Articles: hang tags

A tag looks like an afterthought, yet in a shop it does real work. A customer picks up the product, turns it over and reads the tag first. That gives a few seconds to explain what this is and who made it - a lot of ground for a piece of card the size of two fingers.

What to fit on a tag

There is little room, so every element has to earn its place.

• The name and logo - readable at arm's length.
• One line about the product - what it is made of or what sets it apart.
• Practical details - size, care instructions or materials, where they matter.
• A human trace - a signature, a batch number or a short note that the piece was made by hand.
• A web address or code - for people who want to see more.

The tag as part of the packaging

A swing ticket looks best when it matches everything else: the box, the bag, the sticker that seals it. The same card colour, the same lettering and a similar string are enough to make the whole thing feel considered. In craft work the tag is often the only place to tell the story of an object, so it is worth writing in your own words rather than copying stock phrases. Thicker card and a film finish help with durability, especially when a product is handled a lot or hangs on a rail in a shop.

If you are preparing tags for the first time, start by writing down what the customer needs to know at the moment of buying. The rest can live on the page the tag points to.