour if that is your preference. The edges of these types of labels are woven, so it’s highly unlikely that they will start unravelling, which is what can happen with other types of materials.

Cotton
Cotton is a material that is ideal for labels, and is the preference for many designers due to it being a natural product that is eco-friendly. A lot of fashion houses place a lot of importance on the eco-friendliness of their clothing, and where and how the materials are sourced.

For such designers, using cotton material for their labels is the obvious solution. The labels are easy to sew onto your garments, and in addition to being used as a form of decorating ribbon, you can also go for an edgy, urban style with what’s known as the herringbone weave.

Nylon
A lot of clothes manufacturers like to use nylon for their labels as it is a very light and thin material on which fine details and small letters can be clearly printed. It’s a label that doesn’t often fray due to the coasting that is added to it, which is also a factor in its durability.

Taffeta
This is one material that not too many people know of, but for those who work in garments and fashion, it’s a very popular option when it comes to clothing labels, in addition to being a very popular material for garments for special occasions such as evening wear and gowns for balls. When it comes to labels, taffeta is great as it has a very smooth surface, which is beneficial for a detailed print to be applied. It’s also a very affordable material, and is used for garments where the label is expected to be thrown away.

Some final thoughts
Labels are an important, if somewhat overlooked part of any garment. The care instructions are very important and should be looked at, especially when it comes to washing the piece of clothing for the first time.

Some fashion houses and designers also include lots of additional information on their labels, such as where the materials were sourced and what exactly is used in the garment you are wearing.