Custom printed fabric labels on satin, cotton, nylon taffeta and Tyvek – fine detail, smooth artwork and wash-resistant inks, printed in our own label factory in Bulgaria and supplied on rolls or ready to sew.
When a label needs long text, delicate typography, full-colour artwork or a feather-light feel against the skin, printing is the technique to choose. As a clothing label manufacturer, we stock the base tapes, run the presses and handle cutting and folding in-house, so you deal with one team from the first proof to the boxed labels on your sewing line.
What makes a printed label different
A printed label begins with a plain textile or non-woven tape. Your design is then applied to its surface with textile inks or resin ribbons. Because the image is printed, there is no limit set by yarn thickness: hairline strokes, small serif type, curves, solid colour blocks and even photographic images reproduce faithfully. Printed labels are also very thin and flexible, which makes them comfortable in lightweight garments, and they are cost-efficient at volume. They are ideal for designs that change often, such as seasonal artwork, batch codes or collaboration labels.
Base materials
| Material | Look and feel | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester satin, single-face | Glossy front, matte back, very soft | Brand labels, neck labels, premium care labels |
| Polyester satin, double-face | Glossy on both sides, smooth edges | Centre-fold labels visible from both sides |
| Cotton tape | Natural matte texture, woven side edges | Organic lines, childrenswear, home textiles |
| Nylon taffeta | Thin, crisp, coated surface | Care and composition labels with long text |
| Tyvek / non-woven | Paper-light, tear and water resistant | Workwear, technical textiles, bags, home textiles |
| Satin or grosgrain ribbon | Continuous ribbon with repeating logo | Hanger loops, drawstrings, gift wrapping |
All base tapes are OEKO-TEX certified, and recycled polyester satin is available on request. For a deeper comparison of textures, see our label materials guide.
Printing methods we use
You do not have to choose the method yourself – we select it according to the base, quantity, number of colours and how the garment will be washed. For reference, these are the four processes in our production:
- Thermal transfer – resin ribbons fused onto taffeta or satin by heat. Extremely sharp and durable, and perfect for variable information such as sizes, barcodes and batch numbers.
- Flexographic (rotary) printing – several colours in a single pass, efficient for larger runs of one design.
- Screen printing – thick, opaque ink layers, for light colours on dark tapes or strong coverage on cotton.
- Digital and offset rotary printing – full-colour artwork, fine gradients and image detail for expressive brand labels.
Colours and design
Printing gives you precise control of colour. We match ink colours to your Pantone references and can print white or metallic tones on dark tapes for a refined contrast. Fine text down to small point sizes stays legible, which is why printed labels are the natural format for multilingual content. Our designers prepare print-ready files from your logo and send a digital proof, typically within 24–48 hours, showing size, colours, margins and fold lines.
Common sizes
| Tape width (mm) | Typical length (mm) | Suggested use |
|---|---|---|
| 10–15 | 30–60 | Small logo tabs and size flags |
| 20 | 40–80 | Neck labels, babywear and childrenswear |
| 25–30 | 50–100 | Brand labels and standard care labels |
| 35–40 | 60–120 | Care labels with several languages |
| 50 | 70–150 | Home textiles, bags, workwear information |
Available widths follow the tapes we print on; lengths are cut to your specification. Our label size guide helps you estimate how much content fits.
Finishing: rolls, cuts and folds
- On the roll – for factories with automatic cutting and folding equipment, or for cutting directly on the sewing line.
- Straight cut – flat labels sewn at the ends or all round.
- Centre fold, end fold or loop fold – folded and ready to insert into a seam.
- Sealed edges – synthetic tapes are cut ultrasonically or with a hot knife so the edges stay smooth and do not fray; cotton is cut cleanly and folded.
- Heat-seal back – available on selected tapes for applying without stitching.
For a completely label-free neck, our heat transfer labels print the information directly onto the garment.
Wash durability
A printed label must stay readable for as long as the garment is worn. We work with textile inks and resin ribbons formulated for washing, tumble drying and, where required, dry cleaning. Correctly cured on satin or nylon taffeta, the print remains legible through repeated household washing at normal garment temperatures. For products that face industrial laundering – hotel linen, uniforms, workwear – let us know when you enquire so we can specify the right combination of ink and base.
Typical uses
- Soft neck labels for lingerie, swimwear, babywear and fine knits
- Composition and care labels with multilingual text
- Printed size labels and size ribbons for long size runs
- Full-colour artwork labels for limited editions and collaborations
- Logo ribbons for hanger loops, drawstrings and packaging
- Information labels for bedding, towels, bags and technical textiles
Printed or woven?
Printed labels shine when you need lots of information, fine detail, maximum softness or efficiency in high volumes. Woven labels give a textured, dimensional brand mark with exceptional durability. Many brands combine both: a woven brand label at the neck and printed care labels in the side seam.
How to order
- Send your artwork or logo, the preferred base material, size, fold and quantity per design.
- We confirm the printing method and prepare a digital proof, typically within 24–48 hours.
- On request, we print a physical sample before production.
- After approval, production typically takes 10–20 working days, with express options on request.
- Labels are packed per design and delivered across the EU from Bulgaria.
Minimums are typically around 1,000 pieces per design – ask us about printing several variants in one run. Every batch is checked for colour, registration, cut and fold before dispatch. Write to [email protected], message +359 876 766 050 on WhatsApp or Viber, or visit our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Can printed labels carry full-colour images?
Yes. Digital and offset rotary printing reproduce gradients and photographic detail, which is something printing handles especially well.
Which tape is softest against the skin?
Polyester satin is the softest and most popular choice for neck labels in lingerie, babywear and fine knits.
Will the print survive washing?
We use inks and resin ribbons made for textile care. On satin and nylon taffeta the print stays legible through repeated domestic washing. Tell us about industrial washing in advance so we can adapt the specification.
Can you print different sizes or codes in one order?
Yes. Thermal transfer and digital printing handle variable data such as sizes, barcodes and batch numbers within one design.
Do you deliver labels on rolls?
Yes. We supply rolls for automatic cutting machines, or labels already cut and folded, ready to sew.