When you’re producing garments, the attention often focuses on fabric, cut, stitching and design—but one element that is both functional and brand-critical can be overlooked: the label. Whether it’s a woven brand label, a printed composition tag or a size chip, the label must stand up to wear and laundering. This article walks you through how to test the durability of your clothing labels so that they remain intact, legible and brand-worthy throughout the garment’s life.
Why durability matters for clothing labels
Labels serve many roles: they carry brand identity, size/composition/care info, sometimes barcodes or hang-tags. At Clothing Labels (UK) we offer a wide choice of labels including woven labels, printed labels, composition labels and size chips. %sitename%
If a label peels, fades, frays or detaches after a few washes, you risk:
- The brand impression diminishing (frayed or missing label doesn’t reflect well)
- Incorrect garment information being lost (size, composition, care)
- Consumer dissatisfaction and increased returns or complaints
Therefore, knowing how to test and verify label durability is important for quality control and brand reputation.
What aspects of a label should you test?
When assessing durability, consider several key aspects of the label:
- Adhesion or attachment – how firmly the label is sewn, glued or adhered.
- Print or weave legibility – whether the text/logo remains clear and intact.
- Material strength – whether the label fabric, substrate or board holds up to use.
- Durability under laundering/wear – how well the label endures washing, abrasion, heat, drying, friction.
- Environmental resistance – e.g., exposure to moisture, rubbing, chemical contact.
Although many durability tests are designed for fabrics, some elements apply directly to labels. For example, standard textile durability testing covers abrasion, pilling, tear resistance and dimensional change. Manteco+2ecostandard.org+2 For label-marking durability (adhesive/print) there are simpler methods you can apply. dasco.com+1
Step-by-step: How to test your labels
Here’s a practical workflow you can follow to test your labels. Adjust to your manufacturing scale and budget.
1. Visual inspection and baseline
Begin by examining new label samples: is the weave or print crisp? Are edges neatly finished? For printed labels, test a small corner in water or gently rub with a finger: if the ink dissolves or flakes, durability is suspect. clothesstickers.com
Record a baseline: photograph the label, note font size, colours, substrate, stitching or adhesive method.
2. Adhesion / attachment test
- For sewn-in labels: apply a moderate tug force on the label edge to check if stitching gives.
- For glued or heat-bonded labels: attempt a mild peel test—lift an edge and check if it lifts cleanly or leaves residue, lifts the garment fibre, or distorts.
- For hang tags or cardboard tags: check the attachment loop, string, spot glue or rivet for durability under light shake or tug.
This gives you a quick check that the label will not detach prematurely.
3. Laundering / wash test
Simulate real-life laundering to assess how the label stands up. You might:
- Wash a garment (or label attached to fabric) using the same program as you would for the final product (temperature, detergent, drying).
- After washing, inspect the label for fading, ink loss, fraying edges, shrinkage, delamination or detachment.
Industry-wide, durability testing of textile elements often uses ISO/ASTM methods such as EN ISO 6330 (domestic washing) and EN ISO 5077 (dimensional change) to assess stability. ecostandard.org+1 - For labels, also check if the attachment area (seam, adhesive) has been stressed by the wash process.
4. Abrasion / friction test
Labels are subject to friction—inside garments they rub against skin/fabric; outside they may rub against other surfaces. While full Martindale or pilling tests apply to fabrics, you can adapt a simple friction test:
- Rub the label surface with a soft cloth or simulate repeated contact (e.g., a toothbrush with moderate pressure) to mimic wear.
- Check whether the print wears away, threads loosen, edges fray or the attachment gives way. One label–durability piece suggests immersing a label in alcohol and scrubbing with a toothbrush multiple cycles to test print durability. dasco.com
- After abrasion, inspect for integrity of print, substrate and attachment.
5. Heat, drying and chemical exposure
Depending on garment use, labels may be exposed to high temperatures (drying), sweat, sunlight, or chemicals (detergents, bleach). You can test:
- A drying cycle at the same temperature your garments go through (tumble-dry, if applicable) to see if any colour change or substrate distortion occurs.
- A bleach or detergent soak on a spare label sample to see how ink and material respond.
- Exposure to UV or sunlight for outdoor garments to check fading of label print or material.
This ensures the label remains legible and intact in the full lifecycle.
6. Evaluate and define acceptable thresholds
Record the results of each test: what changed and by how much? For example:
- Print legibility: 0% ink loss vs 10% vs 25%
- Attachment: no detachment vs partial vs full
- Material damage: no fraying vs minor vs major
Set internal thresholds for what you consider acceptable (e.g., no more than 5% ink loss, no fraying after X wash cycles).
Industry standards for fabrics may use rating scales (e.g., 1-5 for pilling) or cycle counts for abrasion. ecostandard.org+1
For your labels, define your minimum acceptable standard.
Tips for better label durability
- Choose label substrates appropriate for the garment: cotton, polyester, satin, leather, PVC—all have different durability profiles. For example, printed labels on polyester can survive machine washing and drying more reliably. %sitename%
- Investigate print methods and adhesives: Some inks are less fade-resistant; adhesives that peel after a few washes undermine label longevity.
- Ensure label design avoids weak points: stitching corners, avoiding just a single thread anchor, using reinforced edges.
- Keep documentation: record test methods, results and compare batches. This helps with quality control and supplier discussions.
- Consider full-product testing: If your garment goes through industrial washing, harsh usage or outdoor conditions, ensure the labels are tested under those specific conditions.
Why partner with a specialist like Clothing Labels (UK)
When you source your labels from a specialist such as Clothing Labels (UK), you benefit from their expertise, range of substrates and finishes, and tailored advice. At their “Our Products” page they detail a wide choice from woven labels to PVC labels to custom patches. %sitename%
If you’re still evaluating the right label type for durability, you can order a sample pack via their Sample page to test different materials and finishes in your own process.
Their About Us and Contact pages give you access to support and guide you in choosing a durable solution.
Internal linking you’ll want to include
- For label options, link to Our Products: https://clothing-labels.co.uk/our-products/
- To order sample labels for testing: https://clothing-labels.co.uk/sample/
- For further reading and blog updates on labelling and textiles: https://clothing-labels.co.uk/blog/
- To learn more about the company behind the labels: https://clothing-labels.co.uk/about-us/
- For direct enquiries: https://clothing-labels.co.uk/contact/
Make sure each of these links is naturally integrated in your article so readers can easily navigate to the relevant page.
Conclusion
Testing the durability of your clothing labels is not just a technical exercise—it’s a brand-protection strategy. A well-attached, legible, durable label increases consumer confidence, maintains brand integrity and reduces costly issues down the line. By following the steps above—even with basic in-house testing—you can significantly raise the standard of your labels. Consider ordering samples via Clothing Labels (UK), run your own wash, abrasion and adhesion tests, and set internal benchmarks. Your garments deserve labels that last as long as the product itself.