RFID seems to have been around for so long now it’s making me look young. However I have to say the industry continues to be innovative in ways which astound me.
An example within the Apparel Industry is Woven Care Labels incorporating all the sexy features associated with RFID, whilst at the same time looking a class apart from the traditional formatting of label technology.
The design of these labels differs from traditional hang tags or adhesive labels. Sewn directly into the product, they can survive washes, stone washing and bleaching and remain largely invisible as an RFID tag. Small and with the look of a high-value label, they provide the ideal way of offering item-level tagging, security and looks in a single package. If you couple this with inventory tracking and sales management alerts, the potential value of this technology to any store carrying high-value branded items.
For sure interest from the major “Brands” has grown rapidly. Companies such as Macy’s, Bloomingdale and others are looking seriously at the benefits RFID can bring to an organization’s effectiveness.
I have no doubt that soon we will experience wearing “Branded” apparel which will incorporate the benefits of Authentication and therefore brand protection and enhancement which will in turn create service and marketing opportunities.
Counterfeiting of clothing brands is a major industry in its own right; therefore, anything we as an industry can do to counter the counterfeiter is welcome.