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Short answer: for a retail brand, a woven label at the hem is the standard. For a hotel, embroidery or a woven-in logo shows ownership. Printed labels are the low-cost option for care instructions. Many products carry two: a brand mark and a separate care label.
Side by side
| Woven label | Printed label | Embroidery | Logo woven into the towel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Crisp, premium | Flat, simple | Raised, prominent | Subtle, part of the fabric |
| Wash-life | Outlasts the towel | Fades over many hot washes | Very good with the right thread | Lasts as long as the towel |
| Feel on skin | Can be stiff at the edges | Softest | Stiffer behind the stitching | No difference |
| Cost per piece | Low | Lowest | Highest of the sewn options | Low per piece at volume |
| Setup | Label loom setup | Print screen or digital file | Stitch file | Loom setup for the design |
| Minimum quantity | In the thousands of labels | Lower | By the piece, after setup | A full production run |
| Best for | Retail brands | Care labels, budget lines | Hotels, robes, gifts | Hotel programmes, large brands |
Woven labels
Threads are woven to form your name or logo. They read clearly at small sizes and survive anything the towel survives. Choose a soft-edge or folded label so it does not scratch. Labels are made in bulk, so a small first order leaves you with spare labels for the next.
Printed labels
Ink on satin or cotton tape. Good for care instructions and fibre content, where a lot of small text must fit. On a hotel towel washed hot every day, print fades over time, so use woven or heat-resistant print for anything that must stay legible.
Embroidery
Thread stitched onto the finished towel or robe. It is the mark guests notice. Fine detail does not hold on terry: keep letters at least 8 to 10 mm high. Ask for thread rated for your wash temperature and bleach. For Arabic and two-language logos, see what to send your supplier.
Logo woven into the towel
The name is formed in the border or the pile during weaving. It cannot come off and costs little per piece. It needs a full production run and suits a spec you will reorder for years.
Which to choose
| You are | Use |
|---|---|
| A new retail brand | Woven brand label plus printed care label |
| A boutique hotel | Embroidered logo on robes and bath towels, plain hand towels |
| A hotel group | Woven-in logo on towels, embroidery on robes |
| A linen-hire company | A woven tag or coloured thread for ownership, no hotel branding |
| A gym or spa | Embroidery or a woven border in the brand colour |
Placement
- Hem label: centred on one short hem, or at a corner.
- Hanging loop: a loop label doubles as a hook loop on hand and bath towels.
- Embroidery: centred above one hem on towels, left chest on robes.
Show the position on a sketch with measurements from the edges.
Artwork
Send vector files with text outlined, colour references and the finished size. Approve a photo of the made label or stitched sample before production. Custom labels must be ready before stitching starts, so they set the pace of the order.
Order sizes
Custom labels, packaging and embroidery start at 2,000 pieces per SKU for towels. For bed linen and white robes, private label is possible at 50 pieces per size if you supply your own labels.
See the textile label guide and our customisation page. To price the options on your product, send us your logo.
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Written by
Dr Abin Babu
Founder & Chairman, Anabyn Global Ventures
Anabyn exports hotel and home linen from Kerala, India. These guides come from the questions buyers ask our desk. About the team
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