What Are Eco-Friendly Clothing Labels?

Eco-friendly clothing has come to mean the raw materials used to create a garment, like organic cotton or hemp. But as you know, a garment consists of more materials than the fabric that you think about the most - from trim to labels, even the most overlooked components can be eco-friendly. But what are eco-friendly clothing labels exactly?

Eco-friendly clothing labels are tags made out of environmentally sustainable fabrics. Rather than using plastic tags or printed dyes, eco-friendly clothing labels are woven from natural fibers or recycled synthetic fibers, and text is printed with low-impact dyes or through sublimation.

Brands that fully embrace sustainable apparel, examine the entire supply chain and every material that goes into creating a garment. For such a tiny component of a garment, there's a lot to consider for an eco-friendly clothing label, or at least to make the right choices. Let's look at the options you'll have, should you take your entire line fully sustainable.

Transitioning To Eco-Friendly Clothing Labels

Yes, the fabric choice and design elements are undeniably important. But the label has a lot to say about the item and brand as well.

Clothing labels can communicate expected items like sizing, care instructions, and fabric choices. But they can also convey intangibles, such as a clothing choice, and by turn, the brand is invested in sustainability.

That is, only if the brand makes the right eco-friendly choice for its garments.

The clothing label, eco-friendly or otherwise, is one of the most forgotten must-haves of a garment in the mind of most consumers.

While every item in a person's closet contains a clothing label, most will never look at it, or pay attention to it. That is until the garment needs cleaning, or the consumer is trying to figure out how they ruined the garment by improperly cleaning it.

If the information above underscores the importance of clothing labels, and how an eco-friendly clothing label holds value in the mind of consumers, then the following will walk you through all your options to take your labels to the next level of sustainability.

Should You Go With Woven Or Printed Labels?

This is the first choice you'll make when it comes to your eco-friendly clothing labels - woven or printed? Both get the job done as far as communication with consumers, but there are benefits and drawbacks to choosing one over the other. Here's what you need to know about each.

How The Labels Are Made

Woven labels and printed labels look drastically different, and that comes down to how each is made. Here's what you need to know about how each label type is made.

Creating Woven Labels

A woven label is created on a loom - the same technology that's been used for centuries to create fabrics.

The process is similar, but on a smaller scale, with yarns (in the context of eco-friendliness, it's made of natural or recycled synthetic fibers) weaved together to form a textile.

This textile is then cut into strips and sewn onto garments in strategic locations.

Creating Printed Labels

On the other hand, printed labels go through a different process. In this instance, the design is transferred onto the label material (again, natural or recycled synthetic fibers) via heat transfer, sublimation, or screen printing.

The differences in how these labels are made will have an impact on the final product.

Labels Matter - Perceptions

Regardless of what people say, perception matters, at least when it comes to a brand. And although a care label inside your t-shirt is a minor thing in the grand scheme, it can still have value.

Woven labels carry completely weight with your consumers than printed labels do; here's how:

Perception of Woven Labels

Woven labels are the industry standard for high-quality clothing - brands where the image holds a high value with the consumer will commonly opt for woven labels.

Typically, brands that emphasize their image as it relates to quality, will ensure everything that interfaces with a logo or mark hold the same standards as the primary product or service, from sustainable packaging with a polished look, to woven clothing labels - every detail matters.

Perception of Printed Labels

If woven labels signal quality and craft, printed labels are the quick and affordable alternative. That doesn't necessarily mean they're lower quality though - some printed labels can have a great finish to them that doesn't diminish the brand perception.

In general, though, the overarching perception is that printed labels are commonly found on lower-budget garments. You won't find a printed label on Ernest Leoty's activewear line.

While there are some notable exceptions, such as when a company wants to offer a more sustainable product without raising the price (like an eco-friendly t-shirt), most of the time, it comes down to a cost analysis.

Tangible Benefits Of Each Label

It's not all looks or "care instructions" for labels inside your clothes though, there are specific tangible benefits for both styles that your consumer may notice. Both woven and printed labels come with unique tangible benefits.

Here are a few of the key areas where each stands out:

Tangible Benefits of Woven Labels

• Improved Durability: Weaving a label creates a tag that is durable and will hold up to the same wear and tear as the clothing item itself. Plus, woven labels will handle repeated washing and drying cycles without a problem. Woven labels are stitched into the clothing and will not fall off, making them a long-lasting choice. Printed labels on the other hand will often get deformed through constant use or from heat and water when caring for the clothing item.

• Enhanced Comfort: Woven fabric also creates a label that is comfortable for the wearer. Woven labels are softer and hug the clothing making them less itchy or bothersome.

