Loop Pins, I Pins, and Tag Guns — A Complete Guide for Garment Manufacturers

Every garment that reaches a retail shelf — whether it is a shirt in a supermarket, a saree in a textile showroom, or a school uniform from a distributor — has a tag attached to it. Behind that tag is a small plastic fastener that most people never think about: the loop pin or I pin.

For garment manufacturers, exporters, and retailers in India, choosing the right pin and the right tag gun is a practical decision that affects production speed, fabric quality, and presentation. This guide, drawn from over 20 years of experience supplying tagging consumables across Mumbai and India, covers everything you need to know.

What Are Loop Pins?

A loop pin — also called a tag pin, loop tag pin, or garment tag pin — is a small plastic fastener used to attach price tags, barcode labels, care labels, and brand tags to garments and textile products.

Loop pins are made from polypropylene (PP) plastic and consist of three parts:

• The paddle — the flat T-shaped top that stops the pin from pulling through the fabric
• The filament — the thin connecting thread, available in different lengths
• The cross bar — the bottom bar that the tag gun needle threads through the fabric and locks in place

Loop pins are loaded into a standard tag gun in strips of 50 or 100 and are fired through the tag and fabric in a single motion. They are fast, consistent, and leave a very small hole in the fabric.

What Are I Pins?

An I pin (also written as eye pin or needle pin) is a fine, straight plastic pin shaped like the letter I. Unlike loop pins, I pins do not have a T-bar or cross bar — they are a single thin filament with a small flat head on one end.

I pins are designed for delicate fabrics where a standard loop pin would cause visible damage. They are inserted using a fine-needle tag gun and pass through the fabric with minimal disruption to the weave or fibres.

Common applications for I pins include:

• Silk, chiffon, georgette, and other sheer fabrics
• Fine knitwear and jersey fabrics where loops would snag
• Luxury garments where presentation is critical
• Hosiery, lingerie, and lightweight sportswear
• Scarves, dupattas, and fine woollen items

Loop Pins vs I Pins — Key Differences

Feature	Loop Pin	I Pin
Shape	T-bar + filament + cross bar	Straight single filament
Best for	General garments, denim, cotton, polyester	Delicate and sheer fabrics
Fabric damage	Minimal on standard fabrics	Near zero on fine fabrics
Tag gun needed	Standard tag gun	Fine-needle tag gun only
Available lengths	25mm – 75mm	25mm – 50mm
Pack size (typical)	5,000 or 10,000 per box	5,000 or 10,000 per box
Cost	Lower	Slightly higher

What Is a Tag Gun and How Does It Work?

A tag gun (also called a tagging gun or label attacher) is a handheld plastic tool that fires loop pins or I pins through fabric and tags in a single squeeze of the trigger. It is one of the most essential tools on any garment production floor or retail tagging station.

Tag guns work on a simple mechanism:

• A hollow needle pierces through the price tag hole and then through the fabric
• The cross bar of the loop pin is pushed through the needle by the trigger mechanism
• As the needle withdraws, the cross bar locks on the inside of the fabric
• The paddle sits flat on the outside, holding the tag securely

Most tag guns in India are compatible with standard loop pins. For I pins, a separate fine-needle gun is required — the needle is narrower in diameter to avoid damaging delicate fabric fibres.

Standard Needle vs Fine Needle Tag Gun

Type	Needle Gauge	Compatible Pins	Best For
Standard tag gun	Regular (wider)	Loop pins	Cotton, polyester, denim, fleece
Fine needle tag gun	Fine (narrower)	I pins, fine loop pins	Silk, chiffon, knitwear, georgette

Choosing the Right Pin Length

Pin length determines how much filament sits between the tag and the garment. Choosing the wrong length is a common and easily avoidable mistake.

Length	Best Application
25mm	Thin tags, hosiery, tight attachment needed
40mm	General purpose — most garments and retail tags
50mm	Heavier garments, multiple tags, thicker labels
65mm	Bulky items, jackets, denim with thick waistbands
75mm	Large tags, hanging displays, extra clearance needed

A pin that is too short pulls the tag tight against the fabric, making it difficult to read and giving a poor retail appearance. A pin that is too long looks untidy and increases the chance of the tag spinning or tangling during transit.

Buying in Bulk — What to Know

Loop pins and I pins are consumables — they are used in large quantities and should always be purchased with a sufficient stock buffer. Running out mid-production causes delays and affects dispatch schedules.

• Standardise your length — most garment units only need one or two lengths. Standardising reduces ordering complexity and prevents mix-ups on the production floor.
• Check compatibility — always confirm that the pins you order are compatible with your existing tag gun brand and model.
• Pack sizes — standard packs in India are 5,000 or 10,000 pins per box. Bulk cartons typically contain 50,000 or 100,000 pins.
• Material quality — low-quality polypropylene pins break during firing, jam the gun, and slow production. Quality pins fire cleanly and consistently every time.
• Colour — natural/clear is standard. Black pins are available for dark garments where a clear pin would be visible.