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Blog – sewing tips and haberdashery guides

Practical guides to buttons, zippers, elastics, labels, ribbons and all sewing accessories – sizes, types and how to attach them.

High-Definition (HD) Woven Labels: When Are They Worth It? High-Definition (HD) Woven Labels: When Are They Worth It? High definition woven labels solve a familiar problem: your logo looks perfect on screen, but once woven into a small label it... Read more → Kids' Clothing Size Labels: Age vs Height (62, 68, 74…) Kids' Clothing Size Labels: Age vs Height (62, 68, 74…) Baby clothing sizes like 62 and 68 on the label puzzle many parents, and plenty of new childrenswear brands too. Read more → Size Labels for Clothing: Types, Materials and the EN 13402 Standard Size Labels for Clothing: Types, Materials and the EN 13402 Standard Size labels for clothing are the smallest labels in a garment, yet the ones people look at most. Read more → How to Choose the Right Care Instructions for Your Own Garment How to Choose the Right Care Instructions for Your Own Garment Working out how to determine care instructions for a garment is not a matter of guesswork, and you should never copy the... Read more → ISO 3758:2023: What Changed in Care Label Symbols ISO 3758:2023: What Changed in Care Label Symbols The ISO 3758 care labelling standard has a new edition: ISO 3758:2023 changes published on 6 December 2023 replace the 2012 version. Read more → Selling Clothes Online: Composition Info Required Before Purchase Selling Clothes Online: Composition Info Required Before Purchase If you sell clothing online in the EU, the composition requirement for your online clothing store is not optional: shoppers must be... Read more → Corozo Button Colours: Dyeing, Marbled Effect and Matching to Fabric Corozo Button Colours: Dyeing, Marbled Effect and Matching to Fabric Corozo button colors are a favourite of brands that want a natural material but do not want to stop at beige and... Read more → Are Shell Buttons Sustainable? Trochus Harvesting, Quotas and Responsible Sourcing Are Shell Buttons Sustainable? Trochus Harvesting, Quotas and Responsible Sourcing Are shell buttons sustainable? The question sounds easy: mother-of-pearl is a natural, biodegradable, plastic-free material. Read more → How Mother-of-Pearl Buttons Are Made: From Shell to Finished Button How Mother-of-Pearl Buttons Are Made: From Shell to Finished Button How are shell buttons made? Making mother-of-pearl buttons is one of the few trim processes that still relies heavily on hands-on control. Read more → Labels on a Roll: How to Cut and Fold Them Yourself in the Workshop Labels on a Roll: How to Cut and Fold Them Yourself in the Workshop Knowing how to cut labels from a roll saves ateliers and small brands money: the unit price is often lower because the... Read more → Tagless Labels: Heat Transfer Printing Instead of Sewn Labels – Pros and Cons Tagless Labels: Heat Transfer Printing Instead of Sewn Labels – Pros and Cons Tagless labels made with heat transfer printing have become the norm for underwear, sports tees and babywear. Read more → Relabeling Blank T-Shirts: How to Replace Neck Labels for Merch Brands Relabeling Blank T-Shirts: How to Replace Neck Labels for Merch Brands Relabeling blank t-shirts is the fastest way for a merch project or a small brand to look like a "real" label without... Read more → Clothing Label Glossary: 40 Terms Every Designer Should Know Clothing Label Glossary: 40 Terms Every Designer Should Know This clothing label glossary exists because label manufacturing has its own language. Read more → Do Tailors Need Labels on Made-to-Measure Clothing? EU Rules Explained Do Tailors Need Labels on Made-to-Measure Clothing? EU Rules Explained Is a tailor-made garment label a legal requirement when a tailor or atelier makes a garment to one client's measurements? The short... Read more → Woven Patch vs Woven Label vs Embroidered Patch: Differences and How to Choose Woven Patch vs Woven Label vs Embroidered Patch: Differences and How to Choose Woven patch vs embroidered patch vs woven label: the three get mixed up constantly, because all of them carry a brand logo... Read more → Labels for Hats, Beanies and Accessories: Small Size, Big Brand Impact Labels for Hats, Beanies and Accessories: Small Size, Big Brand Impact Labels for hats, beanies and accessories are the smallest pieces of branding you will ever order, yet they are often the most... Read more → How to Stop Ribbon From Fraying: 5 Methods That Actually Work How to Stop Ribbon From Fraying: 5 Methods That Actually Work Knowing how to stop ribbon fraying makes the difference between packaging or a garment that looks polished and one that looks careless. Read more → Custom Printed Ribbon for Packaging: How to Brand Your Products Custom Printed Ribbon for Packaging: How to Brand Your Products Custom printed ribbon is one of the cheapest ways to make your packaging look like it comes from a big brand. Read more → Shirring Elastic: How to Shirr Fabric on a Sewing Machine Step by Step Shirring Elastic: How to Shirr Fabric on a Sewing Machine Step by Step Shirring elastic is the secret behind gathered summer dresses, smocked tops and children's dresses with stretchy bodices. Read more → Swimwear Elastic: Which Elastic Survives Chlorine and Salt Water Swimwear Elastic: Which Elastic Survives Chlorine and Salt Water Swimwear elastic is one of the few trims that works in a genuinely hostile environment: chlorinated water, salt, sun, sunscreen and sand. Read more → Underwear Elastic: The Right Types for Boxers, Briefs and Panties Underwear Elastic: The Right Types for Boxers, Briefs and Panties Underwear elastic is the detail that decides whether boxers, briefs or panties feel comfortable all day, or dig in, roll over and... Read more → Custom Logo Waistband Elastic: How to Order Jacquard Elastic for Your Brand Custom Logo Waistband Elastic: How to Order Jacquard Elastic for Your Brand Custom logo waistband elastic is probably the most visible branding detail in underwear and activewear. Read more → Rubber vs Spandex Elastic: Differences, Durability and Washing Care Rubber vs Spandex Elastic: Differences, Durability and Washing Care Rubber vs spandex elastic sounds like a technical question, but the answer decides whether a waistband, a pair of briefs or a... Read more → How Is Elastic Made? Weaving, Knitting and Braiding Explained Step by Step How Is Elastic Made? Weaving, Knitting and Braiding Explained Step by Step How is elastic made? From the outside it looks simple, just a tape that stretches, but behind it sits a chain of... Read more →