The artwork is only one part of the job. A usable factory brief connects every label, barcode, bag and carton to the correct style, color, size and destination market.
Custom T-shirt labels identify the brand, size, fiber content, care method, origin and SKU. Packaging then carries that information into retail, warehouse and shipping systems. If either is treated as a late-stage decoration, a finished order may require relabeling, repacking or manual inventory correction.
This guide explains how to prepare the production files. Legal requirements depend on the country where the product is offered, the product composition and the role of the importer or responsible business. Confirm those requirements before approving artwork.
Create one label and packing schedule for every component: main label, size label, fiber/origin label, care label, hangtag, barcode sticker, unit pack and shipping carton. For each item, specify content, dimensions, material, colors, attachment, placement, SKU mapping and approved artwork version. Approve actual samples and scan production barcodes before bulk packing.
1. Build a component map before requesting prices
Start with a list, not a folder of unnamed artwork. One T-shirt may use a woven main label, a separate size pip, a printed care label, a hangtag, a price sticker and a barcode on the polybag. Another may use a heat-transfer neck print and combine size, fiber, origin and care content in one sewn label.
| Component | Decisions to specify | Approval evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Main brand label or neck print | Method, material, finished size, colors, fold, position and attachment | Artwork plus physical or production sample |
| Size label | Size system, typography, color, orientation and SKU mapping | Complete size set or approved matrix |
| Fiber, origin and care label | Market-specific copy, fiber percentages, language, care instructions and responsible identity | Approved final artwork and compliance review |
| Hangtag | Stock, size, print, finishing, string, seal and attachment point | Printed proof and assembled sample |
| Barcode or price sticker | Code type, value, human-readable text, price/currency and placement | Data file plus scan test |
| Unit and carton packaging | Material, dimensions, warnings, folding, assortment and marks | Packed sample and carton layout |
Put this schedule in the bill of materials section of the T-shirt tech pack. Assign every artwork file a stable name and revision so the merchandiser can match it to the correct component.
2. Specify the main label and size system as manufactured parts
A logo file does not define a label. A woven label needs thread colors, construction, fold and finished dimensions. A printed label needs the base material, print method, colors and edge treatment. A heat-transfer neck label needs artwork, size variants, placement and an approval on the final fabric.
Size information can sit on the main label, a separate pip or the care label. Whichever system you choose, create a controlled mapping between the garment size, label text, barcode data and carton assortment. This prevents an “M” garment from receiving an “L” label while the total quantities still appear correct.
3. Separate brand information from market-required information
The brand may decide the logo, story and visual layout, but the destination market determines what product information is required and how it must be presented. Give the factory buyer-approved copy. Do not ask a sewing team to decide legal wording from a product photo.
United States
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission states that most textile and wool products need labels showing fiber content, country of origin and the identity of the manufacturer or another business responsible for marketing or handling the product. Clothing is also covered by the Care Labeling Rule. Review the FTC’s textile and wool labeling guidance and care-label guidance for the actual product.
European Union
Official EU guidance says textile products marketed to consumers must show fiber composition. The composition uses permitted fiber names and decreasing percentage order, and required text must appear in the official language or languages of the countries where the product is offered. See the current Your Europe textile-label guidance and the underlying rules before artwork approval.
These examples are not a worldwide label template. The UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and other markets have their own rules. Marketplace, retailer and logistics requirements can add information beyond the legal minimum.
4. Base care instructions on the finished garment
Fabric alone does not settle care instructions. Printing, embroidery, rib, interlining, heat-transfer labels, washing and garment dyeing may respond differently from the base knit. Review the finished combination and keep the supporting test or assessment used for the instruction.
For U.S. sales, the FTC’s Care Labeling Rule covers manufacturers and importers and requires a reasonable basis for care information. The instructions must tell consumers the regular care needed and warn about a procedure that may reasonably be expected but would harm the garment. Symbols may be used under the applicable conditions, but market and language requirements should be checked before relying on symbols alone.
- Confirm washing or dry-cleaning direction as applicable.
- State water temperature and cycle where needed.
- Define bleaching, drying and ironing instructions.
- Add warnings for a process that could damage the garment.
- Check that the printed label remains legible through the intended use.
