Heat transfer labels are also known as tag-less or iron on labels. They use a combination of heat and pressure to imprint the label design onto the garment. At first glance they might simply appear as the cheap and quick alternative to custom woven or printed labels but in reality they have their niche market in the custom clothing label industry and they are not solely choosen for their lower costs.

Heat transfer labels are most commonly applied on textile products that are going to be in direct contact with the skin, especially underwear and sportswear garments. Other types of custom labels can cause itching or even skin irritation if used regularly for high-performance workouts. However thanks to heat transfer technology, the clothing is “free” from labels and “tagless” because the product information is imprinted on the garment. No hassle for the skin and less weight for the athlete to carry around.

Open your closet and check out your Adidas/Nike/Under Armour shirt to see whether they use tagless labels. You will find out that most of them do!

TYPES OF HEAT TRANSFER LABELS

Contrary to what many people think, Heat transfer labels are very durable and can withstand dozens of wash/dry cycles without fading and bleeding. They are also easily applied on the garment of your choice since a simple household iron will be do the job in most cases. For specialty transfers, high volume orders and faster processing, a commercial heat press is usually recommended. 

Not all heat transfer labels are made the same; depending on the ink used or the "finishing touches" you can choose among the following types:

1. Matte heat transfer labels, 
2. Glossy heat transfer labels, 
3. Metallic heat transfer labels, 
4. Glitter heat transfer labels,  
5. Iridescent heat transfer labels, 
6. Fluorescent heat transfer labels.

At Labeloom most of our clients request Matte or Glossy heat transfer labels but we are also able to produce all the alternative listed above. We can make heat transfer labels with any colour of your choice bright or dark.

POPULAR SIZE OPTIONS FOR HEAT TRANSFER LABELS

Let us start by saying that there is no standard heat transfer label size that would fit different types of clothes. It's always up to you to decide the dimension and the level of customization of your labels.

Nevertheless, throughout the years we have worked with several brands around the World and some common patterns could be extrapolated. Once again, keep in mind that the numbers below are for your reference only and are not a "must".

By category, the most common sizes are:

• - Athletic wear:  5cm x 5cm and 4cm x 6cm
• - Baby wear: 3cm x 3cm 
• - Lingerie: 3cm x 4cm
• - Swimsuits: 3cm x 3cm or 2.5cm x 5cm