What Is Reflective Tape and Where To Buy Reflective Tape for Clothing

"We are often asked by customers for advice on how to choose the right reflective tape for their needs. Based on this, we've put together this guide to help anyone choose the reflective tape, and try to answer all the questions you may have on the different types available."

How many different types of reflective tape for clothing are there?

Reflective tape is a great way to improve visibility while driving at night or during dark hours. There are a variety of reflective tape options available, so find the right one for your needs.

• 

  Poly/TC Reflective Tape for Clothing

  • Attachment Type: Sew on
  • Color: Silver, grey, multicolor
  • Backing fabric: Polyester/TC
  • Width: Any width from 1cm to 140cm
  • Reflective coefficient: It typically ranges from 10 to 420 cd/lx/m²
  • Washability: Washing cycles of different products varies from 5 to over 100 times to meet different customers' requirements. We also have reflective tape for clothing that can endure industrial wash and dry cleaning.
  • Certification: EN 20471, ANSI 107, AS/NZS 1906, CSA-Z96, OEKO-TEX 100
  • Application: Vests, jackets, workwear, shirts, etc.
• 

  FR Reflective Tape

  • Attachment Type: Sew on
  • Color: Silver, yellow, yellow-silver-yellow, red-silver-red
  • Backing fabric: Cotton/ Aramid
  • Width: Any width from 1cm to 140cm for silver color, 2'',3''and 4'' sizes are available for two-tone warning tape.
  • Reflective coefficient: It typically ranges from 10 to 420 cd/lx/m²
  • Certification: EN 20471:2013; ANSI 107-2015; EN 469, EN 11612, EN 14116, NFPA 2112, etc
  • Application: Fire fighting and electrical system with the requirement of flame retardant.
• 

  Spandex Reflective Tape

  • Attachment Type: Sew on
  • Color: Silver
  • Backing fabric: Spandex fabric
  • Home wash cycles: 50 cycles @60℃（140℉）
  • Width: Up to 140cm (55''), all sizes available
  • Reflective Coefficient: >420 cd/lx/m²
  • Certification: OEKO-TEX 100; EN 20471:2013; ANSI 107-2015; AS/NZS 1906.4-2015; CSA-Z96-02
  • Application: Recommended for Medium to heavy Weight Fabrics, such as high-quality safety vests or jackets.
• 

  Perforated Reflective Tape

  • Attachment Type: Sew on
  • Color: Silver, customized
  • Backing fabric: 100% polyester or T/C
  • Width: Up to 140cm
  • Reflective Coefficient: Up to 330 cd/lx/m²
  • Feature: Breathable, fashionable, and functional. The hole diameter and spacing in between can be customized as per customers' requirements.
  • Application: It is suitable for light fabric and safety protection products. This high-reflective fabric tape was improved for workers in hot, humid, and uncomfortable working environments.
• 

  Self-Adhesive Reflective Tape for Clothing

  • Attachment Type: Stick On
  • Color: Grey
  • Backing Fabric: PET film and Polyester/TC
  • Width: Up to 140cm (55''), all sizes available
  • Reflective Coefficient: >330 cd/lx/m²
  • Packing: 50 meters/Roll, can do on customers' request
  • Application: Easy to apply on backpacks, raingear, bicycles, helmets, or other sports protections.
• 

  Iron On Reflective Tape for Clothing

  • Attachment Type: Iron-On
  • Color: Grey, silver, multicolor, rainbow
  • Backing fabric: PET film and hot melt adhesive
  • Width: Any width from 1cm to 140cm
  • Reflective coefficient: It typically ranges from 10 to 420 cd/lx/m²
  • Certification: EN 20471, ANSI 107, AS/NZS 1906, CSA-Z96, OEKO-TEX 100
  • Application: It is suitable for using a computer or laser to carve a variety of fonts or patterns, and then heat them on all kinds of substrates.
• 

  Reflective Ribbon

  • Attachment Type: Sew On
  • Color: Red, yellow, Customized
  • Backing fabric: Grosgrain tape, tricot fabric, oxford, etc
  • Reflective material: Iron on silver or high reflective heat transfer film; or sew on silver or high reflective tape
  • Width: The design and size can be customized for both transfer tape and webbing to meet different demands.
  • Application: Suitable for sewing on high visibility garments, sportswear, caps, bags, shoes, etc. and provide perfect protection in both daytime and nighttime.
• 

  Reflective Piping

  • Attachment Type: Sew On
  • Color: Customized
  • Material: Reflective tape, cotton thread, mesh fabric
  • Backing fabric: Polyester/ TC/ stretch fabric, etc
  • Width: 1.3cm-3cm (customizable)
  • Application: Can be sewn on sportswear, vests, shoes, hats, caps, suitcases, etc. to increase nighttime visibility.
• 

  Prismatic Tape

  • Attachment Type: Sew On
  • Color: Customized
  • Material: 100% PVC
  • Reflective coefficient: > 300 cd/lx/m²
  • Width: 1-15cm (customizable)
  • Thickness: 0.15mm, 0.21mm, 0.25mm, 0.28mm
  • Application: Recommended sewing on high-visibility clothing, life vest, bags, etc.

