A hang tag is the small piece of card or paper attached to a garment with string or a plastic loop. Unlike a wash care label, it carries marketing weight: brand name, story, price, sustainability claims, anti-counterfeit codes. A well-designed hang tag can lift sell-through in physical retail by a measurable margin. Here is a practical playbook.
Information hierarchy: what to put where
- Front, top: brand logo at maximum legible size.
- Front, middle: product name, style number, size + colour.
- Front, bottom: price (with multi-currency block if cross-border).
- Back, top: short brand story or sustainability claim (1–2 sentences).
- Back, middle: care symbol summary (so the consumer doesn't have to look inside).
- Back, bottom: barcode, anti-counterfeit QR code, RN number / company info.
Sizes and shapes
- Standard rectangle: 50 × 80 mm or 60 × 100 mm — fits any garment.
- Square: 70 × 70 mm — great for premium / minimalist brands.
- Folded: 60 × 120 mm folded to 60 × 60 — gives 4 print sides for storytelling.
- Die-cut: branded shape (e.g. a leaf for eco line). Adds 30% printing cost but boosts perceived value.
Paper stock that buyers notice
- 300 gsm uncoated cardstock — the modern minimalist default; takes ink beautifully.
- 350 gsm coated art board — best for full-colour photography.
- Kraft brown 300 gsm — for sustainable / outdoor brands.
- Recycled paper with FSC mark — required by many EU sustainability programmes.
Print finishes that move sell-through
- Spot UV on the logo — adds shine, no extra colour cost. Often the highest ROI finish.
- Foil stamping (gold / silver / rose gold) — premium feel, used on luxury brands.
- Letterpress or deboss — tactile, popular with indie streetwear.
- Edge painting — coloured edges on the cardstock; adds 15% cost but instantly signals premium.
Anti-counterfeit and traceability
- QR code linking to your brand verification page is the cheapest and most effective method.
- Holographic stickers on the back add visual deterrent at low cost.
- RFID hang tags (as used by Decathlon and Inditex) enable inventory and anti-counterfeit at scale, but require investment in readers.
Treat the hang tag as a packaging design problem, not a labelling chore. It's the only printed surface the customer sees before they decide to buy.