Packaging 101: The Complete Guide
- Packaging 101
- Types of Packaging
- Aseptic Packaging
- Blister Packaging
- Biodegradable Packaging
- Bulk Packaging
- Carbon Neutral Packaging
- Circular Packaging
- Clamshell Packaging
- Compostable Packaging
- Cornstarch Packaging
- Corrugated Packaging
- Discreet Packaging
- Ecommerce Packaging
- Flexible Packaging
- Frustration Free Packaging
- Retail Packaging
- Secondary Packaging
- Smart Packaging
- Sustainable Packaging
- What is a PR Package?
- Packaging Design Ideas
- AI Packaging Design
- Bakery Packaging Ideas
- Bath Bomb Packaging Ideas
- Bath Salt Packaging Ideas
- Body Butter Packaging Ideas
- Body Oil Packaging Ideas
- Body Scrub Packaging Ideas
- Brownie Packaging Ideas
- Cake Packaging Ideas
- Cake Pop Packaging Ideas
- Candle Packaging Ideas
- Candy Packaging Ideas
- Canva Packaging Design
- Chocolate Packaging Ideas
- Clothing Packaging Ideas
- Coaster Packaging Ideas
- Coffee Bag Design Ideas
- Cookie Packaging Ideas
- Cosmetics Packaging Design
- Cotton Candy Packaging Ideas
- Cupcake Packaging Ideas
- DIY Packaging Ideas
- Dog Treat Packaging Ideas
- Food Packaging Ideas
- Empanada Packaging Ideas
- Etsy Packaging Ideas
- French Fries Packaging Ideas
- Frozen Food Packaging Ideas
- Hair Extension Packaging Ideas
- Handbag Packaging Ideas
- Jewelry Packaging Ideas
- Keychain Packaging Ideas
- Lash Packaging Ideas
- Lip Gloss Packaging Ideas
- Macaron Packaging Ideas
- Minimalist Packaging Ideas
- Mug Packaging Ideas
- New Employee Welcome Kit Ideas
- Packaging Colors
- Packaging Inserts Ideas
- Packaging Logo Design
- Packaging Typography
- Perfume Box Design Ideas
- Pizza Box Design Ideas
- Popcorn Packaging Ideas
- Scarf Packaging Ideas
- Skincare Packaging Design Ideas
- Soap Packaging Ideas
- Sock Packaging Ideas
- Sticker Packaging Ideas
- Sunglass Packaging Ideas
- Sustainable Packaging Ideas
- Tea Packaging Ideas
- Wax Melt Packaging Ideas
- Weed Packaging Ideas
- T-Shirt Packaging Ideas
- Wine Packaging Design Ideas
- What is a Packaging Engineer?
- Types of Packaging Materials
- Chipboard vs Cardboard
- Compostable Packaging Materials
- Alternatives to Plastic Packaging
- Edible Packaging Materials
- Food Packaging Materials
- How to Recycle Cardboard Boxes
- How to Recycle Packaging Materials
- Medical Device Packaging Materials
- Mono Material Packaging
- Pharmaceutical Packaging Materials
- Plastic Food Packaging
- Protective Packaging Materials
- Reusing Packaging Materials
- Types of Packaging Foam
- Void Fill Packaging
- What is Chipboard?
- What is Kraft Paper?
- Offset vs Digital Printing
- RGB vs CMYK Printing
- Screen Printing vs Digital Printing
- Screen Printing vs Sublimation
- What is a Dieline in Packaging?
- What is Die Cutting?
- What is Digital Printing?
- What is Flexographic Printing?
- What is Glassine Paper?
- What is Offset Printing?
- What is Spot UV Printing?
- Why is 300 DPI Good for Printing?
