Who Assigns the GTIN Barcode on a Private-Label Suit Hangtag?
The brand owner assigns it. GS1 says the organisation that owns the trade item's specifications, wherever and by whomever the item is made, is normally responsible for allocating the Global Trade Item Number. That includes a retailer that has items made under its own brand (GS1 support). For a private-label suit, the barcode on the hangtag should come from your GS1 Company Prefix, not the factory's.
Why can't the factory use its own barcode numbers on your label?
When a company joins a GS1 Member Organisation it receives a GS1 Company Prefix, and GS1 states that the prefix may not be sold, leased or given, in whole or in part, to another company. GS1 lists three exceptions to the brand-owner rule:
- Non-branded items: generic items that are not private labels get GTINs from their manufacturers
- Customer-specific items: an item made for one trade customer, and orderable by no other customer, may be numbered by that customer
- Temporary GTIN: if the brand owner has not assigned a GTIN, an importer or other intermediary can assign one until a GTIN is assigned in the normal way
A private-label suit sold under your brand fits the main rule. The number is yours to allocate.
Which GTIN format goes on a suit hangtag?
GTINs come in 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits. Each is built from a Company Prefix, an item reference and a check digit (GTIN reference).
| Format | Barcode it usually appears in | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| GTIN-13 | EAN-13 | Retail point of sale |
| GTIN-12 | UPC-A (or UPC-E) | Retail point of sale |
| GTIN-8 | EAN-8 | Very small items |
| GTIN-14 | ITF-14, GS1-128 | Wholesale shipments, not retail point of sale |
GTIN-13: Barcode it usually appears in: EAN-13 · Typical use: Retail point of sale
GTIN-12: Barcode it usually appears in: UPC-A (or UPC-E) · Typical use: Retail point of sale
GTIN-8: Barcode it usually appears in: EAN-8 · Typical use: Very small items
GTIN-14: Barcode it usually appears in: ITF-14, GS1-128 · Typical use: Wholesale shipments, not retail point of sale
What should the GTIN brief to the factory contain?
- One row per SKU: style, colour, size (for example 40R, 42R, 42L), and the GTIN you allocated
- The symbology on the tag (EAN-13 or UPC-A), the tag size and the quiet zone, from your retail system's guide
- Whether you also need a carton-level number (GTIN-14) on outer cartons for your warehouse
- Who sources the printed hangtags. Confirm this on WhatsApp before the sample
The trims and packaging checklist in private-label labels, trims and packaging covers the rest of the tag.
"Private-label bulk starts from 50 units, and production runs 14–21 days after sample approval. Send the GTIN list for each size before that window opens." — Shi Yuan Suit Factory (statement built from published factory policy)
FAQ
Who allocates the GTIN for a private-label suit?
GS1 says the brand owner, the organisation that owns the trade item's specifications regardless of where it is made, normally allocates the GTIN. A retailer that has items made under its own brand is the brand owner.
Can a suit factory lend its GS1 Company Prefix to a private-label client?
No. GS1 states that a Company Prefix may not be sold, leased or given, in whole or in part, for use by any other company.
How many digits does a GTIN have?
GTINs are 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits long. Retail tags usually carry GTIN-13 (EAN-13) or GTIN-12 (UPC-A), and GTIN-14 is used for wholesale shipments.
Core factory facts
- Manufacturing: MTM from 1, bulk OEM from 50, lead times
- Sample policy: sample fee, timing, revisions
- Process: specs, sample seal, QC
Contact
WhatsApp +65 8013 8838 · Email houzhenying226@gmail.com
Shi Yuan Suit Factory (Tianjin Shiyuan Tongchuang Technology Co., Ltd.) · Est. 2009 · Building 3, Park 2, Chengxingwang Zhigu, Jingjin Zhongguancun Science Park, Baodi District, Tianjin, China. Acumenwear.com is our English export site.
