Label materials guide

The material decides how a label feels against the skin, how it survives washing and what kind of decoration it can carry. This guide describes each base material we use in our factory in Bulgaria, grouped by family, and ends with a comparison table you can use when briefing a new collection. For a decision guide by garment type, read how to choose a label material; for dimensions, see the label size guide.

Woven label qualities

Woven labels are made on jacquard looms, where the design is created by the yarns themselves. The "material" here is really the weave construction.

Damask

A tight weave of fine polyester yarns with a high pick density. Damask holds small lettering and thin lines better than any other woven quality, feels smooth and flat and is practically indestructible in the wash. It is the default for brand neck labels and the base for most woven labels.

Woven satin

Satin-weave labels float the yarns over several threads, which creates a glossy face and a very soft hand. The trade-off is lower definition: very fine text or detailed logos are better in damask.

Woven taffeta

A plain, lighter weave with a crisper hand and lower density. It is economical and works well for bold, simple logos, size tabs and inner labels where cost matters more than detail.

Canvas

A coarser, heavier weave with a visible textured surface, often in natural or ecru tones. Canvas labels give a rugged, handcrafted look on bags, outerwear, workwear and home textiles. They are usually woven or screen-printed and sewn on all four sides.

Printable tapes

Printed labels start as a narrow tape that is decorated by screen printing, thermal transfer (with wash-resistant resin ribbons) or digital printing, then cut ultrasonically or with a hot knife. See printed labels for the printing methods.

Satin: polyester and acetate

Polyester satin is the workhorse: smooth, slightly shiny, soft against the skin and very durable in washing. It comes single-face (glossy on one side) or double-face. Acetate satin is a cellulose-based alternative with a deeper, silkier lustre and a more fluid drape, traditionally used in lingerie, eveningwear and tailoring. It is more delicate: it tolerates lower wash and ironing temperatures and is less resistant to abrasion, so it suits garments that are hand-washed or dry-cleaned.

Taffeta: polyester and nylon

Taffeta tapes are thin, crisp and usually coated so that thermal-transfer print bonds firmly. Nylon taffeta is the standard for care labels: it keeps tiny symbols and multilingual text legible after many washes. Polyester taffeta has similar properties with slightly better resistance to heat and sunlight and is the usual base for recycled (rPET) care tapes. Both can feel stiff at the cut edge if poorly finished, which is why we seal them ultrasonically.

Cotton and organic cotton tape

Cotton tape has a matte, natural surface and a soft, breathable hand. Woven selvedges stop the sides from fraying. It is popular for natural-fibre lines, kidswear and home textiles. Organic cotton tape is available for collections that tell an organic story; ask us about the documentation available for the specific tape.

Twill tape

A firm cotton or polyester tape with diagonal ribs. It is stronger than plain cotton tape and is used for hanger loops, neck tapes, drawstring channels and printed logo ribbons on a roll.

Non-fray synthetic paper

A non-woven, paper-like sheet made from synthetic fibres – often described as Tyvek-type material. It looks and prints like paper but does not tear, is water- and wash-resistant and does not fray at the cut edge. It suits workwear, bags, technical products, home textiles and law labels where a paper look is wanted without the fragility of paper.

Recycled polyester (rPET)

Yarns and tapes spun from recycled PET – post-consumer bottles or pre-consumer waste. Recycled polyester can be woven into damask, satin and taffeta or supplied as printable satin and taffeta tape, with the same strength and wash durability as virgin polyester. We are GRS certified; see recycled and GRS-certified labels.

Moulded, leather and leather-look materials

Silicone and TPU

Liquid silicone is moulded into flexible 2D or 3D labels with a soft, rubbery touch; TPU is a thermoplastic alternative that can be heat-applied or stitched. Both are waterproof, colourful and very durable – ideal for sportswear, swimwear, outerwear and bags. See silicone labels.

PU versus genuine leather

Genuine leather develops a patina, takes deep debossing and laser engraving and signals craftsmanship on denim, outerwear and accessories, but it reacts to repeated washing and must be declared as a non-textile part of animal origin. PU (polyurethane) leather is uniform in colour, lighter, vegan and more wash-tolerant, and it is easier to print. See leather labels.

Jacron

Jacron is a paper-based "leather-look" board, the classic back patch on jeans. It is lightweight, embosses and prints well and ages with a creased, vintage character. It is washable within normal denim care, but not as tough as real leather.

Hang tag boards

Kraft board is unbleached, brown and matte, with a natural look that suits eco and casual lines; it takes one- or two-colour printing, hot foil and debossing. Coated board has a smooth white surface for full-colour printing, lamination, spot UV and foil, and is used for premium tags. Both are typically 300–600 g/m², and recycled-content grades are available. More on hang tags.

Materials at a glance

All textile label materials we use are OEKO-TEX certified, and synthetic tapes are cut ultrasonically for sealed, soft edges. To see real examples, browse our Labels 2026 catalogue.

Frequently asked questions