Help & Learning Centre
Understanding legal label requirements
We supply mainly New Zealand and Australian customers with labels. For other countries, please refer to your local government websites for any regulations.
There are several things you need to have on your labels:
- Brand
- Size
- Fibre content
- Care information
- Country of origin
Specific details about what is required can be found in the list of links below. Due to copyright of the standards, we cannot go into any more specifics of what is required.
The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2392:1999 specifies the content and placement of labels on clothing, household textiles and furnishings manufactured in these countries.
The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1957:1998 outlines care information, care phrases and their meanings and lists what items the regulations do and do not apply to.
The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NSZ 2450:1994 specifies the generic names of man-made and natural fibres. The fibre content of your items needs to be listed using the generic fibre names only and not brand names such as Lycra and Bemberg - which are trademark names.
The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2622:1996 specifies how the fibre content information should be written, tolerable allowances for error and what items are exempt from permanent label requirements.
The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2621:1998 specifies guidelines to assist manufacturers in the selection of appropriate care labelling instructions from AS/NZS 1957 and specifies basic performance requirements and test methods for colourfastness and dimensional stability which may be used to determine whether an article complies with those requirements when cleaned in accordance with the instructions on the label.
The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1249:2014 specifies labelling requirements for children's nightwear garments, together with some daywear/underwear items that may be commonly used as nightwear.
The Australian Standard AS 1182:1997 specifies the size coding scheme for infants' and children's clothing. This is relevant to anyone who supplies clothing to the Australian market.
The New Zealand Commerce Commission also have some free PDF fact sheets you may like to look at available of the links below.
What types of fabric labels are available from Labels by Shelley Ltd?
View the material guideUnfortunately our cotton label printer is out of action. We are working with an offshore manufacture to supply a very similar product to what we had been producing in house. Contact us for a quote of cotton labels.
We work with an offshore supplier to supply woven labels. Like cotton labels, it is our understanding that no businesses in New Zealand make this type of label in New Zealand. You will find other suppliers like us also import these labels. There are some suppliers who make embroidered patches locally, these are a different product and we do not supply embroidered labels.
Our supplier produces high quality damask or satin woven labels. Damask is the popular low sheen choice. We liase with them from start to finish to ensure you get your labels without any language barrier issues or quality problems that you may expect when dealing with an overseas manufacturer yourself.
Please email any enquiries for a quote to hello@labelsbyshelley.com or fill in a woven label quotation request here.
More info about ordering woven labels:
When you place an order for custom woven labels we send you artwork for approval which shows your logo, the dimensions, the colour and the layout of the label. It is important you approve this and are 100% happy as the design is then set up in the machines for weaving. Your order must then be paid for before proceeding.
If you opt to pay with Afterpay, let us know and we can send you a link to purchase your order online.
The factory then start the set up and run off some labels and I'll send you an email with photos for approval of the colour and quality. Samples take up to 5 working days. It's appreciated if you keep an eye on your emails and try not to take too long to approve. If we can keep making the labels as soon as possible, it helps not having to take the set up off the loom so other orders can go ahead.
If you do not like the colour or quality of the label or find there appears to be imperfections, we can then adjust the label set up and continue. Sometimes a second sample will be made, or if the changes are minor (e.g. change background from white to light grey), we then proceed to production.
Production takes around 2 weeks. The labels go through machines for pressing/folding and quality control, manual packing and sorting etc. The orders slot in with a busy factory, so please do not expect the labels to be completed just days after you approve your sample.
The labels are then shipped to us in our Auckland office. We do a quality control here and then pack and send out your order to you.
If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Uploading files for printing
An editable PDF (saved from a vector file) is best. We work with Illustrator. Also, please convert all text to outlines/shapes so that we do not need to download any font files to open your logo file.
If you do not have vectors, then a .jpg/.jpeg or .png is also fine, you will be emailed a sample photo and if the quality is not great because of the file, this will be picked up before printing the lot.
If you are unsure, send what you have and we will let you know if it is not suitable.
Your logo may not be the optimal contrast or format for printing in a single colour. For best results, we can edit the logo and send it through to you if you require. The surcharge is just $8.
Other common questions
The following payment methods are available:
We usually print out a sample of your custom clothing labels for approval before printing the lot.
