Are
You Labeling Me?
Love them or hate them—but you definitely
need name tapes at camp!
by Laura M. Miller
TWEENS
& TEENS News February 2007
Name tapes. Whether you attend day camp or
sleepaway camp, these little strips of cloth
or nylon ensure that you (or your parents)
won’t have to buy a brand-new wardrobe
when you return home from camp this summer.
Bathing suits have a mysterious way of disappearing,
as do towels and underwear. Although practical
moms try to consider camp clothing as “disposable,”
it is frustrating when kids start the summer
season with 12 bathing suits and have three
left by August.
I have been fascinated with name tapes for
quite some time. I became aware of these little
suckers my first summer at sleepaway camp.
It seems a pair of my underwear had fallen
onto a sports court on its way back from the
camp laundry. Thanks to that wonderful little
name tape, it wasn’t long before everyone
at camp knew it was my underwear that had
been loitering tennis court #3 for days.
Cut to age 16. I had just been hired by an
upscale camp outfitter in town. While I had
dreams of working the sales floor, I was relegated
to the basement. There— along with three
other girls— I worked sweatshop style
over sewing machines, affixing an endless
parade of name tapes onto camp orders: White
thread for the light color clothes, black
thread for the darks. By the time my kids
were ready for camp, I was a near name tape
pro.
Sew-In Tapes
Before my kids’ first summer at camp,
I hired a seamstress to sew name tapes into
all their clothing. These labels, no doubt,
should stay on forever. But my kids, who claim
to be “label sensitive,” couldn’t
stand the itchiness of these tags— and
this method was definitely pricey. That said,
many camps require sewn-in name tapes, so
be sure to check with your camp as to how
you should prep your clothes for the summer.
Several camp outfitters, both local and online,
will sew in name tapes for free on the items
you’ve purchased.
Laundry Stamper
The next summer, I tried a laundry stamper.
The stamper is great for last minute labeling,
but the ink fades over many washings and does
not show up on dark colored garments. However,
I still keep a stamper around for a quick
fix. It is also great for socks.
Iron-On Name Tapes
The following year, I decided to try iron-on
name tapes. I was appalled when the first
set I ordered turned out to be thin nylon
tapes. I promptly reordered the fabric variety.
But when it came time for ironing, I noticed
something interesting. Though the fabric tapes
adhered alright, they were definitely detectable
(and able to be yanked off) by those label-sensitive
kids of mine. Are you label-sensitive? Ask
your parents to look into iron-on, nylon labels.
The nylon labels adhered fully and completely,
and never fell off... never! Plus, they are
smooth and don’t cause unnecessary itching.
I am now sold on nylon labels!
However, you need to be careful which company
your family purchases nylon labels from. There
are many “homegrown” label companies
on the Web that provide an inferior computer-generated
product, printed out on break-apart sheets.
I have had poor experiences with these labels,
and suggest that you stick with larger camp
outfitters in your area or purchase online
from reputable companies. If you are unsure
where to order your labeling products, ask
your camp directors who they recommend.
Clothing Tattoos
Clothing tattoos are the newest entry to the
name label market, and I am intrigued by them.
They are permanent, iron-on transfers that
come in fun and funky colors and shapes, for
the coolest camp duds around! Clothing tattoos
adhere completely to clothing and are dryer-safe.
This is the direction most clothing manufacturers
are headed (think Hanes® new “labeless”
underwear).
The main downside to clothing tattoos is price.
Clothing tattoos cost about $18.50 for a set
of 50 tattoos— which is considerably
more than traditional labels. Find such tattoos
at www.stuckonyou.biz.
All in all, it is good to have a variety
of labeling products on hand: name tapes or
clothing tattoos, as well as laundry stamps
and laundry pens for last minute labeling.
Also, silver Sharpie pens are awesome for
writing on dark surfaces. I have also become
a big fan of the permanent identity stickers
many companies sell that are ideal for sticking
on expensive sports and electronics equipment.
But remember: What goes to camp, often stays
at camp. And the more expensive or cherished
the article of clothing, the greater the likelihood
that you will never, ever see it again! Labeled
or not, the bottom line is, don’t send
anything to camp that you absolutely can’t
live without come September.
Laura M. Miller is a freelance writer/marketing
consultant, and the founder of www.CampRatingz.com.
She has been employed by several day and sleepaway
camps and lives on Long Island with her husband
and three children.