Table of Contents

• 1. What is reflective tape for clothing?

• 2. How does reflective tape work?

• 3. How far can you see reflective tape?

• 4. What is the application of reflective tape for clothing?

• 5. When should reflective tapes be used?

• 6. How to check the quality of the sew-on reflective tape?

• 7. Where to buy reflective tape for clothing?

• 8. How CHINASTARS do the quality control for reflective tape?

• 9. What certificates of reflective tape do CHINASTARS have?

• 10. Is Chinastars the manufacturer of reflective tape for clothing?

• 11. Can we get some free samples of reflective tape from Chinastars?

• 12. Do Chinastars keep stocks for reflective silver tape?

• 13. What's the regular leading time for reflective tape for clothing?

• 14. Do Chinastars accept small orders or quantities less than MOQ?

• 15. Are the reflective fabric tapes AZO-free?

• 16. Are the silver reflective tape poisonous metal free?

• 17. In case we want different widths of reflective fabric tape, can Chinastars cut it for us?

• 18. Can Chinastars print our company logo on the reflective tape?

• 19. Is reflective tape washable?

• 20. How do Chinastars define the washing cycles?

• 21. What are the main requirements of EN20471 and ANSI 107 toward reflective tape for clothing?

• 22. If we want to change the base fabric of reflective tape, can Chinastars customize it for us?

What is reflective tape for clothing?

Reflective tape for clothing is composed of micro-glass beads embedded into base fabric such as polyester, TC, FR cotton, aramid or spandex fabric, etc. It reflects light directly to the original light source and enhances the visibility of anyone who wears it. Reflective tapes are extremely practical to still be seen well by other road users in poor visibility conditions.

How does reflective tape work?

Imagine that you are in a round room and you are in the center of the room. If you throw a ball toward the wall it is always going to come back to you. Reflective tape works similarly. The diagram below shows how the glass beads or prisms do this.

Since very little light is scattered when the light is returned, retro-reflective tape appears brightest to an observer located near the original light source, therefore, it can help the eye perceive light in low-light conditions.

How far can you see the reflective tape?

Normally, the man who wears clothes with reflective tape on can be seen by drivers a hundred meters away in the darkness, which can surely avoid the occurrence of traffic accidents.

What is the application of reflective tape for clothing?

Reflective tape is a clothing accessory that has some practical applications. The most common application is possible on work clothing as well as on leisure or sports clothing. When applied to work clothing, it is used for road construction and track maintenance work, transport companies, delivery services, etc. The reflective tapes are also suitable for making children even more visible in road traffic. In addition to clothing, this material can also be applied to "harder" surfaces such as bags, hats, shoes, and much more.

You will receive our reflective tape by the meter and can then have it cut by us (on request) entirely according to your wishes and apply it to the clothing or accessories. Depending on its nature, the reflective tape can be ironed, sewn, or pasted on garments.

When should reflective tapes be used?

Reflective tape is used to enhance the visibility of people who wear it when visibility conditions are poor. In the commercial sector, the reflective tape material is used in particular for high-visibility clothing in road construction, track work, or transport companies.

Reflective applications are not only useful on workwear, but also in leisure textiles. Reflective tape for clothing is used here, especially for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists. It is also ideal for making dark children's clothing more eye-catching in poor visibility conditions in road traffic. To do this, simply sew the reflective fabric onto jackets, vests, pants, or backpacks.

How to check the quality of the sew-on reflective tape?

Not all reflective tapes for clothing are of the required quality. Many of the reflective tapes after a short operation and washing dramatically will lose their protective properties. So how to check the quality of reflective tapes?