- How to Estimate Shipping Costs
- How to Pack Glass for Shipping
- How to Mail a Bubble Mailer
- How to Make a Shipping Label
- How To Measure Box Dimensions and Sizes
- How to Ship Alcohol
- How to Ship Artwork
- How to Ship a Cake
- How to Ship Candles
- How to Ship Clothes
- How to Ship Cookies
- How to Ship Food
- How to Ship a Laptop
- How to Ship a PC
- How to Ship Plants
- How to Ship Shoes
- How to Ship Vinyl Records
- Packaging Symbols
- Shipping Large Items
- What is a Delivery Exception?
- What is Shipping Insurance?
Unique Packaging Ideas for Clothing: Fashion Unboxed
Every entrepreneur should define a couple of things before choosing one of the clothing packaging ideas. You must know what you want to achieve, your target audience, and what those people expect. After gathering all this information, adjusting and using our suggested ideas will be much easier.
Minimalist Clothing Packaging Ideas
Unique clothing packaging ideas sometimes do not require a lot of design elements. Minimalistic packaging suggests that the brand should use as little as possible. These packages come with neutral packaging colors (black, white, brown, grey) and a logo in a visible place.
We recommend you use recycled cardboard boxes for such a purpose. Additionally, you can add custom tissue paper or hang tags to make the packaging even more unique. Both packaging accessories should be biodegradable.
Luxury Clothing Packaging Ideas
The first two clothing packaging ideas from our list are connected. Minimalism can also add a sense of luxury to your product. Yet, there are some additional requirements you must have in mind.
The packages must be made of premium materials. For instance, velvet boxes or custom satin can be great options. Custom apparel boxes should be single-color, and we strongly recommend you focus on the neutral ones. The packaging typography also plays a crucial role. You should use luxurious fonts like Great Vibes or Riesling, while the letters should be colored in grey or gold.
Gucci, for example, has a very good packaging strategy. They pack their clothes in glossy boxes containing a huge logo on its surface. In addition, they add ribbon closure for a better unboxing experience. Their example may inspire you, but don’t copy it completely!
Eco-Friendly Clothing Packaging Ideas
Brands have the duty to embrace sustainability in different ways. More than 80% of buyers require sustainable packaging. It is a fact you must not underestimate! Usage of sustainable packaging is the best way to achieve your goal. The good news is that there are multiple options in front of you.
Based on our experience, we believe that the best solutions are:
• Recycled cardboards
• Custom tote bags (can be made of organic cotton).
Yet, would you easily make a difference between sustainable and typical packaging? We recommend businesses in the clothing industry use hang tags with information about sustainable practices. Also, you should add other crucial information about the piece of clothes you are selling.
Fun and Artistic Clothing Packaging Ideas
Playful packaging ideas for clothing can make your products different and unique. To achieve that goal, we recommend you use artistic illustrations. These illustrations should be present on boxes, labels and tissue paper.
Strive to use vibrant colors and bold patterns as much as possible to achieve better results. If you want inspiration, you should check out the Desigual packaging. Their packages contain abstract artwork, which helped them boost their brand awareness.
Vintage Clothing Packaging Ideas
Are you selling pieces of clothes that were popular during the 60s, 70s or 80s? In that case, you should focus on all available vintage clothing packaging ideas. Packages from that period of history were usually made of kraft papers and parchment-style boxes. The entire packaging design should be retro.
Check out which fonts and graphics were used and how brands designed tags and labels. You can also check out how ModCloth designs its packages in retro style. We consider their packaging design strategy fantastic!
Themed Clothing Packaging Ideas
Packages aligned with special collections and themes can greatly increase your brand awareness. You must ensure that packaging themes are closely connected with your brand, part of the year, or holiday. For instance, if you plan to release a limited number of packages for the New Year, the design should contain motifs like Christmas trees, snow, etc. Be sure that your logo is also in the visible place.
Personalized Clothing Packaging Ideas
Personalized clothing packaging ideas will help you make every individual who purchases your products special. They will feel like you are dedicating your clothes directly to them. There are no precise answers on how things should be done here. You must analyze your target audience to understand their preferences. Don’t hesitate to ask them directly what they would expect. We can only suggest adding a Thank You message or handwritten notes in the packaging.
