A logo can be the most recognizable feature of a private label bag, yet its production instructions often arrive as a screenshot in a message. That leaves the development team to interpret the size, position, colors and application method. A short artwork brief gives everyone a more reliable starting point.
This checklist is for brands preparing custom bag branding. It applies to the artwork handoff and approval process; the available application methods must still be reviewed against the selected material and construction.
Provide one clearly identified artwork file
Send the editable original when available, together with a reference PDF or image showing the intended appearance. Ask the factory which file format it needs for the proposed process. Include fonts or an agreed outlined version where relevant, and identify which file is authoritative if several versions are supplied.
Name the file with the brand, design and revision. Keep superseded versions out of the production folder. If the logo changes after sampling begins, record whether the change affects the current sample or only the next one.
Describe placement with dimensions and reference points
“Centered on the front” is not always enough. Identify the panel and show the artwork width and height. Give the distance from a defined seam, edge or other agreed reference point. Use a marked drawing or a photograph of the correct bag model.
Check whether a pocket, strap or fold covers the mark when the bag is loaded. For a size range, review placement on each size instead of assuming the same coordinates will work across the collection. The front panel on a cooler backpack may be arranged differently from the panel on a shoulder bag.
Agree a physical color reference
A screen preview helps communicate design intent but is not a physical approval sample. Share the brand color reference and ask how it will be evaluated on the chosen substrate. Where the finish or background changes, review the appearance on the actual material.
State whether the critical requirement is the logo color itself, its contrast against the bag, or consistency across several products. Keep the approved reference with the sample record so that the production and inspection teams are working from the same target.
Review the application method with the construction
Ask the factory to propose suitable options for the selected design. A print, patch, label or other treatment should be evaluated for appearance, positioning and the way it is attached. Do not approve a method solely from a photo of a different material.
For a waterproof bag, ask whether the application changes the bag body or requires additional verification. For a cooler bag, review the complete panel and lining arrangement. Any durability or performance claim needs an agreed verification basis for the final configuration.
Include the small brand details
- Main logo and secondary marks
- Woven labels, patches or zipper-pull artwork, where applicable
- Hangtag text and layout
- Packaging labels and SKU identifiers
- Language versions and proofread text
- The person responsible for final artwork approval
Separate decorative artwork from mandatory product information. Have the brand’s responsible reviewer confirm market-specific wording before it is incorporated into the production files. The factory should not have to infer that wording from an old sample intended for another market.
Approve the application on the correct sample
Review the mark at its actual size and position on the relevant bag. Record the artwork revision, material, application method and approval date. If the sample uses a temporary material or substitute component, list the exception and specify what must be checked again.
Weierken can review your artwork as part of a custom bag development brief. Send the logo files and reference layout with the intended product, quantity and market so the proposed branding can be assessed together with the bag.