The following items are not sampled, a screenshot will be emailed for approval instead:
- cotton labels
- polyester tape labels
- iron on labels (custom design)
- circle stickers
Items printed without approval straight from the order:
- name labels
- iron-on name labels
- size labels
- standard format care labels (purchased with the default code)
Samples are usually done within 1 week of ordering. Orders are not always processed in the order they are received due to batch processing of orders on the same label tapes. If you order a label on black satin, sometimes this can take a little longer to process due to the white label being a more popular choice.
There is no need to worry about it if you would like the layout edited. Just reply to the email with your sample photo and let us know what you need changed. Changes are free unless they involve a change in the length of material or a change in ink colour or printing process. Such changes can be invoiced out if you are interested to make these changes.
Please make sure you browse the site and view plenty of pictures of the products before you order. If you are particular about layout, please don't hesitate to reply to your order confirmation with added diagrams or files explaining the look you require. If there is a particular label you like the layout of, send us a photo.
Due to the set-up time involved, if you simply change your mind after purchasing and sampling, we can only offer a 60% refund.
Black on white or white/gold on black labels:
- We aim to work within a 10 day turnaround on locally printed products.
- Delivery 1-3 days NZ | approximately 3 days DHL to Australia | rest of world 5-15 business days delivery
How quickly orders move through depends on how busy it is when you order. Please allow up to 10 days for order processing of printed labels and send us an email before you place an urgent order so we can advise if it is possible.
Orders are batch processed with other orders of the same material type. Sometimes your order may move quickly through if there are a lot of others of the same type being printed. Some label types are less common and therefore need to wait their turn (until all orders received beforehand have been processed).
Colour printed labels:
- Up to 2 days to receive a digital proof
- Up to 8 working days to print once digital proof is approved
- Delivery 1-3 days NZ | approximately 3 days DHL to Australia | rest of world 5-15 business days delivery
Coloured labels are not sampled but a digital proof of the layout is sent instead. These are not able to be printed one at a time and therefore sampling is not possible. The manual labour involved in printing coloured labels is much more than black and white labels and therefore we allow extra time so that if it is a busy week the labels can be processed over a few days.
Woven labels:
- Up to 1 week after the order is paid to receive a sample
- Up to 3.5 weeks after the sample is approved to receive your order (+ 3 working days for Australia)
We cannot process urgent woven label orders. We work with a busy factory and the labels will slot into the production schedule. Sometimes labels are delivered within 3 weeks, but 4 weeks is average.
Sticker labels:
- Up to 2 days to receive a digital proof
- Up to 2 days to dispatch after sample is approved
- Delivery 1-3 days NZ | approximately 3 days DHL to Australia | rest of world 5-15 business days delivery
A selection of fonts are available (see below). If you do not specify any fonts we will use what fits best and is clearest to read.
Sometimes when you specify a font, the characters will not fit on the label well which is why you should only specify fonts when you absolutely need them to be different - for brand names especially.
Font should be no smaller than 2mm high and sometimes that may mean care instructions need to be capitalised so all characters are legible.
Some of our favourite fonts are:
Pathway Gothic One for care information and country of origin - this one prints so nice and clear and fits a lot on because it is a medium width font. Text in this font usually needs to be at least 7pt to be legible. This is a great font to use in upper case for the care information.
Glacial Indifference or Century Gothic for fibre content and when there is less care information to fit. This is a lovely clear easy to read sans-serif font.
You can send us a link to a free font online or email a font file. Please ensure the licence allows the font to be printed on labels (it may specify it can be used for t-shirt printing which means it's ok).
We have printed continuous ribbon for gift wrapping for some of our clients. Please get in touch for a quote.
Label types & ways to attach them
A label is not just a label. The different types of label types affects the layout/positioning of the logo and other information printed on the label. Ordering the right kind of label and telling us the correct seam allowances will mean that the labels arrive to you fit for purpose. We don't always know the end use, so we reply on customers choosing the layout and orientation correctly when ordering.
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ENDFOLD LABEL SEWN EACH END
Shop endfold labelsEndfold labels are designed with extra fold back allowance each end. Between 5-10mm each end can be folded under and then the labels are sewn down the folded edges.
Suitaable materials: satin, soft twill, polyester/cotton or pure cotton.
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ENDFOLD LABEL HAND TACKED EACH END TO KNITTED ITEM
Shop endfold labelsStraight cut labels are hot cut and non fraying and they are sewn on flat. This example is edge stitched down the left and right sides only.
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STRAIGHT CUT LABEL SEWN ALL AROUND
Shop sew-on-flat labelsStraight cut labels are hot cut and non fraying and they are sewn on flat. This example is edge stitched the whole way around.