Custom Boxes for Clothing
Customized boxes for clothing ensure a high level of uniqueness. Arka can help you turn all your unique and creative clothing packaging ideas into reality. You just need to think of the shape, size and design of the boxes. We recommend reducing the size and excess the empty space inside as much as possible. That change will also support sustainability because you will minimize the packaging waste.
At Arka, we create custom packaging that helps brands boost awareness; check out our premium custom mailer boxes and shipping boxes.
Rustic Clothing Packaging Ideas
Do you want your packaging to come with textured and natural elements? If the answer is YES, then don’t hesitate to explore all rustic clothing packaging ideas. Use wooden accents, kraft paper and jute twine to pack your clothes.
Boutique Clothing Packaging Ideas
Within the boutique fashion world, packaging isn't just about protecting the clothes. It's a part of the brand's story and an element of the customer experience. Boutique clothing packaging ideas should be unique, impactful, and reflect the brand's individuality. Here, we've gathered some creative packaging ideas for clothes that you might find inspiring.
Compostable Boxes and Garment Bags
We once again have to get back to sustainable packaging ideas. They are a popular trend in the last couple of years. Composable packaging boxes represent an eco-friendly solution and great protection for the clothes inside.
Garment bags made of cornstarch and sugarcane are an alternative you should consider. All the mentioned packaging types break down naturally. That will significantly decrease your carbon footprint. If you don’t know how to design these boxes, check out how Reformation does it.
Cute Packaging Ideas for Shipping Clothes
When sending clothing to a younger audience, a slight change in packaging can make all the difference. Imagine a piece of clothing wrapped in bright colors, playfully decorated with stickers and patterned tissue paper, bringing a smile to your face when you open the box.
A handwritten note or a small, unexpected gift hidden inside will add a personal, comforting touch, turning an ordinary delivery into a pleasant surprise. These are some cute packaging ideas for shipping clothes.
Hoodie Packaging Ideas
Hoodies, with their larger and more voluminous nature, require thoughtful packaging. This packaging serves two purposes: it ensures the hoodie's protection during shipping and reflects the product's style and quality. Employing strong boxes or hard-wearing poly mailers embellished with unique designs is an effective tactic.
Weaving in your brand's signature colors and logo enhances visual appeal, creating a cohesive and attractive brand image. This approach is central to practical hoodie packaging ideas.
Packaging Ideas for T-Shirts
If you sell t-shirts, you may not have to invest much energy in t-shirt packaging ideas. Customizing the printed poly mailers or using recyclable cardboard sleeves will be enough. Both types of packaging are sustainable and easily customizable.
We also recommend you use windowed or clear packages if possible. That way, people will see the t-shirt's design before buying it. If you want to add artwork on the packaging surface, the illustrations should match the T-shirt design.
DIY Clothing Packaging Ideas
Some Etsy sellers allow their customers to design the Etsy packaging alone. The method they use to allow such a service is usually the same. They prepare a couple of templates people can choose from. Each template contains the brand’s logo and name in a visible place. Apart from that, the brand’s colors are dominant, ensuring brand identity improvement.
Sellers allow potential buyers to add personalized elements to the packaging. For example, they allow them to add a name, personalized message or quote. If you decide on this clothing packaging idea, your products may become a common gift choice.
Custom Tissue Paper
You don’t have to customize the clothing packaging only. Customizing some of the design accessories is completely fine (and even recommended). Custom tissue papers can be customized easily. You just need to find a unique pattern that matches the other packaging design elements and add your logo. You can wrap the clothes inside before you place them in the box. That way, you can create a much better unboxing experience. You can check out how Burberry is doing it to grab some ideas.
