Textile
DPP Labelling for Apparel
How to design a Digital Product Passport label for garments — woven labels, care labels, swing tags and NFC options, plus durability testing.
In apparel, the most practical DPP problem is not data but the label. Garments are washed, ironed and worn for years, and the carrier has to survive that life.
Carrier options
| Option | Lifetime | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swing tag | Until sale | Low | Insufficient alone |
| Printed care label | Medium | Low | Can fade with washing |
| Woven label + QR | Long | Medium | The most common permanent solution |
| Heat transfer print | Medium-long | Medium | For tagless products |
| NFC tag | Long | High | Premium and resale |
See data carriers and NFC and RFID for DPP.
Size and readability
Space on a care label is tight and the first instinct is to shrink the code. The right instinct is to shorten the encoded data:
- Keep the domain short (
id.brand.com). - Do not add batch or serial to the URI unless needed.
- Leave error correction at level M.
Practical target: a 0.6–0.8 mm module on a woven label, roughly 18–25 mm of code. See DPP QR codes: size, placement and print.
A durability test protocol
- Scan after 5, 15 and 30 wash cycles (using the programme stated on the care label).
- Check after ironing and tumble drying.
- Scan with three different phone models in low light.
- Scan on a creased and curved surface — labels do not lie flat.
A design that fails the test will fail in the field.
Placement
- On an inside seam, easy for the user to find.
- In a material that is comfortable against skin.
- On the same label as the care instructions, where consumers already look.
- Signal that information exists: a small icon or short line of text measurably increases scans.
Relationship to labelling law
A DPP does not replace the fibre composition label. Textile labelling law is a separate regime and physical labelling obligations continue. The passport presents that information in addition, digitally and machine-readably. See the textile DPP guide.
Frequently asked questions
Should I start changing labels now?
Collection cycles are long, so designing and testing early is sensible. Running down printed label stock also takes time.
How much does it add per unit?
QR printing is usually under €0.02 per unit; the real cost sits in design and testing.
What if the label is cut off in resale?
Place the permanent carrier where it is unlikely to be cut, and add a second carrier such as NFC where feasible. See DPP in resale and second-hand.
