PVC vs silicone patches: which one for your garment?
Both are moulded, both are made to your artwork, and both can be sewn or heat applied. The difference shows up in the surface, the feel and how the piece sits on the fabric.
PVC patches: micro-injection, glossy edge, flexible base
PVC patches are made by micro-injection: each colour is injected into an engraved mould and cured before the next layer goes in, so the lettering and the figure sit raised above the base with clean, glossy edges. Soft PVC keeps a flexible hand-feel, resists water and abrasion, and holds both colour and relief through repeated washing.
- Dimensional, glossy, high-contrast detail
- Typical uses: brand labels on outerwear and bags, decorative badges, hang-tag replacements
- Backing: sew-on, iron-on, self-adhesive or hook-and-loop
Silicone labels: soft-touch, colour inside the material
Silicone is moulded in liquid silicone rubber (LSR) and cured under heat and pressure, so the shape stays crisp without a stiff feel. It is soft, stretchy and heat resistant, machine washable, and the colour sits in the material itself — it will not crack or peel the way a printed surface can.
- Made to order in any outline, size and Pantone colour
- Matte or glossy finish; raised or debossed detail
- Backing: sew-on or heat transfer
Side by side
A quick way to decide:
- Need sharp, glossy, high-relief detail? → PVC
- Need a soft, matte, skin-friendly feel? → Silicone
- Stretch or performance fabric? → Silicone (it stays elastic)
- Structured outerwear or bags? → PVC works well
- Both can be customised in size, colour count and backing
The question that decides it
Tell us the fabric and the application. A patch that performs on a rigid parka is not automatically the right choice for a stretch legging, and vice versa. Send the material and we will confirm the specification, the backing and the pressing conditions before sampling.
Where woven labels and embroidered patches fit
PVC and silicone are not the whole picture, and sometimes another technique does the job better:
- Woven labels: colour is worked into the weave itself — flat, light and ideal for main labels, side labels and care labels
- Embroidered and woven patches: thread rather than moulded material, so the surface has a textile feel
- Heat transfer and high frequency: printed film or silicone on a carrier, applied by press
- The same brand can use all four across one collection — main label woven, patch moulded, logo transferred
Finish and colour, at a glance
Both materials can be produced in any outline and any Pantone colour, with the finish chosen to suit the design:
- PVC: raised moulded detail, glossy or matte surface, colour injected layer by layer
- Silicone: raised or debossed detail, matte or glossy, colour held inside the material
- Both: custom size, custom outline and a choice of backing
- Both: physical sample approval before bulk production