Clothing brand packaging does not start with the box your customer receives; it starts with the garment itself. The neck label, the hang tag and string, the bag, tissue paper, sticker, ribbon and insert card form a sequence the customer experiences in about a minute. For a small brand selling online, this is often the only physical contact with the customer, and a chance to turn an order into a social media post. Here is a complete checklist, working from the garment outward, with ideas for three budget tiers.
Checklist: from the garment outward
1. Labels on the garment
- ☐ Main logo label: woven jacquard, satin or printed canvas. The first thing customers see when they turn the garment over.
- ☐ Size label: separate or built into the main label.
- ☐ Composition and care label: mandatory under Regulation (EU) 1007/2011, with ISO 3758 care symbols.
- ☐ Extra branded detail (optional): a metal badge, logo elastic or zip puller.
Browse our labels: jacquard, satin, printed and metal.
2. Hang tag
- ☐ 300–450 gsm board with your logo on one side and price, size and barcode on the other.
- ☐ An attachment: cotton string, ribbon or a plastic tag pin. String and ribbon feel more premium.
- ☐ An extra leaf with your brand story or care tips (optional).
Hang tags are made to each brand's design, so get in touch for those. Our range also includes ready strings for hang tags.
3. Folding and protection
- ☐ A clear or frosted garment bag to keep out dust and moisture.
- ☐ Tissue paper: white, coloured or printed with your logo.
- ☐ A shaping board for shirts and knitwear (optional).
4. Closure
- ☐ A logo sticker to seal the tissue.
- ☐ Or a ribbon: satin or grosgrain, plain or with your logo.
Satin or grosgrain ribbon in your brand colour is an easy way to step up without any printing. See the ribbons in our range.
5. Inserts
- ☐ A thank-you card, hand-signed while volumes are small.
- ☐ A care and returns card.
- ☐ A discount code for the next purchase.
- ☐ A sample or small gift (optional).
6. Outer packaging
- ☐ A mailer bag (recycled paper or plastic) or a box.
- ☐ A logo sticker or print on the box.
- ☐ Void fill only if needed; less empty space is greener and cheaper to ship.
Black herringbone cotton tape HR0017
Green herringbone cotton tape HR0009
Jacquard woven label LBL 0054 8 x 5.5 cm – pink with yellow letters, soft premium design, with logoBudget tiers
| Tier | What it includes | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Main label, care label, hang tag with string, white tissue, logo sticker, plain mailer | The first 100–300 orders |
| Growth | + coloured or logo tissue, ribbon in brand colour, thank-you card, box for selected products | Brands with steady sales |
| Premium | + branded box, logo ribbon, metal badge or logo elastic on the garment, printed box interior | High-end and gift products |
What gives the most impact per euro
Not every element is equally valuable. In the experience of online retailers, these deliver the most for the least:
- Tissue paper. Relatively cheap, yet it turns unboxing into an experience. The customer unwraps rather than simply pulls out a garment.
- A logo sticker. A few cents per unit, and it brands everything it seals: tissue, bag or box.
- The main label. It stays in the garment for years, the only part of the packaging the customer wears every day.
- A handwritten card. Almost free at small volumes and often the reason for a repeat order.
Tip: a branded box is the most expensive element and often goes straight into the bin. For a small brand it makes more sense to invest in the label and tissue, and keep the box simple with a sticker.
Packaging as a share of cost
Industry estimates put branded trims and packaging at around 1–3% of garment cost for mid-market brands. On small runs the share is higher because minimum quantities spread over fewer units. So choose elements that work across every product (one main label, one hang tag, one sticker) to reach better quantities.
The most common packaging mistakes
- Too many elements. Five different cards, three stickers and confetti look chaotic. Two or three well-chosen elements look more premium.
- Clashing colours. Ribbon, sticker and tissue should share one palette with the label and logo.
- A box bigger than the product. You pay to ship air, and the garment creases as it moves around.
- A missing composition label. Beautiful packaging does not make up for missing mandatory information.
- A different hang tag for every style. One universal design with space for size and price is cheaper and easier to manage.
- An unreadable barcode. A dark background or foil over the barcode stops it scanning at the till.
Sustainability and regulation
The EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) puts the emphasis on cutting excess packaging and improving recyclability. For a small brand, the practical steps are paper and board instead of plastic where possible, mono-material bags, no unnecessary void fill and a box sized to the product. Customers increasingly notice exactly this.
FAQ
Do I need a box if I sell T-shirts?
Not necessarily. A paper mailer with tissue and a sticker is perfectly adequate and cheaper to ship.
Which elements are legally required?
Only the composition label. Everything else is the brand's choice.
When should I order branded elements?
Before producing your first run: the main label must be with your sewing unit when sewing begins.
Bul-tex manufactures and supplies labels, ribbons and trims for brands. For branded elements made to your design, contact us. Find more on branding in the Labels section.
