Custom woven labels are fabric labels produced on computerized Jacquard looms, where individual threads are interlaced to form text, logos, and designs directly into the label structure. They are used by clothing brands, fashion startups, independent designers, handmade makers, and Etsy sellers to identify and brand garments professionally. Unlike printed labels — where ink sits on top of a substrate — woven labels embed the design into the fabric itself, making them colorfast, durable, and resistant to washing, fading, and abrasion for the life of the garment.
What Are Custom Woven Labels?
A custom woven label is a small piece of fabric in which the design — brand name, logo, tagline, or care symbols — is formed by the weave pattern itself rather than applied to the surface. The technology behind them is the Jacquard loom, a mechanism invented in 1804 by Joseph Marie Jacquard and modernized into fully automated, computerized equipment in the late twentieth century.
In production, a weave file (derived from your artwork) instructs the loom on which warp threads to raise or lower for each pass of the weft thread. By selectively lifting warp threads, the loom creates areas of color across the label face. The result is a multi-layer textile construction where background and foreground colors are simultaneously woven, not layered. This is fundamentally different from screen printing or digital printing, where pigment or dye is deposited onto a preexisting base material.
Because the design is structural rather than surface-applied, a woven label cannot be scratched, peeled, or washed off. The color is locked into the fiber. This makes woven labels the professional standard for any garment that will be laundered repeatedly throughout its lifetime.
The thread used in woven labels is most commonly polyester, which offers excellent colorfastness, tensile strength, and resistance to shrinkage. Premium or specialty labels may incorporate viscose (rayon), cotton, or metallic threads, each affecting the label's texture, sheen, and drape.
Woven Labels vs. Printed Labels
Choosing between woven and printed labels comes down to durability requirements, design characteristics, and budget. Woven labels are the professional standard for branded apparel because they outlast the garment. Printed labels are faster and cheaper for short-run or temporary applications, but they degrade with washing.
The table below compares the two formats across the criteria most relevant to clothing brands and makers:
| Criteria | Woven Labels | Printed Labels |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Excellent — lasts the life of the garment | Moderate — ink fades and cracks with washing |
| Washfastness | Outstanding — colorfast across hundreds of washes | Fair to good — depends on ink type and fabric |
| Detail & Resolution | High — fine text and geometric shapes woven precisely | Very high — photographic detail possible |
| Color Gradients | Not supported — solid thread colors only | Fully supported — CMYK printing allows gradients |
| Texture & Feel | Soft fabric — premium tactile quality | Flat — ink can feel stiff or plasticky |
| Cost per Unit | Higher at low quantities; competitive at volume | Lower at low quantities |
| Minimum Order Quantity | From 50 pieces (at Peach Labels) | Varies — often 25–100 pieces minimum |
| Professional Perception | Industry standard for branded apparel | Acceptable for basics and temporary use |
| Best For | Clothing brands, outerwear, knitwear, denim | Event apparel, low-cost items, prototyping |
If your brand is selling garments that customers will wash and wear repeatedly, woven labels are the correct long-term choice. For a deeper breakdown, see our dedicated page on woven labels vs. printed labels.
Types of Woven Labels
All woven labels share the same Jacquard weave production method, but the weave density and thread type determine the label's surface quality, texture, and suitability for different design types. There are three main weave types: damask, satin, and taffeta.
Damask Woven Labels
Damask is the highest-quality weave available for woven labels. It uses the finest thread count, producing the smoothest surface and the sharpest reproduction of small text, fine lines, and intricate logo detail. If your brand mark includes thin strokes, small lettering, or detailed graphics, damask is the correct choice.
Because of the tight weave, damask labels are also the softest against skin, making them the preferred choice for labels sewn against the body — such as inside collar necks and underwear waistbands. Peach Labels' standard damask woven labels use this weave exclusively for main brand labels.
Satin Woven Labels
Satin weave produces a lustrous, shiny surface by floating warp threads over multiple weft threads before interlacing. The result is a smooth, reflective face that gives labels a premium, high-fashion appearance. Satin labels work well for brand marks that benefit from a glossy, upscale aesthetic.
