Woven labels or printed labels: which is better?

The key to building a successful brand is recognising that the finer details often leave the biggest impressions on your customer. Although choosing your clothing label may feel insignificant, a printed or woven label can really elevate the look and feel of your brand, communicating so much more about your company than what appears on the surface. And with so many labelling options available it can be difficult to know where to start looking.

In this blog post, our clothing label experts break down the two most popular options; printed labels and woven labels, looking at what each is used for, as well as their advantages and disadvantages so you can make an informed decision.

What are woven labels?

Woven labels are typically made up of cotton or polyester, with the threads woven together to create both your design and your label. This allows the entire label to have a soft finish and increases its durability. Due to the nature of woven labels, they can enhance the look and feel of your brand in a way that printed labels may not be able to. Woven cotton exudes a luxury feel that is often chosen by leading luxury brands like Gucci, YSL and many more.

However, a slight drawback by choosing woven labels is that your design can be limited as the entire label is woven on a loom, meaning intricate detailed designs can be difficult to achieve. The best results are achieved when customers simply use just their logo, a tagline or a website address on their label.

Perhaps the biggest difference between woven and printed labels lies in the price. Woven labels are more costly in comparison to printed due to them being made on a loom. However, the extra time and attention needed as well as the materials used mean woven labels tend to last longer and are of a higher quality.

What are printed labels?

Printed labels are usually made from satin, cotton or poly-blends. Your logo or choice of imagery is digitally printed directly onto the label, meaning that you have an endless choice of colour and design options. This makes printed labels a great way to showcase who you are as a company and improve brand recall.

Another advantage to printed labels is the high level of accuracy. When drawing up your design, you can get an exact replica printed out onto the label, so you can be rest assured that it will look exactly how you envisioned. The inks used when printing the labels are wash resistant, so your logo will look as new and visible as it did when your customer first purchased their item.

Printed labels have a shorter lead-in time in comparison to woven labels, meaning that you can get your order completed at a faster rate if you are working on a shorter time scale and need to launch quickly.

While woven and printed labels are the most common types used in the industry, there are far more choices available if you are looking for something different. Our label experts will be able to guide you and help you choose the option that suits your brand and budget. Get in touch today.