Our iron-on labels for clothing

Discover our personalised iron-on labels for clothing (by the piece or as part of a pack). The iron-on label is a classic for marking clothing, linen or professional clothing. They can also be used on shoes, leather goods and many other items used in everyday life that are likely to be lost or left somewhere. So for some people, clothing labels are a must!

Easy to apply, all it takes is a quick ironing to attach the label... and that's it! The iron-on label is suitable for all fabric surfaces, but also for shapes and colours. For the little ones, it is possible to find mini-labels for clothes and different items (discover our iron-on label packs for children).

Unlike self-adhesive clothing labels, iron-on labels have the advantage of being machine washable and dryer proof - provided you use quality products. This makes them the ideal accessory for marking your clothes... and preventing them from getting lost!

Iron-on clothing labels: the complete guide

In the past, attaching a label to a garment was a real chore: you had to spend time making and sewing it, or finding the right place to stick it so that it would last more than a few days - often with disappointing results. That's because self-adhesive clothing labels weren't made to last very long.

But that was before. Iron-on labels have made labelling clothes easier, faster and even more fun than with stickers, as you can rely on personalised labels for your children or for yourself. This type of label offers better long-term results and is extremely resistant: you can be sure that you will keep them on your clothes, shoes and everyday objects for a very long time.

Let's find out more about labels with iron-on technology and their different uses.

What is an iron-on label?

You've heard of a garment label. It often takes the form of a rectangle of fabric sewn or glued to the textile, which can be used to give information about the garment in question or to identify its owner. It can contain the characteristics of the garment, its components, care recommendations, etc. In short, it is its "identity card" in the form of a label that you attach yourself. We are talking about self-adhesive labels, those that are applied to objects with a simple pressure, once the protective paper has been removed.

Iron-on labels are not different from self-adhesive clothing labels at first glance, as they take the same shape and serve the same purpose. However, they differ in the way they are attached: an iron-on label has a glued side that adheres to textiles through the action of heat. At home, a simple ironing is sufficient. In this way, the label blends into the fabric, can hardly be felt, and does not disturb the wearer (unlike sewn-in labels, which tend to scratch). This works for both clothing and shoes. This is why it is also called a heat seal label.

Labels using heat seal technology differ from conventional self-adhesive labels. They are not attached to the textiles themselves, but are glued to the brand or context labels. They are quick to apply, but also less resistant and less durable, and it is not uncommon to find your belongings without the personalised labels that go with them!

When are iron-on labels used?

The most common use of iron-on clothing labels is to identify clothing. They are used to indicate the name of the owner to prevent them from being lost (this is the purpose of a label with a first name), or to affix the logo of an establishment (this is the purpose, for example, of a label for bed linen in hotels or hospitals).

But more often than not, iron-on labels are used to mark the clothes of toddlers in a community. It's very simple: if your child goes to nursery or school, he can personalise his clothes so that he can easily find them among his friends' things. The same goes for group outings. It is not uncommon for one child's hat to end up in another's bag, for coats to mysteriously get lost in the school hallway, and for children to swap clothes for fun and then not be able to retrieve the right ones. Having personalised labels with the child's name on them makes things much easier.

Some schools go to great lengths to require labels with the child's name. This makes life easier for school teachers who have to ensure that pupils have the necessary materials and do not misplace their clothes, a responsibility that is added to their many duties. Iron-on labels make it easy for them to find the owner of a lost item of clothing or accessory, which, by the way, greatly relieves parents - who don't have to buy the same thing three times during the year! Identifying your little one's clothes is one of the preparatory steps for a successful start to the new school year (in a crèche or at school).

It's easy to see why schools and other children's institutions require parents to use iron-on clothing labels: this is the safest and most durable technology for ensuring that a label will stay in place. (Note that it is possible to find a dedicated pack with a set of labels for school, depending on the level of your child: label pack for kindergarten, label pack for primary school, label pack for secondary school, etc.).

Of course, iron-on labels have other advantages than just meeting the requirements of certain schools.

What are the advantages of iron-on clothing labels?