The trade-off is that satin weaves are less durable on the surface — the floating threads are more susceptible to snagging than damask. Satin labels are best used on garments where the label won't be subjected to significant abrasion.
Taffeta Woven Labels
Taffeta uses a plain, balanced weave — warp and weft threads interlace one-over-one. The result is a firm, stable label with a matte surface. Taffeta labels are the most economical option and are suitable for simple designs with bold text and few colors. They are commonly used for care and size labels, hang tags, and secondary brand labels where softness and fine detail are less critical.
The surface of a taffeta label is slightly coarser than damask, so they are not recommended for placement directly against skin in sensitive areas.
Fold Types Explained
The fold type determines how the label is attached to the garment and where it sits relative to the seam. Choosing the wrong fold for a placement can mean the label won't sit flat, won't stay in position, or will require additional sewing steps. For a full visual guide, see our page on the best fold type for woven labels.
Flat (No Fold)
A flat label has no fold — it is a single-layer rectangle sewn on all four edges or along the top and bottom. Flat labels are used for patch-style applications on the outside of garments (pocket corners, sleeve panels, chest patches) and for hang tags. They display the full label face without any portion hidden in a seam.
Center Fold
A center fold label is folded in half along its length, creating two identical halves. The fold sits at the top, the two open edges are sewn into a seam, and the label hangs down inside the garment. This is the classic neck label configuration — two identical panels visible at the back of the collar, each showing the brand name or logo. Center fold is the most common label format for main brand labels.
End Fold
An end fold label has both short ends folded under, leaving a clean finished edge on each side. The entire label is then sewn flat onto the garment surface — typically on a side seam, waistband, or inside hem. End fold labels are the standard format for size labels and care labels, where all information needs to be visible on a single flat panel without any content hidden in a fold.
Manhattan Fold
The Manhattan fold combines a center fold at the top with end folds at the bottom corners, creating a more structured, three- dimensional label shape. The result resembles a small woven book attached to the garment. Manhattan fold labels are used for premium brand applications where the label itself is a design element — common in high-end outerwear, denim, and luxury apparel.
Sew-In (Loop Fold)
A sew-in label uses a folded loop at one or both ends, designed to be caught in a seam during garment construction. The loop is sewn into the seam allowance, securing the label without requiring a separate sewing step. Sew-in labels are efficient for high-volume garment assembly where labels are attached during construction rather than as a finishing step.
How to Choose the Right Label Size
The correct label size is determined by three factors: the complexity of your design, the placement location on the garment, and the minimum feature size that can be accurately reproduced in weave. Getting the size wrong — either too small to render your logo clearly, or too large for the placement — is one of the most common ordering mistakes.
Minimum Legible Size for Text
The smallest legible woven text height is approximately 3mm for capital letters in a clean, bold font. Thin serif fonts or script typefaces require at least 4–5mm cap height to remain readable. If your brand name must be smaller than 3mm cap height, consider simplifying the font or increasing the label dimensions.
Standard Label Sizes by Application
| Application | Typical Size Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Neck / Main Brand Label | 30mm × 15mm – 60mm × 30mm | Center fold — visible area is half the total height |
| Care / Size Label | 25mm × 40mm – 40mm × 60mm | End fold — all content on single flat panel |
| Patch Label (outside) | 40mm × 20mm – 80mm × 40mm | Flat — full face visible |
| Waistband / Side Seam | 20mm × 30mm – 30mm × 50mm | End fold standard |
| Hang Tag Ribbon | 15mm × 60mm – 25mm × 100mm | Flat or loop fold |
Center Fold Sizing Note
When ordering center fold labels, remember that the total label height is double the visible panel height. A label ordered as 30mm × 30mm will fold to show two 30mm × 15mm panels. Your artwork must be designed for the visible (post-fold) panel dimensions, not the full flat dimensions. Our artwork guidelines include fold-line diagrams for each format.
How Many Thread Colors Can a Woven Label Have?
Most woven labels support up to 12 thread colors, with 4–6 colors being the practical sweet spot that balances design fidelity with production efficiency.
Why Gradients and Shadows Don't Work
A woven label is built from discrete threads of solid color. There is no mechanism for a single thread to gradually transition from one hue to another. This means photographic images, soft gradients, drop shadows, glows, and transparency effects cannot be reproduced in weave.
