Printed Satin Labels.

The design is printed onto satin ribbon instead of being woven from thread, so colour is unlimited and photographic detail is possible. The trade-off is wear. Ink sits on the ribbon surface and fades with repeated washing, whereas a woven design lasts as long as the fabric.

For accessories, homeware and gift ribbon that are rarely washed, printed satin is the better value. For workwear and childrenswear, weigh the wash life first.

Yes, print on ribbon gradually fades and can crack with repeated washing, and we'd rather say so at the quote stage. How fast depends on the print method and how often the garment is laundered. A realistic wash life belongs on the spec, because a label sold as permanent tends to fail by the third cycle.

Dye sublimation lasts longest, since the dye bonds into the polyester fibre instead of sitting on top.

Dye sublimation is the method to use wherever wash life matters, because the dye goes into the fibre. Thermal transfer lays ink on the surface, which is acceptable for goods that are rarely washed. Sublimation needs a sublimation-grade polyester ribbon to work.

We'd specify sublimation for anything laundered weekly, and thermal transfer for gift ribbon and accessories where cost matters more than wash cycles.

Pick the ribbon by register: satin is glossy and elegant, cotton tape is matte and natural, and polyester twill is a hard-wearing matte. Satin is the classic choice for fashion and lingerie. Cotton tape suits organic and natural brands.

Twill copes best with rough handling and sits closest to workwear. Any of the three can be given soft edges for comfort against skin.

Printed satin is softer against skin than a dense damask weave, which is why it's used in babywear, underwear and sleepwear. Soft-edge finishing removes the scratchy corners that make people cut labels out. Heat-cut edges seal the ribbon so it doesn't fray.

For these garments we can print the reverse face as well, so a single label carries the brand on one side and the care information on the other.

Common sizes are 1 × 2 in and 1.5 × 3 in, printed on satin ribbon and cut to length. The ribbon width sets one dimension and the cut length sets the other. Centre-fold and end-fold labels need extra length for the fold, so tell us the size of the face you want showing.

We'll add the fold allowance and mark it on the proof.

We print satin labels from 500 pieces upward, per design. A single design can run as high as 100,000. Extra sizes or a care version are priced alongside it in one quote.

Because there's no loom set-up, changing the artwork between seasons is simpler than with woven labels, and small reorders stay practical.

Expect 7 to 10 business days from artwork approval to a finished run. If a production line is waiting, a rush takes 5 to 7 business days. A printed sample takes 5 to 7 business days, and it's worth washing a few times at home before you approve bulk.

Its fee is credited against the production order.