Clothing labels and swing tags are tiny, but they're where Aussie fashion brands quietly overpay. This guide breaks down woven, printed and heat-transfer labels and swing tags, what they cost in China vs Melbourne, the Australian care labelling rules you must follow, and why your trims should ship straight to your garment factory.
Last updated: 27 September 2026
In short: Custom clothing labels and swing tags made in China typically cost 5–10 times less than the same items from a local Melbourne label printer — often 3–8 cents for a woven label versus 25–60 cents locally. The biggest win, though, isn't the unit price: if your garments are made in China or Vietnam, your labels and tags should be made near the factory and delivered straight to the production line, so they never touch Australia. Just make sure your care labels meet Australia's mandatory care labelling standard.
Melbourne has a proud rag-trade history, and plenty of brands from Collingwood to Cremorne still order labels locally out of habit. Fair enough for a first run of 200 tees. But once you're scaling, paying Melbourne prices for trims — then airfreighting them to your factory in Guangzhou — is money straight down the drain. Let's kick things off.
The classic brand label, woven from polyester thread on a loom. Damask is the most common — fine detail, soft and durable. Taffeta is cheaper and stiffer, good for care or size labels. Satin weave gives a glossy, premium feel. Fold options include straight cut, end fold, centre fold and mitre fold.
Printed onto satin, cotton, nylon or recycled polyester tape. They're cheaper than woven, great for care and composition labels, and can carry more text. Printed cotton labels suit organic and natural-fibre brands.
Printed directly onto the garment inside the neck. Comfortable, no itch, popular for activewear, underwear and kidswear. Setup is simple once your factory has the transfer.
The card tags attached with string, a plastic fastener or a seal. Usually 350–600gsm board, with options like recycled kraft, foil, embossing, spot UV, rounded corners and custom string. Your swing tag often carries your barcode and RRP too.
Size tabs, flag labels, leather or PU patches, rubber/silicone badges, printed tape and branded packaging bags. These are usually sourced by the same trims supplier.
Here are indicative 2026 price ranges in AUD per piece. Actual pricing depends on size, colours, finish and quantity.
| Item | Typical local price (1,000 pcs) | Typical China factory price | Typical China MOQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven damask brand label, ~50x15mm | $0.25–$0.60 | $0.03–$0.08 | 1,000–3,000 |
| Printed satin care label | $0.15–$0.40 | $0.01–$0.04 | 1,000–5,000 |
| Heat transfer neck print | $0.40–$1.00 | $0.05–$0.15 | 1,000 |
| Swing tag, 400gsm, 1–2 colours + string | $0.30–$0.90 | $0.05–$0.15 | 1,000 |
| Premium swing tag (foil, emboss, custom seal) | $0.80–$2.00 | $0.12–$0.35 | 1,000–3,000 |
Each garment needs a woven brand label, a printed care label and a premium swing tag. Buying locally at mid-range prices, that's about $0.45 + $0.25 + $1.20 = $1.90 per garment, or $5,700 — plus freight to send them to your overseas factory. Made by a trims supplier near the factory in Guangdong, it's closer to $0.06 + $0.02 + $0.22 = $0.30 per garment, or $900 delivered to the production line. That's roughly $4,800 back in your pocket on one drop.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, the care labelling information standard (based on AS/NZS 1957) requires clothing, household textiles, bedding and similar goods to carry permanent care instructions. They must be in English, legible, and last for the life of the product. Care symbols can be used, but written instructions are required. Getting this wrong can mean a recall, so ask your supplier to follow the Australian wording, not their US or EU template.
Fibre content labelling is largely voluntary in Australia, unlike the US and EU. But major retailers, marketplaces and customers expect it — and any composition you state must be accurate under the Australian Consumer Law.
If your product is made in China or Vietnam, don't imply "Made in Australia" or "Designed and made in Melbourne". The ACCC takes misleading origin claims seriously. "Designed in Melbourne, made in Vietnam" is fine and honest.
Not legally required, but essential for retail. Keep size labels consistent across your range and suppliers.
For the wider rules on packaging and product labelling, see our guide to packaging and labelling requirements for Australian importers.
Because every extra border crossing costs you. If your garments are cut and sewn in Guangzhou, Dongguan or Ho Chi Minh City, a trims supplier in the same region can deliver labels to the factory in days. That means no international courier fees, no customs delays holding up production, and the factory can reorder if they run short.
Guangdong's Humen and Guangzhou trims markets supply a huge share of the world's labels and swing tags, and Vietnam's garment hubs have strong local trims suppliers too. Put your label artwork and specs in your tech pack so every factory makes them exactly the same.
Vector files (AI or PDF), Pantone colour references, finished size, fold type and quantity per style. For care labels, supply the exact Australian wording.
Woven labels can't reproduce tiny text or gradients like print can. Always approve a physical sample before bulk.
Most suppliers let you split an MOQ across sizes or colourways of the same design. Ask upfront — our MOQ guide explains how to negotiate.
If you sell kidswear, activewear or "eco" ranges, ask for labels and threads with OEKO-TEX certification or recycled polyester.
Have trims delivered to your garment maker and checked during your pre-production and final inspections.
Nothing — they're the same thing. "Swing tag" is the common term in Australia and the UK, while "hang tag" is more common in the US.
Usually 1,000–3,000 pieces per design, though some suppliers go as low as 500 at a higher unit price. Because unit costs are so low, ordering 3,000 is often only a few dollars more than 1,000.
Samples typically take 3–7 days and bulk production 7–15 days. Delivered locally to a factory in China, add a day or two. Couriered to Melbourne, allow another 5–10 days.
Woven labels feel premium and last longer, so they're the go-to for brand labels. Printed labels are softer, cheaper and fit more text, which makes them ideal for care and composition labels. Most brands use both.
No. Australia requires written care instructions in English. Symbols are optional extras, which is why a label designed only for the US or EU may not be compliant here.
Epic Sourcing has sourced 20,000+ products for 300+ happy clients, and we manage garments and trims together — from tech pack to finished, labelled, tagged stock. Our bilingual teams in China and Vietnam source verified trims suppliers near your factory, check Australian care label wording, approve samples and inspect before shipping. Clients save an average of 77% compared to buying through local middlemen.
See how we manufacture clothing for Australian brands, compare options in our local vs China vs Vietnam clothing manufacturers guide, or book a free discovery call — give us a bell.