However, skilled weave designers can simulate gradients using a technique called "thread mixing" or "woven halftoning," where threads of two colors are interleaved at varying densities to create the visual impression of a mid-tone. This works well on damask labels with fine thread counts, but requires an experienced technician and results in a mosaic or textured effect rather than a true smooth gradient.
Background and Border Colors
The label's background color is itself one of the thread colors — it is not a separate layer. If your logo uses a white background with a black design, that accounts for two of your color slots. Choose a background color that is native to your brand palette to avoid wasting color slots on neutrals.
Metallic and Specialty Threads
Metallic threads (gold, silver, copper) are available and count as one color each. They add a premium finish but require careful design — metallic threads are coarser than standard polyester and are best used for accents and borders rather than small text. Glow-in-the-dark and reflective threads are also available as specialty options.
Artwork Requirements for Custom Woven Labels
Preparing your artwork correctly before ordering is the single most important step in getting accurate labels. Poor artwork is the most common cause of labels not matching expectations. Our full artwork guidelines cover every format and scenario, but the key requirements are summarized below.
Preferred File Formats
Vector files are strongly preferred for woven label artwork: AI (Adobe Illustrator), EPS, or SVG. Vector files contain mathematically defined paths that can be scaled to any size without loss of precision, and they allow our weave technicians to identify exact color values and stroke widths.
If you only have a raster file (PNG, JPG, TIFF), it must be high-resolution: at least 300 DPI at the final label size. Low-resolution raster artwork will be blurry when converted to a weave file and will require significant manual redrawing, which may delay your order.
Color Specification
Specify colors using Pantone (PMS) numbers wherever possible. Pantone is the industry-standard color matching system for woven and printed labels, and thread manufacturers produce threads in Pantone-matched dye lots. If you provide hex or RGB colors, our team will match them to the closest available Pantone thread — note that digital colors (which are light-emitting) often do not translate perfectly to physical thread pigments.
Minimum Line and Stroke Width
Any line, stroke, or detail thinner than 0.8mm in the final label size will either disappear entirely or merge with adjacent elements in the weave. Review your artwork at 1:1 scale (actual label size) and ensure no element falls below this threshold. This includes strokes on letterforms, fine borders, and hairline rules.
Text Considerations
Convert all text to outlines (paths) before submitting. This eliminates font dependency issues. Review the outlined text carefully — some script and serif fonts contain extremely thin strokes that, when outlined and reviewed at label scale, are below the 0.8mm minimum. Bold, geometric, and sans-serif typefaces reproduce most accurately in weave.
Design Simplification Tips
- Remove drop shadows, glows, and emboss effects — they cannot be woven
- Eliminate transparency — all elements must be 100% opaque
- Reduce the number of colors to 8 or fewer before submitting
- Increase stroke widths on thin elements to at least 0.8mm
- Use solid fills — no patterns, textures, or gradients
- Check that negative space (gaps between elements) is at least 0.8mm wide
If you're not sure whether your artwork is ready, our team reviews every file before production and will contact you if changes are needed. For brands with a logo, see our guide to custom woven logo labels for artwork preparation tips specific to logo reproduction. You can also use our online label designer to build a text-based label directly in your browser — no external design software required.
How to Order Custom Woven Labels
Ordering custom woven labels at Peach Labels follows a straightforward six-step process designed to minimize back-and-forth and get your labels into production quickly. Artwork is reviewed within 48 hours of ordering, and production starts automatically once the file is cleared.
- Choose your label type and fold. Start on the woven labels product page and select the fold type that matches your application — center fold for neck labels, end fold for care labels, flat for patch labels, or Manhattan fold for premium brand applications.
- Set your dimensions. Enter the label width and height in millimeters. If you're unsure about sizing, refer to the standard size ranges listed earlier in this guide, or contact our team for a recommendation based on your design.
- Select thread colors and weave type. Choose damask (recommended), satin, or taffeta weave, then specify your thread colors by Pantone number or by describing them and allowing our team to match.
- Upload your artwork. Upload your vector or high-resolution raster file. Include any notes about color matching or design priorities. If you want to build a text-only label instead, use the online designer to create and submit your design without a separate file.
