Discuss the various finishing services that can help showcase your brand. Topics include custom neck tag labels, hang tags, garment washes, folding, bagging and even shipment/packaging options.
I've started producing some new shirt designs for my clothing business, and to give my shirts a more professional look I was thinking about doing some relabeling.
I've checked out CustomLabels4U and it seems like quite the investment. 500 labels range from $240 to $270. Are there any other sites that do custom labeling with lower minimum orders (around 250 would be good). So before doing anything, I have a few questions.
1. I'm ordering American Apparel t-shirts, if I were to remove the tags, when I relabel the shirts, do I need to have different labels based on the size of the shirt? This would cause a lot of problems, because if the minimum order is 500, will I have to make 4 orders (small, med, large, x-large) of 500 labels? That would just be ridiculous, as well as way out of my price range. Or do people just make a custom label over the AA label? On the shirts from SEEE.US / BOYS SHOP it looks like they just label their logo over the original label.
2. Is it smarter to relabel the labels yourself or give it to a local seamstress? And if I give them to a seamstress, approximately how much will the relabeling cost for each shirt? Also, will I need to remove the original AA labels myself before giving them to the seamstress?
I used to do custom labels for my shirts (I have switched to a tagless print for various reasons), on AA, so I can answer pretty much all of those questions based on personal experience.
1. I don't know of any sites with lower minimums; I can however refer you to a company that does, I think, about 2000 or 3000 for $300, and they're good quality. What you're paying for is set-up, essentially. Mine were printed, by the way, as opposed to woven (which are a bit more expensive).
2. What I used to do, and what a lot of companies now do as well, is leave in the bottom of the two tags in the AA shirt that has all of the size info and care info etc, so all you need to worry about on your label is your logo, really. With that in mind, you may want to design a tag that's about the same size as the AA top tag, just so it fits well (but, for example, Johnny Cupcakes has a tag that is much wider than the AA size/care tag, and it looks fine).
3. Take your labels and your shirts to a seamstress, and tell them to cut out the the top label and sew in your own - just hold up a shirt and show them how you want it.
There is one other thing to consider - getting your tag sewn in over the tape (the reinforced cloth strip the goes shoulder to shoulder), or under the tape. I always did under the tape; it is slightly more expensive but looks better in my mind, however, many brands just sew it in over the tape as it is a bit quicker and less costly.
The seamstress I went to did them for about 0.25 per shirt, under the tape, which is pretty good in my opinion.
Anyway, let me know if you have any other questions - I think I've covered most everything?
__________________ SEIBEI - put a monster in your closet.
Follow me on Twitter @davidSEIBEI
I had some labels made downtown L.A. and I paid under $100, it was very cheap. That was for some pants I designed. For my tshirts, what I have done, created a graphic logo with my biz name and email address, iron on the back of the tshirt, near the bottom right. It looks like a "hip hop" logo, really kool. For those designs I did not design, but only printed, I do not put anything, but the email addy or nothing at all. Just like my biz cards which I do myself so that I can make changes when I want...keeping control my biz.
I've checked out CustomLabels4U and it seems like quite the investment. 500 labels range from $240 to $270. Are there any other sites that do custom labeling with lower minimum orders
There aren't (m)any places with lower minimums, but there are definitely places where your dollar will go a lot further (in other words your cost will probably be much the same wherever you go, but what you're actually getting will vary).
Quote:
Originally Posted by RAWRoutLOWD
when I relabel the shirts, do I need to have different labels based on the size of the shirt?
There are two main options: if you can leave the original size label in and just replace the brand label, you can do that. If that's not an option, you can buy size tabs and add them with your label - they're a lot cheaper than full labels.
If you're not leaving the original care label you'll need to make sure you're complying with the appropriate labelling laws though (i.e. the information from that label will have to be on your new label).
Thanks a lot! Can you possibly refer me to a website which has cheaper labels? Also, after considering what you said. I think I'm just going to replace the brand label and keep the size label. Where can I learn more about the labeling laws?
Thanks a lot! Can you possibly refer me to a website which has cheaper labels? Also, after considering what you said. I think I'm just going to replace the brand label and keep the size label. Where can I learn more about the labeling laws?
Can you possibly refer me to a website which has cheaper labels?
luckylabel.com is one. Others that have come up (you'll need to check pricing) are djslabels.com and progressivelabel.com, but I don't have price samples from those.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RAWRoutLOWD
I think I'm just going to replace the brand label and keep the size label. Where can I learn more about the labeling laws?