5. Give the factory artwork it can manufacture and check
Export editable vector artwork where the supplier requests it, include outlined fonts or approved font files, and provide a readable PDF reference. Mark dimensions, colors, front and back, fold lines, seam allowance, safe area and attachment points. If content varies by size or market, provide a matrix instead of separate files with ambiguous names.
| Control field | Example of a usable instruction | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| File identity | Style-label-component-market-revision | final.ai, final2.ai, latest-final.ai |
| Finished dimensions | Width and height after folding or trimming | Relying on the artboard size |
| Color | Named reference plus approved sample where color matters | Choosing from an uncalibrated screen |
| Attachment | Seam, stitch type, distance and orientation | “Sew at neck” without a diagram |
| Variable content | One signed size/SKU/market matrix | Copying values manually from emails |
6. Treat hangtags, strings and seals as one assembly
Specify the tag stock, thickness if relevant, dimensions, print sides, color, surface finish, hole position, string and seal. Show where the assembly attaches to the garment and whether the retailer permits tagging through fabric. A beautiful hangtag attached in the wrong place can damage the T-shirt or interfere with folding.
If a hangtag carries price, currency, season, website or sustainability wording, assign ownership for each statement. Remove placeholders before approval. The factory should reproduce approved content, not validate commercial or environmental claims on behalf of the brand.
7. Control barcodes and SKU data outside the artwork workflow
A barcode can look correct and contain the wrong value. Keep the master data in a spreadsheet or product information system with one row per sellable SKU. Link style, color, size, barcode value, price, currency, sticker text, polybag position and carton assortment.
- Check code value against the buyer’s master data
- Scan a printed proof, not only the digital file
- Confirm human-readable text matches encoded data
- Test every size and color variant
- Check quiet space, contrast and print clarity
- Confirm sticker placement on the folded pack
8. Describe the unit pack from garment fold to sealed bag
State the folding method, fold dimensions, tissue or board if used, bag type and dimensions, closure, ventilation holes, printed warnings, recycling marks, sticker location and pieces per inner pack. If the product is sold without a bag, define how it remains clean and identified through transport.
Packaging regulations and retailer rules can vary by material, market and sales channel. The buyer should confirm any warning text, extended producer responsibility, recyclability claim or material restriction. Avoid placing a generic recycling symbol or environmental statement on a package without checking that it applies.
9. Build carton instructions around warehouse receiving
Define carton dimensions and construction, quantity per carton, solid or assorted packing, size/color ratio, inner packs, protective material, sealing method and straps if permitted. Provide a carton-mark layout with purchase order, style, color, size range, carton number, destination and any customer routing data.
The packing list and physical cartons should tell the same story. During final inspection, sample cartons should be counted, weighed and opened to confirm assortment and barcode accuracy. Record actual carton dimensions and weights where freight or customer routing requires them.
10. Approve labels and packing before bulk application
Paper proofs help with content, but physical approvals expose material, color, fold, stitching, adhesion and scanning problems. Review label and packaging components during sampling, then approve a pre-production sample that combines them with the final garment.
The T-shirt sampling process guide explains the difference between fit and pre-production approval. Before releasing bulk packing, confirm:
- Market and language versions are final
- Fiber, origin and care copy is buyer-approved
- All size and SKU variants are mapped
- Physical label quality and placement are approved
- Barcodes scan to the correct values
- Folded garment fits the approved unit pack
- Carton assortment and marks are signed off
- Obsolete files have been withdrawn
Label and packaging choices can also affect order minimums. If quantities are split across several markets or languages, ask whether components carry their own minimums. The custom T-shirt MOQ guide explains how these upstream minimums interact with the garment quantity.
Questions buyers ask about labels and packaging
Can all information go on one T-shirt label?
Sometimes, if the label remains readable, comfortable and compliant in the destination market. Brand, size, fiber, origin and care information may also be divided across coordinated labels.
Should I approve a label from a digital proof?
A digital proof is useful for content, but a physical sample is better for checking material, color, fold, edge, attachment, comfort and durability on the garment.
Who should provide the care-label wording?
The buyer or responsible business should approve the wording for the destination market and keep a reasonable basis for the instructions. The factory can reproduce approved files and support product testing when agreed.
When should barcode data be sent to the factory?
Send controlled SKU data early enough for proofs and testing, but freeze the final values before bulk printing. Changes should use a dated revision rather than informal email corrections.
Can custom packaging increase the T-shirt MOQ?
Yes. Printed bags, labels, hangtags, seals and cartons may each have supplier minimums. Ask for component-specific minimums before finalizing the order split.
Send a complete label and packing brief
Share the tech pack, artwork, market, SKU matrix, quantity breakdown and packing instructions. GOODTEX can review which samples and approvals are needed for a project-specific quotation.
Send an inquiry Explore casual T-shirtsEditorial owner: NINGBO GOODTEX IMP & EXP CO., LTD. Label, barcode, packaging and compliance requirements should be confirmed for the product and destination market before production. This article is production guidance, not legal advice.
