A quick look into the fascinating history of clothing labels

A quick look into the fascinating history of clothing labels

Ok, let’s be honest. When it comes to the list of cool things, clothing labels aren’t exactly up there with helicopters, black holes and Great White Sharks. But hold your horses there, because it turns out clothing labels are actually pretty cool! Especially their history.

Have you ever wondered why your T-shirt has a label? Who decided it needed one? And what are all those symbols on it? Well, wonder no more as we give you a quick (and fascinating) history lesson on clothing labels!

Pre-industrial revolution

Back before clothes were made in factories by the thousand, they were created one piece at a time by highly-skilled artisans. Stitch by stitch, layer by layer, these professionals would create a garment from scratch, and like all good artists, they would sign their work, maybe with a little embroidered symbol or their initials. This might be considered the very first clothing label – a way to identify who the person was that made such a beautiful and high-quality garment.

Unfortunately, after the invention of the loom, those same artisans were suddenly out of work. Clothing could now be mass-produced, and manufacturers sought ways to distinguish their product from an increasingly competitive industry. Simple tags start to appear around this time, usually with the name of the factory and/or the company on them.

Woven labels start to appear

These basic labels were made of paper, which, as you can imagine, didn’t last very long, disintegrating or coming off after the first wash. This problem led to the rise of the woven label in the late 1800s, a more durable solution. The process of weaving labels directly into the fabric enabled manufacturers to create intricate and detailed labels that seamlessly became a part of the textile.

Woven labels also allowed greater complexity and detail, presenting manufacturers the opportunity to add their logo, brand names, sizes, and additional information. Only the best clothing companies could afford to add woven labels in these early days, which added a touch of sophistication and pedigree to garments.

Made in Britain

At the end of the 19^th Century, clothing labels changed from being something only certain manufacturers would add to something every manufacturer needed to add.

The British Empire was in full swing, importing the best cotton and silk from around the world back home to be turned into the finest apparel. But some crafty foreigners were selling inferior products and claiming them to be British! The nerve!

After much tea-sputtering and harrumphing in parliament, the response was the Merchandise Marks Act in 1887, a law that prevented foreign manufacturers from falsely claiming that their products were British. Laws were introduced requiring clothing manufacturers to affix labels to their products to provide information about the materials and other details relating to the manufacture of the garment.

Looking back, we can safely say this is the start of our modern clothing label; a mandate by law that a garment must contain certain information for the consumer.

At the start of the 20^th Century in the United States, clothing labels were used to advertise the labour union that made it as a way to show their strength. The most famous use of this tactic came from the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU), which used the tags almost as a branding strategy for the union.

Things get more complex

With the invention of synthetic fibres such as nylon and polyester, clothing became more complicated. Different weaves needed different washing instructions, and clothing labels were the perfect way to convey this information. They soon began to include practical information for consumers on how to properly care for their garments.

As technology progressed, so did the instructions. Home dryers were now a thing, so “Do not tumble dry” came as a warning rather than an instruction. “Cold wash only” or “dry clean only” saved many people from losing their favourite sweater.

Today’s clothing labels

Modern clothing labels are far more than instructions. There are actually three types of labels that you’ll find on most garments:

1. Brand label
2. Information label
3. Compliance label

Brand label

Brand labels are used for many things. They’ll typically have the company’s logo, but brands have realised that they can be used to deliver a unique customer experience by adding funny messages, style tips, inspirational quotes, or sustainable information.

Information label

The information label Is all about logistics. It will have the things like the price of the item, a barcode, or a SKU number. That’s not to say come brands won’t go the extra mile and add their own touches to the information label like logos or web addresses.

Compliance label

This label is what you must legally put on a garment. We’ve talked before about what you can and can not put on labels, and consumer laws take them very seriously. The consequences of including incorrect or misleading information on a garment can include significant fines, not to mention damage to your brand’s reputation.

We love everything about clothing labels

See, we told you it was interesting! Woven clothing labels is where we started over half a century ago. Since then we have grown to incorporate many other aspects of the apparel industry, but labels are still our first love.

We create every type of label you can think of, from your typical woven labels through to swing tags and lanyards… but more on that in part two! Join us next time to learn exactly how we can help your business and create the perfect label for your unique brand.

If you have questions or would like to know more, contact us today to discuss your clothing label needs..