Tangible Benefits of Printed Labels

• Color and Detail: Since these labels are printed and don’t have to be woven together with thread, printed labels can accommodate more colorful and intricate designs. If a brand wanted to display a lot of writing or fine lines, a printed label might be a superior choice.

• Lower Cost: Probably the most important reason to choose a printed label is cost. Printed labels are a much more cost-effective choice than woven labels. Woven labels require a loom and skilled manufacturing, whereas printed labels can be run through a printing machine quickly and cheaply.

If those are the basics between the two types of clothing labels, agnostic of sustainability so far, then how do you take each to an eco-friendly level?

How Do You Make Clothing Tags Sustainable?

Brands looking to adopt sustainable clothing tags should opt for woven labels made with natural fibers or recycled synthetic fibers. Avoiding clothing labels made out of plastic, or using harmful dyes is also a critical component of creating eco-friendly clothing labels.

Woven labels will be a more expensive option for most apparel brands though, so naturally, many still adopt a printed label.

If your brand is considering a more eco-friendly clothing label, but can't invest in woven labels, use a printed label that incorporates environmentally friendly ink and glue.

Although not always feasible from a financial standpoint, the most eco-friendly clothing labels consist of woven natural fibers.

Best Natural Fibers For Woven Labels

• Cotton - While cotton requires a lot of energy and water to grow and then harvest, it's a natural fiber that is less harmful to the planet than synthetic alternatives. Preferably, brands will use certified organic cotton that has better farming practices.

• Hemp - Hemp is another fantastic natural fiber choice when it comes to sustainability - it's a miracle fiber in many ways - such as getting stronger when wet, but getting softer every time you wash it. Hemp is also super eco-friendly because of how productive the plant is with very little water or fertilizer needs. Hemp crops also replenish the soil with nutrients and restore root structure.

• Bamboo - Bamboo fabric is another natural option made from a highly renewable resource. The bamboo plant is a sustainable resource because of how quickly and easily it grows - it can even grow three feet in a day, which is difficult to believe, but absolutely true. It can be harvested multiple times a year without replanting. While the process to turn bamboo fiber into fabric may not be the most eco-friendly process, bamboo fabric is still a sustainable choice overall.

• Linen - Linen made from the flax plant is also a great choice for environmentally friendly clothing labels. The flax plant grows very easily and doesn’t require pesticides making the farming process easier on the environment.

Alternatives to Natural Fibers for Clothing Labels

The alternative to natural fibers such as cotton is to use synthetic or semi-synthetic fibers to create clothing labels.

The problem with synthetic fibers is that they are man-made through processes that require chemicals and raw materials that are not healthy for the environment. Synthetic fibers, such as polyester, are made from fossil fuels and contribute to plastic waste in landfills over time. 

And nearly 60% of all clothes at retail today contain polyester. It's an environmental problem on a truly global scale.

So how can a clothing label be eco-friendly if it is made out of synthetic fiber? The answer is to use recycled fibers like recycled polyester.

Rather than using virgin polyester for a clothing labels, eco-friendly labels should use recycled polyester. Recycled polyester is often made from post-consumer water bottles which save energy, minimizes waste, and doesn’t contribute to incremental demand for fossil fuels.

By using recycled synthetic fibers for clothing labels, brands can still contribute to sustainability.

Picking Low-Impact Dyes For Eco-Friendly Clothing Labels

The other critical aspect of eco-friendly clothing labels is using dyes that are safe for the environment and don’t require a lot of energy or water to produce.

Azo-free dyes are non-toxic and don’t release harmful chemicals into the environment. These dyes are safer for workers and don’t pollute water sources. Low-impact dyes are also a more sustainable option as they require less water and energy to produce than traditional dyes. Benefits include:

• Non-Toxic

• Biodegradable

• No Harmful Pollution

While there is an initial cost to switching to low-impact dyes, the long-term savings and environmental benefits make it a worthwhile investment for brands.

What Does Your Label Say About Your Brand?

Clothing labels are often an overlooked afterthought when it comes to clothing, but shouldn’t be. They're a chance to communicate important information to the consumer about the clothing item itself but also about the image and intention of the brand behind the fabric.

Many clothing brands are leaning into sustainability to help improve wasteful fashion practices and to respond to consumer demands.

But a clothing label made out of harmful dyes or synthetic fibers can betray an otherwise sustainable brand if the label doesn’t match the rest of the garment. That’s why eco-friendly clothing brands should go the extra mile to make environmentally conscious choices about their labels too.

Consumers will notice and appreciate that their clothing labels tell a consistent story about the environmental impact of their favorite brands.