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STRAIGHT CUT LABEL SEWN EACH END
Shop sew-on-flat labelsThis type of label is hot cut and non fraying. It is attached the same way as an endfold but there is less bulk each end because no edges are folded under. Due to the lack of folding, this is a quick and easy label to attach.
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STRAIGHT CUT LABEL HAND TACKED TO KNITTED ITEM
Shop sew-on-flat labelsThis type of label is hot cut and non fraying, the label can be hand tacked each corner or down any of the edges to a knitted item.
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STRAIGHT CUT LABEL SEWN ALL THE WAY AROUND
Shop sew-on-flat labelsThis type of label is hot cut and non fraying, the label is attached like a patch by sewing the whole way around the edge.
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HOT CUT HEM LABEL HAND TACKED TO KNITTED HEM
Shop single fold hem labelsThis type of label can be hand sewn to a finished knitted garment. Each end of the label is hot cut and then the whole label folds in half. This type of label is quicker to attach and less bulky than a bookfold/trifold label.
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HOT CUT HEM LABEL SEWN TO A HEM
Shop single fold hem labelsThis type of label can be sewn to a finished garment. Each end of the label is hot cut and then the whole label folds in half. This type of label is quicker to attach and less bulky than a bookfold/trifold label.
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BOOKCOVER/TRIFOLD HEM LABELS HAND TACKED TO KNITTED LABELS
Shop trifold hem labelsThis type of label can be sewn to a finished garment. Each end of the label folds back and then the whole label folds in half. Some materials that fray readily may need to be hot cut to avoid the turned under ends to fraying during washing and wearing.
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BOOKCOVER/TRIFOLD HEM LABELS SEWN TO T-SHIRT HEM
This type of label can be sewn to a finished garment. Each end of the label folds back and then the whole label folds in half. Some materials that fray readily may need to be hot cut to avoid the turned under ends to fraying during washing and wearing.
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HOT CUT LOOPFOLD/CENTREFOLD LABEL
Shop loopfold/centrefold labelsSuitable for relabelling premade garments, this type of label has hot cut/sealed ends and loops in half or is folded in half and the very ends are stitched onto the garment approximately 2mm from the cut ends.
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MANHATTAN FOLD LABEL SEWN TO BACK NECK
Shop loopfold/centrefold labelsThis type of label is suitable for relabelling pre-made garments. The top of the label is folded down and the underside of the loop is caught into the stitching. This label has 12mm seam allowance one end and 5mm seam allowance the other end. Request manhattan seam allowances on your order.
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LOOPFOLD/CENTREFOLD LABELS TACKED TO SEAM ALLOWANCE
Shop loopfold/centrefold labelsThis type of label can be sewn to a premade garment and is commonly seen when care instruction labels need to be added to a finished item. The labels need a 5mm seam allowance and are best made with hot cut ends or non-fraying polyester tape.
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LOOPFOLD/CENTREFOLD LABELS SEWN INTO THE OVERLOCKED SEAM
Shop loopfold/centrefold labelsThis type of label is overlocked together with the fabric and the ends of the label are protected inside the overlocked edge. The labels need a 7mm seam allowance.
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LOOPFOLD/CENTREFOLD LABEL SEWN INTO SIDE SEAM
Shop loopfold/centrefold labelsThis type of label is the same as the previous example except it has 10mm seam allowance. The label is placed onto the material prior to overlocking the seam and is then also caught in the row of straight stitching as well.
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HOT CUT SINGLE LAYER LABEL TACKED TO SEAM ALLOWANCE
Shop single layer labelsThis type of label can be sewn to a premade garment and is commonly seen when care instruction labels need to be added to a finished item. The labels need a 5mm seam allowance and must either be hot cut or non-fraying polyester tape. You can select the loopfold/centrefold labels in the collection below and choose the single layer option on the product for us to create the label like this for you.
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SMALL SIDESEAM LABELS
Shop small folded labelsThis type of label is sewn into the seam poking out towards the outside of the garment when worn. The label either has 7 or 10mm seam allowance and is folded or looped in half. To create a small loop usually this type of label uses less than 44mm of material length per label including seam allowances.
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SIDEWAYS LOOPFOLD
Shop loopfold/centrefold labelsThis type of label is sewn into the seam poking out towards the outside of the garment when worn. The label either has 7 or 10mm seam allowance and is folded or looped in half. A common finished sewn in size for this type of label is 15x15mm which usually has an unfolded length of 44-50mm including seam allowances.
