A woven label is a fabric tag woven from threads — not printed — and sewn into clothing and textiles to display a brand’s logo, size, care instructions, or country of origin. Because the design is woven into the fabric itself, it resists fading and peeling far better than a printed label.
In this guide you’ll learn the main types of woven labels, how they’re made, and how to order custom woven labels for your clothing brand.
What Is a Woven Label?
A woven label is a small piece of fabric — usually damask, satin or taffeta — into which a design is woven using colored threads on a loom. Unlike a printed tag where ink sits on the surface, every letter, logo and border of a woven label is part of the fabric itself.
You’ll find woven labels stitched into the neck of t-shirts, the waistband of jeans, the hem of shirts, and the seams of jackets, bags and caps. They carry the brand name or logo, and often the size (S/M/L/XL), fabric composition, washing instructions and country of origin.
The key difference comes down to construction: a woven label is made of thread, while a printed label is fabric with print on top. That single difference is why woven labels look more premium and outlast printed ones through years of washing and wearing. For a deeper dive, read our guide on woven vs printed labels.
Why Clothing Brands Choose Woven Labels
- Premium perception — a woven neck label signals quality the moment a customer tries a garment on.
- Durability — the design can’t peel or crack because it is the fabric.
- Comfort — soft damask and satin weaves don’t itch like stiff printed tags.
- Counterfeit resistance — fine woven detail is far harder to copy than a surface print.
- Brand longevity — the label looks as good after fifty washes as on day one.
How Woven Labels Are Made
Woven labels start as digital artwork. Threads in your brand colors are loaded onto high-speed weaving looms, which interlace warp and weft threads to form the design — text, logos and borders emerge directly from the weave, not from ink. The woven fabric is then cut to size (straight cut, or folded as center-fold, end-fold or Manhattan fold), heat-sealed or laser-cut so the edges never fray, and quality-checked piece by piece before packing.
At Label Hub, we manufacture woven labels in Faisalabad, Pakistan — the heart of the country’s textile industry — which lets us offer factory-direct pricing with full control over quality. Our custom woven labels are produced on modern looms that hold sharp detail even at very small sizes.
Main Types of Woven Labels
| Type | Thread Count | Look & Feel | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damask | High (finest detail) | Smooth, matte, luxury | Premium brands, complex logos, fine text |
| Satin | Medium | Glossy, smooth, soft | Premium wear, children’s clothing, lingerie |
| Taffeta | Standard | Crisp, slightly stiff | Jeans, workwear, durable garments |
| End-fold / Center-fold | Varies | Folded edges | Neck labels, hem tags |
Damask woven labels use the finest, highest-density weave, which reproduces small text and intricate logos with exceptional sharpness. The result is a smooth, matte label with a luxury feel — the standard choice for premium fashion brands and designer clothing.
Satin woven labels have a soft, glossy finish that feels smooth against the skin. They’re the go-to for satin woven labels used as neck labels in premium wear, children’s clothing and lingerie, where comfort matters as much as branding.
Taffeta woven labels are woven with a crisp, slightly stiff plain weave. They’re economical and tough, making them ideal for jeans, workwear and other hard-wearing garments where the label takes a beating.
Folded woven labels aren’t a weave type but a finishing style: end-fold (folded on the left and right) and center-fold (folded in the middle) create soft, finished edges. Folds are what make neck labels comfortable and hem tags neat — most clothing brands choose a fold rather than a straight-cut edge.
Woven Labels vs Printed Labels
| Feature | Woven Label | Printed Label |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Very high (woven threads) | Fades/peels over time |
| Detail on small text | Excellent | Limited |
| Look & feel | Premium, textured | Flat, glossy |
| Cost at small qty | Higher setup | Lower setup |
| Best for | Brand logos, neck labels | Size, care, composition |
Neither is better in absolute terms — they do different jobs. Woven labels win for anything the customer sees and touches (brand identity), while printed labels win for information-dense, cost-sensitive uses (care and composition). Most established brands use both. Read our full comparison: woven vs printed labels.
Common Uses of Woven Labels
- Neck labels — brand identity at the collar; the first thing a customer sees.
- Hem / side tags — a logo or slogan sewn into the hem or side seam, a streetwear staple.
- Size labels — S/M/L/XL markings, often combined with the brand label.
- Care labels — washing and care instructions; see our size and care labels.
- Country-of-origin labels — “Made in Pakistan” tags required for export garments.
- Mattress labels — branding and legal tags for mattress and bedding manufacturers; see mattress woven labels.
- Bag & accessory labels — woven branding for bags, caps and industrial wear.
Woven Label Sizes and Folds
Woven labels come in nearly any size, but a few standards dominate: 50×15 mm and 60×20 mm for neck labels, smaller 25×15 mm tags for side seams, and larger 70×40 mm and above for outerwear and mattresses. The right size depends on how much information the label must carry — a logo-only label can be tiny, while care and composition labels need room to stay legible.
Folds matter as much as size. A center-fold label (folded in the middle, sewn at the neck) is the classic t-shirt label. End-fold labels (folded left and right) give a clean badge look for hems and sleeves. Manhattan fold (folded top and bottom) sits flat in waistbands. Straight-cut labels are sewn on all four sides and suit outer labels and patches.
For exact measurements, fold diagrams and artwork tips, see our full sizes and folds guide.
How to Order Custom Woven Labels
- Send your logo or design idea — upload artwork through our start your design tool, or just describe what you want and our designers will draft it free.
- Approve the digital proof — we prepare a free digital proof showing colors, size and fold. Nothing goes to production until you approve it.
- Production (2–3 working days) — your labels are woven, cut and folded to spec, then quality-checked piece by piece.
- Delivery across Pakistan & worldwide — we ship to every city in Pakistan and export regularly, including woven labels in the UAE (Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman) with international delivery in 7–15 working days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a woven and a printed label?
A woven label’s design is made of woven threads, so it never fades or peels. A printed label has ink sitting on fabric, which is cheaper but wears off over time. Woven suits brand logos; printed suits care and size information.
What are the main types of woven labels?
Damask (finest detail, luxury feel), satin (soft, glossy, comfortable) and taffeta (crisp, durable, economical) — plus fold styles like center-fold and end-fold that decide how the label is sewn into the garment.
What is the minimum order quantity for woven labels?
Woven labels have a minimum order quantity of 1,000 pieces. Share your specs through our design tool and we’ll confirm the exact price within 24 hours — small boutique runs and bulk export orders are both welcome.
How long does woven label production take?
Standard production is 2–3 working days after you approve the digital proof. Delivery time depends on location — across Pakistan in days, and international delivery takes 7–15 working days.
Can woven labels be washed?
Yes. Because the design is woven from colorfast threads rather than surface ink, woven labels survive repeated home laundering without fading — that’s their main advantage over printed labels.
Do you ship woven labels to the UAE?
Yes. We regularly export to Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Abu Dhabi. See our woven labels in the UAE page for delivery details.
Ready to brand your garments with custom woven labels? Start Your Design or contact us for a free quote.
