Why are there labels glued onto pagne fabric – and how can you remove them without damaging your garment?

Why are there labels glued onto African print fabrics · and how to remove them without damaging your garment?

You've just received your Giwax piece · or you've bought an African print fabric · and you notice a label glued directly onto the fabric. You wonder why it's there · and especially how to remove it without leaving a trace or damaging the fabric. We'll explain everything.

Why are African print fabrics sold with glued labels?

This is a question many women ask · and the answer is more interesting than it seems.

A question of authenticity and brand

The African fabric market — wax · batik · adire · woven fabric — is unfortunately flooded with counterfeits. Large African and European textile houses that produce quality fabrics have therefore developed a visual identification system: a label glued directly onto the fabric.

This label is a signature of quality. It indicates:

- The fabric's producer brand

- The origin of manufacture

- The fabric's composition (cotton · polyester · blend)

- The length of the coupon (generally 6 yards · or about 5.50 meters)

- Care instructions

- A commercial tradition of the African textile market

In West African textile markets · African prints are sold in coupons. The glued label allows the seller and buyer to quickly check essential information without having to unroll the entire fabric. This is an old commercial practice · inherited from the traditional textile market.

An indicator of length and batch

The labels also indicate the production batch number. When a seamstress orders several coupons of the same fabric · the batch number guarantees that the colors will be identical from one coupon to another — which is essential for a garment that uses multiple lengths.

The different types of labels you may encounter

Not all African prints have the same type of label, and this changes the removal method.

① The self-adhesive paper label

The most common. Glued directly onto the fabric with standard adhesive. Generally removes quite easily if the right precautions are taken.

② The self-adhesive laminated label

More resistant · more difficult to remove cleanly. The adhesive used is often more aggressive and can leave a mark if pulled roughly.

③ The iron-on label

Some manufacturers use this system, where the label is attached by heat rather than adhesive.

How to remove a glued label without damaging the fabric?

The golden rule: never pull abruptly. An African fabric — whether wax cotton · batik or adire — can tear · fray or lose its dye if handled roughly.

Here are the most effective methods · from the gentlest to the most technical.

Method 1 — Gentle heat (recommended for most labels)

Heat softens the adhesive and facilitates removal without residue.

What you'll need:

💙 An iron

💙 A clean, damp cloth (preferably white)

The steps:

💙 Place the damp cloth over the label

💙 Glide the iron at medium temperature (cotton setting) over the cloth for 15 to 20 seconds

💙 Immediately remove the cloth

💙 Gently peel off the label · starting from a corner · pulling slowly and parallel to the fabric (never perpendicularly)

If the adhesive resists · repeat the operation once or twice

Method 2 — Vegetable oil (for adhesive residues)

If the label is gone but has left a sticky residue · vegetable oil is your ally.

What you'll need:

💙 Coconut oil · olive oil · or ordinary vegetable oil

💙 A soft, clean cloth

The steps:

💙 Apply a few drops of oil to the adhesive residue

💙 Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes

💙 Gently rub with the cloth in circular motions

💙 Rinse with warm water and a little dish soap to remove the oil

💙 Wash the garment normally

Method 3 — Cold (for laminated labels)

Cold makes the adhesive brittle and facilitates removal without residue.

The steps:

💙 Place the garment in a sealed plastic bag

💙 Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes

💙 Take it out and immediately peel off the label · always pulling parallel to the fabric

The cooled adhesive often comes off cleanly in one piece

What you should never do

- Pull abruptly → risk of tearing or fraying

- Use acetone (nail polish remover) → can damage natural dyes · especially on adire and artisanal batik

- Rub with an abrasive sponge → damages the fabric fibers

- Wet thoroughly before removing → the adhesive can spread and penetrate deeper into the fibers

What about Giwax?

At Giwax Boutique · each piece is hand-selected from authentic African fabrics — wax · batik · adire and woven fabric. When a manufacturer's label is present on the piece · it's an additional guarantee that the fabric comes from a reputable textile production.

If you receive your Giwax piece with a label · the methods above are perfectly suitable. If in doubt · don't hesitate to contact us directly — we'll guide you according to the exact fabric of your piece.

All our pieces are available as unique items on giwax.fr — only one woman will wear each of them.

Unique like you. 💙