Workwear labels lead a much harder life than labels on fashion garments. A chef's jacket, a nurse's tunic or a technician's overall is washed dozens or hundreds of times, often in an industrial laundry at 75–85 °C, with alkaline detergents, oxidising agents and tunnel drying. A label that looks perfect on a new garment can be illegible a month later. This buyer's guide explains the conditions, which materials and techniques hold up, and how to organise labels for traceability and personalisation.
What a label goes through in an industrial laundry
ISO 15797 sets out test procedures for workwear intended for industrial laundering. Wash temperatures in the standard are 75 °C or 85 °C depending on load and garment type, and some programmes use oxidisers such as peracetic acid. On top of that come:
- heavy mechanical action in large drums and tunnel washers;
- tunnel finishers or tumble dryers at high temperature;
- pressing and steam ironing;
- a garment lifespan of 50 to well over 100 cycles.
If your garments will be processed by a professional laundry, ask about its programmes – that defines the requirements for every trim, labels included.
Woven label 8 cm x 3 cm - brand and logo
Jacquard woven label LBL 0030 6 x 3 cm – black style with white letters, soft premium design, with logo
Woven label 5 cm x 5 cm – logo for brandsMaterials and techniques: what lasts
| Label type | Behaviour at 75–85 °C | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Woven polyester jacquard label | Very good – the design is made of thread, it does not fade | First choice for the brand label |
| Printed polyester satin | Good with quality thermal transfer printing using a resin ribbon; weaker with ordinary ink | For composition, care and batch info – after testing |
| Printed cotton canvas | Print fades faster with aggressive detergents | Better for hand-washed and fashion items |
| Iron-on label | Adhesive softens at high heat, corners lift | Only combined with stitching |
| Metal label | Survives, but can scratch drums and take knocks | Only on jackets and accessories, not on frequently washed uniforms |
The takeaway: polyester is the foundation for workwear. Colourfast polyester yarns do not fade and a woven label keeps its shape. Printing must be tested, and adhesive should never be the only attachment.
Stitching: the detail that decides everything
- Sew around the full perimeter (flat labels) or with a double row of stitching (folded labels), using polyester thread.
- Choose labels with soft, sealed edges – ultrasonic cut or folded ends. Stiff edges on workwear worn 8–12 hours a day irritate the skin quickly.
- Avoid positions that rub against a tool belt or bag strap.
Batch traceability
With workwear, the buyer is often a company or institution that reorders for years. If one batch has a problem – shrinkage, fading – you need to know fast which garments are affected. So add the following to the care label:
- style (model) number;
- production batch number or month/year of manufacture;
- size;
- where relevant, an ISO 30023 symbol showing the garment is suitable for professional laundering.
Tip: when a garment is also personal protective equipment (high-visibility clothing, for instance), the relevant standards require specific marking – pictograms, class, maximum number of cleaning cycles. That is the garment manufacturer's responsibility and should be agreed with the certification body.
Employee name labels
Many clients want uniforms to carry the employee's name or a locker number. The options:
- Variable-data printed satin labels – each name printed from a spreadsheet and sewn at the neck or on a pocket. Practical for dozens or hundreds of names.
- Embroidery directly on the garment – the most durable, but more expensive and not changeable.
- A write-on field for permanent marker – cheap, but markers fade at 85 °C.
With personal labels, think about staff turnover too: a separate sewn label can be unpicked and replaced without sacrificing the garment.
The brand label on a uniform
Corporate uniforms often carry two brands – the garment maker's and the client company's. The woven neck label can show the client's logo while the manufacturer stays on the care label. For uniforms with a client logo, have a look at our buttons as well – we have written about logo buttons for hotels and security staff in our manufacturing articles.
Colour-coding by department
In hospitals, hotels and kitchens, uniforms are often sorted by department or role. A coloured label is a cheap way to identify garments quickly in the laundry and the store room – a jacquard label with a different background colour for each department, say, or printed satin with a coloured stripe at the edge. Laundry staff can sort without reading text and the risk of mix-ups drops. When choosing colours, think about contrast under artificial light and about colour-blind staff: add a short text code (K1, K2) rather than relying on colour alone. Also ask whether the laundry applies its own tracking marks, and leave space for them.
Ordering checklist
- Do you know the maximum wash temperature and programme?
- Is the woven label polyester, with sealed edges?
- Has the printed label been tested for at least 10 cycles under real conditions?
- Is there a batch number on the care label?
- Is the sewing thread polyester?
- Is the label sewn on, not just bonded?
FAQ
Can I use a standard woven label on uniforms?
Yes, as long as it is polyester and well stitched. The jacquard labels in our labels collection are woven and suit garments that are washed often.
How many washes does a printed label survive?
It depends on the ink, the ribbon and the chemicals. That is why a test under the laundry's real conditions is more reliable than any general figure.
Do you make custom labels for workwear?
Yes. Bul-tex manufactures woven and printed labels to customer designs. Describe your laundering conditions and quantities via our contact page.