If you leave the brand label, you most likely don't need to worry about it: that label will have everything that is required (country of origin, RN, etc.).
I wrote about it quite a while ago here though, and there's a lot of information on the web (and these forums).
I just talked to the closest tailor to where I live and he said that the labeling would cost around $1.00 a shirt. Is he trying to rip me off, I think I might check the yellow pages for other local seamstresses.
A lot of the time it depends on the method they use to remove the old label. If it is completely by hand, then they tend to charge more.
There are machines that can do them rather quickly, and therefore the cost is lowered.
I wish I could find a local seamstress that did them for 25 cents, but the best I can do is a place about 50 miles from me that uses the machines, and they charge 35 cents for under the neck tape. But, I still have to pay the shipping charges.
Are there any other sites that do custom labeling with lower minimum orders (around 250 would be good).
You can get less than 500 labels from clothinglabels4u.com. I think the minimum is 250. 500 is just the price quote they have on the site for an example (to encourage larger orders probably)
If you don't need lots of labels, then a smaller minimum is good. But if you think you may need more labels, then you can spend a similar amount and get more labels from places like Solmu mentioned above.
I'm ordering American Apparel t-shirts, if I were to remove the tags, when I relabel the shirts, do I need to have different labels based on the size of the shirt? This would cause a lot of problems, because if the minimum order is 500, will I have to make 4 orders (small, med, large, x-large) of 500 labels? That would just be ridiculous, as well as way out of my price range. Or do people just make a custom label over the AA label? On the shirts from SEEE.US / BOYS SHOP it looks like they just label their logo over the original label.
2. Is it smarter to relabel the labels yourself or give it to a local seamstress? And if I give them to a seamstress, approximately how much will the relabeling cost for each shirt? Also, will I need to remove the original AA labels myself before giving them to the seamstress?
I thought the same thing as well. Then I gave Lisa a call. She runs clothinglabels4u. Don't be discouraged by the minimum order. She will work with you if you are planning on doing labels with different sizes on it. I just recently did an order of 500 labels, with 125 of each size (s, m, l, and xl). All you need to do is tell her you want the same design for the labels, but want different sizes marked on it. All she requires is that you order at least 100 of each different size. You can send her files with the different sizes or have her graphic artists doctor it up(for a fee, of course)! Plus, you don't even have to do all sizes. If you don't need s and m, you can just order 250 of l and xl.
As far as relabeling goes...unless you're a pretty clean AND efficient sewer(sp?) yourself, I would suggest having it done by a seamstress. These people make a living sewing and your product will definitely look more professional. I've found that .30 to .35 cents is the average price. If you can find anything lower, that's great! Don't worry about removing the labels either. From my experience that is part of the price. It would definitely avoid any confusion as to what shirt is what size also! Could you imagine getting 200 unlabeled shirts and having the task of figuring out what shirt is what size? I definitely would be p'd off!
Bottom line is...when in doubt don't hesitate to give a company a call! You never know what you'll discover! BTW, if you do decide to call Lisa, let her know you found her through t-shirtforums.com and ask her about the free shipping deal!!! Just another added perk!
If you're not leaving the original care label you'll need to make sure you're complying with the appropriate labelling laws though (i.e. the information from that label will have to be on your new label).
From what I understand, as long as you can verify your source for the generic shirts you don't have to have the information from the original label on your label. The RN # is basically for anyone in the business of having their own garments made and dyed, if I'm not mistaken. Basically, it gives "the powers that be" all the information they need if someone were to file a lawsuit against you, say for example, if the dye in your shirt gave them an allergic reaction that caused them to be hospitalized. The RN # gives them your info, your manufacturers info, your dyers info, etc. The whole chain of companies involved with the garment.
So, if you are just ordering pre-made shirts(generics) such as Hanes, AAA, Alternative Apparel, etc. then you don't need an RN #. You just have to be able to tell people who the manufacturer of the shirts are if you're asked.
As far as all the other info(care instructions, country of origin, fiber content, etc.)
...that's up to you. Just depends on how you want your label to look and how you want your company perceived.
Neck tag relabeling 
I just recently did an order of 500 labels, with 125 of each size (s, m, l, and xl). All you need to do is tell her you want the same design for the labels, but want different sizes marked on it. All she requires is that you order at least 100 of each different size. You can send her files with the different sizes or have her graphic artists doctor it up(for a fee, of course)! Plus, you don't even have to do all sizes. If you don't need s and m, you can just order 250 of l and xl. 
I definitely would be p'd off!
Just another added perk!
