Garment EAS security tags are the most overlooked link in store loss prevention, yet they move the shrinkage figure directly: the same dress protected by an acoustic-magnetic hard tag instead of a plain dust bag can disappear several times less often. For a brand and its factory, the choice between hard tags, soft labels and ink tags — where they sit and who applies them — affects appearance, care performance and store efficiency.

This guide runs through five parts: why anti-theft alarming and stock counting are two different systems, how the three tag families compare, matching the frequency of store gates, where and how the factory should attach them, and the purchasing and acceptance criteria you can paste straight into a quotation request.

1. Anti-Theft Alarming and Stock Counting Are Not One System

EAS does one job: a tag that has not been deactivated triggers the gate alarm. Counting stock is done with RFID or barcodes, reading an encoded identity to produce a number. Mixing the two up usually means paying twice: a store deploys RFID and expects it to replace the gates, or installs gates and assumes it can count stock with them. The first selection decision is not the tag but the objective — loss prevention, counting, or both.

💡 Tip: an EAS tag must be deactivated at the till or removed by staff — leave it active and the gate alarms; an RFID chip needs no deactivation. Train the two workflows separately, or a customer walking out with a live tag will simply convince the cashier that the system is broken.

2. Three Tag Families: Hard Tags, Soft Labels and Ink Tags

Type How it works Best suited to Main limits
Hard tag Contains an AM or RF resonator and needs a dedicated detacher to remove Coats, outerwear, leather goods and other high-value or heavy items Bulky and felt when trying on; removal needs store tools and training
Soft label A thin AM or RF strip stuck on the tag or packaging and deactivated at the till Hang tags, boxes, lightweight and fast-turn categories Can be peeled off, so weaker than a hard tag; must be stuck firmly against transfer
Ink tag Forced removal releases ink that stains the garment, removing the motive Premium lines and high-theft categories under a brand-wide policy High mishandling risk, so write down who pays when it bursts

3. Gate Frequency: Acoustic-Magnetic or RF

  • Acoustic-magnetic (AM, commonly 58 kHz): long detection range and few false alarms, the mainstream choice for apparel stores; tags are bulkier and cost a little more.
  • Radio frequency (RF, commonly 8.2 MHz): cheap, very thin tags that suit hang tags and soft labels; more sensitive to metal and moisture, so a metal button or foil bag can shield them.
  • Source tagging: fitted by the factory or trim supplier before shipment so goods are protected on arrival, saving in-store labelling labour; it requires the store's frequency and placement spec up front.
  • Metal and moisture interference: metal hardware distorts the magnetic field, so keep tags away from zip pulls, metal buttons and rhinestones; rain in transit or a damp warehouse also reduces reading stability.

4. Applying Them in the Factory: Placement, Fixing and Impact on the Garment

  • Placement order: the hang tag and its string, or the outside of the poly bag, are safest; inside the neckline is discreet but rubs the skin and is the first thing a customer sees when trying on — keep it as a last resort.
  • Avoid pressing and coated areas: heat leaves marks on tags and adhesives, and peeling glue off a coated or film-faced fabric leaves a trace; if the position is unavoidable, confirm fabric tolerance and how residual glue is cleaned.
  • Holes and pins: when a hole is needed, avoid seams and load-bearing points, and align it with the tag's own hole; too small a gap tears, too large a gap lets the tag swing and abrade the fabric.
  • Childrenswear and underwear need more care: prefer soft labels and off-body positions and avoid detachable small parts; detachable components on children's garments carry their own pull-strength and safety requirements, so confirm before choosing.
  • Test through the gate: sample every batch past a gate to confirm sensitivity and consistent placement; keep the position identical across sizes, or staff have no way to trace an alarm.

5. Purchasing and Acceptance Criteria

  • Put frequency and model in the order: AM or RF, working frequency, size and shape — otherwise incompatibility only surfaces on arrival.
  • Ask for measured detection distance: a repeatable figure for the store's gate width and height, not the phrase high sensitivity.
  • Durability and care notes: state heat and moisture tolerance and whether the tag survives a home wash; most hard tags do not, so say what to do with them.
  • Compliance: metal parts raise nickel release and lead questions, EU-bound categories must meet the relevant limits, and children's ranges need an extra check.
  • Ship the detacher and training with the goods: include detachers, spare pins and instructions, and agree how store mishandling that damages a garment is handled.
  • Count and keep samples: count by piece rather than estimating by weight, bag and label mixed shipments, and hold a sample from each lot so sensitivity disputes can be re-tested.
💡 Tip: give all five items at once — category, store system frequency (AM 58 kHz or RF 8.2 MHz), placement, quantity and lead time — and the supplier can propose something usable. Miss the frequency and even the cheapest quote may be a batch that never triggers a gate.

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Choosing a loss-prevention setup for your stores or a new season? Send us the category, store system frequency, placement and quantity — we match security tags with hang tags, woven labels, care labels and packaging as one set, with samples in 3–7 days.

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