A perfectly woven label can still fail if it’s sewn poorly in the wrong place. Placement affects comfort, durability, and even how your garment hangs. As manufacturers who’ve worked with hundreds of clothing factories, we’ve seen it all – here’s the professional’s guide to label positioning.
Critical Placement Rules by Garment Type:
T-Shirts & Knitwear:
- Never center-back neck. This is the #1 cause of irritation.
- Optimal: Left side seam, 1-2 inches below the armhole. Lies flat against the body, invisible and comfortable.
- Alternative: For a clean look, woven directly into the side seam (requires specific label type).
Button-Down Shirts & Blouses:
- Standard: Back neck seam, but specify placement: centered and sewn into the facing, not hanging loose.
- Premium Alternative: Inner yoke seam. More discrete and professional.
- Care Label: Often separate, placed in side seam near hem.
Dresses & Skirts:
- Main Label: Side seam at waistline.
- Care/Size Label: Separate, in side seam 2-3 inches above hem.
- For delicate fabrics: Ensure labels are not placed where they’ll create bulk or show through.
Outerwear & Jackets:
- Main Label: Back neck is acceptable here due to lining.
- Critical: Care label must be accessible – often in a side seam of the lining.
- Heavy garments: Consider a folded loop label for easy attachment to thick seams.
Pants & Denim:
- Standard: Back waistband, centered.
- Premium: Inside the waistband, often on the left side.
- For rigid denim: Use a thinner label material to reduce bulk.
The “Lay Flat” Test:
Before finalizing placement, have your factory sew a sample label and lay the garment flat. Check:
- Does the label create a bulge or show through?
- Does it cause the fabric to pucker or curl?
- Can it be felt when the garment is worn normally?
Our Labels are Designed for Optimal Sewing:
- Straight-cut with notched corners: Makes alignment and sewing easier for factories.
- Precision folding: Our folded labels are consistently sized for uniform placement.
- Material matching: We can recommend label thickness based on your garment fabric to avoid bulk.
Bad Placement = Customer Complaints.
Itchy necks, visible shadows, and scratchy waists are often placement issues, not label quality issues. Get this right from the start.
Download Our Label Placement Technical Guide.
Get our free PDF with technical drawings for every garment type, approved by experienced pattern makers.