QR codes on clothing tags and labels
A swing tag has room for a price and a logo, not a story. A QR code on the tag or the care label opens everything else: fit, fabric, care and the rest of the collection.
Where QR codes help
Size and fit guide
Link the swing tag to a size chart and fit notes, so customers in the shop and at home pick the right size.
Make a Link QR code →Care instructions
Put a code on the sewn-in label that opens full care advice, long after the swing tag is gone.
Make a Link QR code →Materials and origin
Show where the fabric comes from and how the garment was made. A hosted PDF works for a lookbook or material sheet.
Make a PDF QR code →Follow the brand
Small labels and makers grow through Instagram. A tag code turns a buyer into a follower.
Make a Instagram QR code →Reviews and photos
Ask for a review with a photo a few weeks after purchase.
Make a Google Reviews QR code →Retail barcode
Shops still need an EAN-13 or UPC-A barcode on the tag for the till; print it beside the QR code.
Example: a small knitwear label
Every swing tag carries two codes: the EAN-13 barcode the stockists need at checkout, and a QR code captioned 'Fit, care and the story of this yarn'. The QR code is dynamic, one per style, so the label can update care advice and add new colourways without reprinting tags.
The woven care label inside has a small static code that opens the care page. It is printed at 1.5 cm and survives washing because it is woven in high contrast, dark on light.
Get it right first time
- Print tag codes at least 1.5 cm wide; tags are read from about 15 cm.
- Use one dynamic code per style so you can compare scans and update pages.
- For sewn-in labels, test a washed sample before ordering thousands.
- Keep the QR code and the retail barcode apart so the till scanner picks the right one.
Add a QR code to your clothing tags
- Build the page first. A mobile page with size guide, care and materials for each style. A hosted PDF or your shop's product page both work.
- Make one dynamic code per style. Name each one by style and colour so the dashboard shows which pieces get scanned.
- Add the retail barcode. Make the EAN-13 or UPC-A from your GS1 number and place it on the same tag, at least 1 cm away from the QR code.
- Design for the tag size. Dark modules on a light background, a caption such as 'Fit and care', and at least 1.5 cm wide.
- Order a proof. Scan the printed tag, and for woven or printed care labels, scan one after a wash at the label's stated temperature.
Questions people ask
Clothing tags & labels
Will a QR code on a care label survive washing?
Printed and woven labels with high contrast usually do. Test a washed sample first, keep the code simple (a short dynamic link) and use error correction level H.
Do I still need a barcode on clothing tags?
Yes, if you sell through shops that scan at the till. They need a GS1 barcode such as EAN-13 or UPC-A. The QR code is for customers.
How small can a QR code on a label be?
About 1.5 cm for a short link scanned from 15 cm. Use a dynamic code: it holds a short link, so the pattern stays simple at small sizes.
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