The choice of iron-on labels in this case is justified by their multiple advantages:

They are easy to apply: it only takes a few seconds with an iron, so you can apply your own labels at home in the blink of an eye. The process can even be fun if done in the presence of the children, as everyone can take care of their own name tag!
They do not irritate children's skin, unlike sewn-on labels which can be annoying in the long run and scratch the delicate skin of our little ones.
They are machine washable up to 60°C and dryer safe. Practical, when you know that children's clothes share a mysterious tendency to get dirty! So you don't have to worry about your iron-on label falling off after a few washes or dries.
On average, they last for 10 years, which means that the label will still look good when the garment has had its day.
What's more, iron-on labels can be personalised: texts, colours, illustrations, etc. It is also possible to find a pack containing multiple labels for a given situation (for school, for holidays, etc.). You can turn them into real decorative components, and make the label customisation stage a fun activity, for clothes that you will never lose again!

How do I apply an iron-on label?

Iron-on labels are attached to clothes without glue (unlike traditional stickers). The special feature of iron-on labels is that they are attached to textiles using heat, ideally between 150 and 190°C. At home, all you need to do is use an iron for your clothes labels. However, the delicacy of the process means that the following steps must be followed:

Heat up the iron and set it to the "cotton" position, making sure that there is no steam. Be careful: you must use a conventional iron, and certainly not a steam iron.
Place the iron-on label in the desired position on the garment.
Cover the label with a protective paper (or, if not available, baking paper).
Press the iron firmly onto the paper (and therefore onto the label) for 10 to 12 seconds, without moving.
Carefully lift the iron and remove the protective paper.
Check that the label is secure by stretching it slightly. If it is not, repeat the operation.
Leave for 24 hours before washing. After this time, iron-on labels can be washed at 60°C. 
These instructions also apply to a label on household linen.
 
Caution: Iron-on labels can melt if they are ironed at too high a temperature. When ironing clothes, remember to avoid them or use a protective paper. If you want to apply iron-on labels to delicate fabrics (polyester, nylon, wool...), follow these same instructions, but press the iron twice for 5 or 6 seconds on the labels (rather than once for 10 or 12 seconds).

And that's it, your label has been applied!

How do I know if my iron-on label is properly attached to the garment?

Once your label is stuck to the garment, you may wonder if it will run away at the first sudden movement. This can happen if it has not been attached at a sufficiently high temperature. It is therefore essential to test your iron-on label after it has been applied. This is especially important as some schools require the use of name tags and it would be bad form to see your child's tag disappear!

Let it cool, then take the garment in your hands and stretch it at the edges of the label: if the label comes off, even slightly, it has not been sufficiently well attached to begin with. If this is the case, reapply your iron-on label (following the instructions listed above), making sure your iron is sufficiently hot (at least 170°C, cotton or cotton/linen setting).

Ideally, you should carry out an initial test. If the label does not move afterwards, the iron is at the right temperature. You can then attach all the other iron-on labels.

Don't be afraid to wash your clothes once you've attached your iron-on labels: once they've been applied properly, they will withstand multiple washes (even at 60°C) without coming off. So you have nothing to fear for your iron-on labels. However, it is recommended that you wait 24 hours after applying the labels before washing them for the first time.

How do I remove iron-on labels from clothing?

Do you want to remove an iron-on label from a garment? It is true that children grow up quickly and never wear their clothes for very long. However, once an item of clothing is no longer in use, you may want to keep it for the youngest child (when he or she reaches the right age), give it to a friend or even sell it. It is then necessary to remove the name tag. The same is true of the various products and objects that can be marked with labels, in addition to clothing: school equipment, meal containers, etc. (There are also label packs that can be adapted to all situations and needs).

Except that iron-on labels are not easy to remove. This is precisely what makes them durable and qualitative, much more so than self-adhesive labels! So it's no easy task. Moreover, depending on the fabric of the garment to which the label has been applied, it is impossible to guarantee that it will be removed effectively.

However, here is a method for removing iron-on labels:

Cut a piece of aluminium foil large enough to cover the entire label you wish to remove.
Plug in your iron and heat it to 150°C (wool setting).
Place the foil over the label and position the iron over it, holding the pressure for about 30 seconds.
Carefully remove the foil: the label should come with it. If not, peel the label off gently by lifting the edges with tweezers.
If the first attempt did not work, repeat the process until your iron-on label has softened sufficiently. That's it: you can stick other labels on the clothes, replace them with stickers, or just give away/sell the stuff without their labels.

Alternatively, you can leave your iron-on labels on the clothes and cover them with new labels - they are thin enough that it doesn't look bad.

Take your pick from our labels, or opt for a label pack to suit your needs, and start personalising your clothes and other belongings right away!