Custom Poly Mailers and Pouches
Both custom poly mailers and pouches are great tools for showcasing your brand. The only thing you must pay attention to is customization. Yet, we recommend you strive to respect the principles of minimalistic packaging. You can just use a bold design and add your logo to it.
Poly mailers and pouches are practical tools as well. They are lightweight and weather-resistant, which ensures good protection. Apart from that, they are extremely cheap. They are a perfect choice for packaging if your budget is limited.
Limited-Edition Clothing Packaging Ideas
Limited-edition packaging is collectable. People like collectable packaging because they are playful and interactive. You should place your products in reusable boxes. People usually use these packages to store some other stuff when they stay at home.
Your logo should be in a visible place. They will remind themselves of your brand whenever they see the boxes they previously kept. That automatically means they can potentially return and buy another piece of clothes.
Custom Drawstring Bags
Custom drawstring bags are an alternative to boxes that most clothing brands use today. Their main advantage is reusability. You can achieve the same results as you would achieve with previous clothes packaging ideas. You can check out how The North Face uses it for hats and smaller accessories.
Windowed Clothing Packaging ideas
Clothing packaging ideas like this one are less focused on visual aesthetics. Brands that want to focus more on the quality and value of the product should decide on this option. Windowed packages allow people to see the product before opening the packaging. Don’t hesitate to use this option if your clothes have intricate patterns and designs.
Top Trends in Clothing Packaging
We are pretty sure that packaging ideas for clothing on this page will give answers to many entrepreneurs. We tried to explain how businesses should use each one. However, there is one more thing we would like to analyze. If you want to remain competitive, you must follow the latest packaging trends. They are:
• Smart Packaging: advanced technology has become an unskippable part of almost every industry. If possible, all the clothing packaging ideas you get should be supported with modern tech. Smart packaging has become one of the biggest trends in recent years. That involved NFC tags, RFID chips and embedding sensors. Implementing these technologies will allow people to get information about the product in real-time. For instance, they can learn more about the product’s background, read care instructions, etc.
• Interactive QR Codes: implementing QR codes on the packaging is another way to make your packaging interactive. You can lead your customers to your website or YouTube video after they scan the QR code. It is a great way to educate your people about why your product is specific, how they should take care of the clothes, etc.
• Sustainable and Recycled Materials: we have highlighted a couple of times throughout the article the importance of sustainability. People respect brands that try not to harm the planet. It is sometimes impossible to be completely sustainable. Yet, using eco-friendly packaging materials will significantly increase your carbon footprint. At the same time, you will boost your reputation! Some of the best options are fabric pouches, recycled cardboard, etc.
Final Thoughts
You finally got the chance to read more about the most creative clothing packaging ideas in one place. All the ideas highlighted above are great for a specific purpose. You just need to define what you want to achieve with your packages. Also, you must understand the expectations of your target audience. Implement the latest packaging trends and remain competitive!
FAQs on Apparel Packaging Ideas
Can I use eco-friendly clothing packaging ideas for luxury brands?
Yes! We can even say using sustainable materials for luxurious brands is recommended. Most successful ones in the clothes industry are using it. Some options are organic cotton garment bags, biodegradable tissue papers, and recycled cardboard. Yet, keep in mind that luxury clothing packaging ideas come with specific requirements. We recommend you read our guide to find out more.
Are personalized clothing packaging ideas cost-effective?
It is impossible to answer that question precisely. If you just want to add a “Thank You” message and personalize your product that way, it won’t cost you a lot. Yet, if you want to personalize messages, create customized labels, and implement specific designs, the initial costs will be higher. Yet, it is a worthy investment that will ultimately pay off.
Is fragrance-infused packaging suitable for all types of clothing?
We have to admit it is suitable only for specific types of clothing. Yet, the more important thing here is to analyze your audience’s requirements. In most cases, people associate this type of packaging with lingerie and intimate apparel. However, you may use it for other types of clothing, such as “formal clothes” and sportswear.