Clothing relabelling means adding or replacing a garment's brand label so it carries your own branding. A relabelling service may remove an existing label, sew in a new one and prepare the garment for sale, depending on the work you agree.
It can be useful for clothing brands, merchandise businesses and workwear decorators using garments supplied for rebranding. Before ordering, confirm that the garments are suitable, decide how the new labels will attach and check which original information needs to remain.
GB Labels supplies custom clothing labels. Arrange garment attachment with your manufacturer, decorator or a separate relabelling provider. This guide explains the process, the factors that affect costs and how to plan your labels.
What is relabelling?
In clothing, relabelling usually involves fitting your brand label to a garment made by another business. For example, a T-shirt brand might buy suitable blank shirts, add its artwork and have a new neck label sewn into each shirt.
You may also see the terms rebranding, relabeling and private labelling. Private labelling can describe a broader arrangement in which a manufacturer supplies products under your brand; relabelling describes the label work itself. Check what a supplier includes rather than relying on the name of the service.
Adding a brand label does not necessarily mean removing every existing label. A separate care or composition label may still be needed.
What can a garment relabelling service include?
Ask for a written specification. Depending on the provider, the work might include:
- Removing a detachable brand label or carefully unpicking a sewn label.
- Attaching a new neck, hem or side-seam label.
- Adding size labels or confirmed care and composition information.
- Checking label position and stitching against an approved sample.
- Folding, bagging or adding swing tickets if you have requested these extras.
Confirm who supplies the labels, who checks the garments and whether packaging, transport and any rejected items are included. Relabelling does not automatically include fulfilment or dispatch to your customers.
How much do relabelling services cost?
There is no single price that fits every job. A quote needs to reflect the garment, label and work involved. Ask the provider to separate the cost of making the labels from attaching them, then confirm any other charges.
- Quantity: the number of garments, styles and sizes, plus any minimum charge.
- Existing label: removing a detachable label is a different task from opening and closing a seam.
- New label: its dimensions, fold, position and required stitching.
- Garment construction: delicate fabrics, bulky seams or restricted access can change the work needed.
- Finishing: inspection, pressing, folding, bagging and swing tickets.
- Timing and transport: any urgent-work charge, collection, delivery and VAT.
Send clear photographs of the existing label and seam, the garment specification, your proposed label and the quantity. Ask for a finished sample before committing the whole batch.
Checks before removing or covering an original label
Confirm the garments are suitable for rebranding
Ask the garment supplier to confirm in writing that the products are supplied for your intended rebranding and resale. Buying stock does not, by itself, resolve every question about supplier terms, branding or intellectual property. Do not assume a detachable label is permission to rebrand any product.
For branded goods or an unclear agreement, get appropriate advice before replacing the branding. Our clothing copyright and design protection guide explains the different rights to consider.
Keep required information accurate and accessible
For most clothing sold in Great Britain, textile labelling rules require accurate fibre-composition information. Relabelling must not remove or obscure required details without an appropriate replacement. Check the GOV.UK textile labelling guidance and the requirements for the particular product and market, including Northern Ireland or export sales where relevant.
Under the textile rules, a distributor can take on the manufacturer's responsibilities by selling under its own name or trade mark, attaching a label or changing its contents. See Article 15 on responsibility for textile labelling. Keep the supplier's specifications and check any replacement information against them.
Preserve or correctly replace useful care instructions too. Check that they suit the finished garment, including any print, embroidery or trims you add. Our care-label planning guide covers the details to confirm.
Avoid misleading origin or manufacturing claims
Adding a label in Britain does not by itself make the garment British-made. Keep product descriptions and origin claims accurate and supported by evidence. The Competition and Markets Authority's guidance explains misleading product information, including origin. For a wider overview, read our clothing labels and the law guide.
Choosing labels for your relabelling project
- Branding: custom woven labels carry a woven logo or brand name. printed cotton labels and printed satin labels offer other material and artwork options.
- Size: decide whether the size belongs on the brand label or on a separate tab, and confirm the correct version for each garment.
- Care and composition: plan the space needed for confirmed information. Explore our personalised wash care labels once those details are ready.
Agree the finished visible size, fold, sewing allowance and attachment position with whoever will fit the labels before approving artwork. Our label fold guide explains the options. Check a physical sample for legibility, positioning and feel against the garment.
A practical relabelling checklist
- Confirm the stock is suitable for your intended rebranding and resale.
- Record the original brand, size, composition, care and other relevant information.
- Agree what stays, what is removed and what needs a replacement.
- Confirm the new label's artwork, dimensions, fold and attachment method.
- Approve a finished garment sample, including stitching and care suitability.
- Agree the full quote, deadline, inspection standard and arrangements for damaged or rejected items.
- Check the completed batch and the matching online product information before sale.
Common relabelling questions
Can I put my own label on wholesale clothing?
Start with garments supplied for your intended rebranding, check the supplier's terms and retain accurate required information. The answer depends on the stock, agreement and market; it is not automatic for every wholesale garment.
Can I sew a new label over the old one?
Check what the old label contains first. Do not cover required information or create misleading branding. Also check the extra bulk and finished appearance. Agree an appropriate removal or attachment method with the garment supplier and the person doing the work.
Does GB Labels attach labels to garments?
GB Labels makes and supplies labels. We do not attach them to garments. Share your planned position and attachment method with us so we can help you choose a suitable label specification for your own production arrangements.
Plan your custom clothing labels
Compare materials with our clothing label sample packs, then send GB Labels your artwork and project details. Tell us the quantity, preferred material, finished size, fold and where the label will sit so we can help you prepare the label order.
Thanks for reading!
Pete