- Set your quantity and complete checkout. Orders start from just 50 pieces. Pricing is tiered — higher quantities reduce the cost per unit significantly. Enter your shipping address and complete payment.
- Artwork review within 48 hours. Our team checks every file before production begins. If anything needs attention — a resolution issue, a design element that won't weave cleanly — we reach out. If everything looks good, production starts automatically with no waiting on your end.
Standard production time is 8–10 business days from artwork clearance. Shipping is calculated at checkout and available worldwide.
If you'd like to evaluate quality before committing to a full order, consider ordering a sample pack to examine the weave quality, thread colors, and fold construction in person.
Pricing: What Affects the Cost of Custom Woven Labels
Custom woven label pricing is calculated per unit and decreases as quantity increases. At Peach Labels, orders start from a low 50-piece minimum, making professional woven labels accessible even for early-stage brands and handmade sellers who can't justify large MOQs.
Factors That Determine Price
| Factor | Effect on Price |
|---|---|
| Quantity | Highest impact — price per unit drops significantly at 50, 100, 500 pieces |
| Label Size | Larger labels use more thread and loom time — direct cost increase |
| Number of Colors | More colors require additional loom setups — moderate cost increase beyond 4 colors |
| Weave Type | Damask costs slightly more than taffeta due to finer thread and tighter weave |
| Fold Type | Folding adds a minor finishing cost; Manhattan fold is slightly higher than center fold |
| Specialty Threads | Metallic, reflective, or glow threads add a premium per color |
| Rush Production | Express turnaround adds a percentage surcharge to the order total |
Understanding Tiered Pricing
Woven label production involves a fixed setup cost — creating the weave file, programming the loom, and threading the machine — that is spread across the full order quantity. This is why the cost per unit at 10 pieces is significantly higher than at 500 pieces: the setup cost is a larger proportion of a smaller order.
For most small brands, the 100-piece tier represents the best balance between per-unit cost and cash outlay. If you are launching a new design and unsure of demand, start with a smaller quantity to validate the label before scaling up.
No Die Charges or Plate Fees
Woven labels do not require dies or printing plates. The entire setup is digital — your weave file is a software program, not a physical tool. This means there are no recurring setup fees on reorders of the same design, and modifications to an existing design involve only a small artwork revision fee rather than a full new setup charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum order quantity for custom woven labels?
The minimum order at Peach Labels is 50 pieces. This is significantly lower than the industry standard of 100–500 pieces, making professional woven labels accessible for small brands, prototyping, and handmade sellers.
How long does it take to produce custom woven labels?
Standard production takes 8–10 business days after artwork clearance. Our team reviews your artwork within 48 hours of ordering and reaches out if anything needs attention before production begins.
Can I get a woven label with my logo if it has gradients?
Gradients cannot be directly reproduced in weave, as each thread is a single solid color. Our team can simulate gradients using thread-mixing techniques on damask labels, but for logos that rely heavily on gradients, simplifying to solid colors before ordering will give the best result.
What file format should I use for my artwork?
Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG) are preferred. If you only have a raster file, it must be at least 300 DPI at the actual label size. Review our full artwork guidelines for complete specifications and common pitfalls.
Do woven labels fade in the wash?
No. Because the color is embedded in the thread itself rather than applied to the surface, woven labels are colorfast and will not fade, crack, or peel with washing. Polyester thread dyes are extremely stable — the label will outlast the garment in normal use.
Can I order woven labels for handmade and Etsy products?
Yes. Woven labels are widely used by handmade makers, knitters, crocheters, and Etsy sellers. With a 50-piece minimum order, there is no need to commit to large quantities. See our dedicated guide for woven labels for handmade products.
Ready to Order Your Custom Woven Labels?
Peach Labels makes professional woven labels accessible from just 50 pieces, with a free artwork review within 48 hours. A low 50-piece minimum, no die charges, worldwide tracked shipping calculated at checkout. Whether you're launching a new clothing brand, adding labels to a handmade product line, or reordering a proven design at scale, the process takes minutes.
Start your custom woven label order or explore our complete label guide to learn more about every label type we offer.