• 1. Evaluate the appearance of the reflective tape. The surface of the material should be flat, flexible, and smooth to the touch; it should not have cracks, scratches, abrasions, creases, or bends.
• 2. The high-quality reflective tape has a fabric base. You can check the fabric by slightly bending the edge of the stitched patch. The largest manufacturers of reflective materials usually mark the fabric backing to confirm the quality standard of the tape. Also, confirmation of quality can be tagged with the logo of the manufacturer, which is attached to clothes, shoes, and briefcases. If there is a pattern on the reflector, it should not be smeared and/or washed.
• 3. At home, you can check the quality of the already purchased "reflector" like this. Aim the beam at the reflective tape - if you have a high-quality reflector in your hands, it will glow brightly in the beam. The reflective tape must work at any angle, for this, it is necessary to turn the tape in different directions while continuing to shine on them. The glow of the retro-reflective material should not deteriorate or fade. High-visibility clothing is often subject to special regulations regarding reflectivity. Chinastars reflective tapes for clothing are certified by SATRA, CALCOAST, AWTA, TEXTEST, UL, and SGS to meet the requirements of EN20471, ANSI107, CSA-Z96, AS NZS 1906, etc.
• 4. Most important, are the area of application and washability, which in turn also depends on use. Chinastars reflective fabric tapes have excellent durability in home wash, dry cleaning, and industrial wash to meet various requirements of occupational apparel.

Where to buy reflective tape for clothing?

When it comes to safety and visibility during nighttime activities, reflective tape is a must-have. While there are a variety of places you can buy reflective tape for clothing, we recommend checking out online and in stores. However, the most economical and convenient is to buy directly from a manufacturer, and you will get better shipping options and quality oversight.

Chinastars reflective is a marketing influential manufacturer of reflective fabric and tapes in China. We have a wider variety of colors, sizes, and styles of reflective tape for clothing, making it easier to find what you're looking for. Plus, you can always find deals and discounts when you purchase your reflective tape in bulk.

How does CHINASTARS do the quality control for reflective tape?

The fact that the quality of Chinastars reflective tape for sewing is always consistently high is guaranteed by our ISO 9001 certified production. We also have a strict quality control system for reflective tape.

Before production, we inspect each lot of raw material, including glass beads, adhesive, base fabric, etc. During the production of the reflective tape jumbo roll, we have a record for each lot production and will test each lot jumbo roll. During slitting, we also will do a washing & reflection test for each lot and the QC will inspect each cutter's quantity, appearance, etc. Only after all the tests and inspections are finished and the results show good, then we will send out the shipment.

We also built a very good tracking system, each roll of reflective tape has its tracking number, with this number, we could get all information about its materials, production, testing results, etc.

Even if customers get some problems with the reflective tape and reflective fabric; we could feedback quickly and come out with a solution.

What certificates of reflective tape do CHINASTARS have?

Chinastars reflective tapes for clothing are certified by SATRA, CALCOAST, AWTA, TEXTEST, UL, SGS to meet the requirements of EN20471, ANSI107:2015, CSA-Z96, AS NZS 1906, EN 469, NFPA 701, NFPA 2112, NFPA 1971, EN 14116, ASTM F 1506, etc.

Is Chinastars the manufacturer of reflective tape for clothing?

Yes. Chinastars have two factories located in Hangzhou and Huzhou. We are the leading manufacturer of reflective fabric tape in China and have been exported to over 100 countries for over a decade years.

Can we get a free sample of reflective tape from Chinastars?

Yes. We can provide a certain quantity of free samples for review, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]

Do Chinastars keep stocks for reflective silver tape?

Yes. We keep stocks for regular products that can be sent out immediately. Please feel free to contact us for more details.

What's the regular leading time for reflective tape for clothing?

We keep stock for regular products which can be sent out immediately. For non-stock products, our leading time is usually around 5-15 days depending on the products and quantity.

Do Chinastars accept small orders or quantities less than MOQ?

Yes. We keep stock for regular products. For stock products, we can accept small orders. For non-stock products, please contact our sales to see if we can lower the MOQ for you.

Are the reflective fabric tapes AZO-free?

Yes. We update our OEKO-TEX 100 and REACH certificates annually to make sure our reflective tapes for clothing are AZO-free.

Are the silver reflective tape poisonous metal-free?

Yes. We have a REACH report to prove that our reflective fabric is poisonous metal-free.

In case we want different widths of reflective fabric tape, can Chinastars cut it for us?

Yes. The full width of reflective fabric is around 140cm. We provide free cutting according to customers' requirements.

Can Chinastars print our company logo on the reflective tape?

Yes. We can do customized printing on the surface or back side of the reflective tape.

Is reflective tape washable?

Yes. Chinastars reflective fabric tape is washable. Washing cycles of different products vary from 5 to over 100 times to meet different customers' requirements. We also have reflective tape for clothing that can endure industrial wash and dry cleaning.

How do Chinastars define the washing cycles?

It means that after being washed for certain cycles according to international washing standards (ISO 6330 for home wash, ISO 3175 for dry cleaning, and ISO 15797 for industrial wash), the reflective value is higher than 100 cd/(lux•m2) (measured from angle 5°12').

What are the main requirements of EN20471 and ANSI 107 for reflective tape for clothing?

Requirements for reflective tape mainly include reflective coefficient, physiological, and washing performance.

• 1) When measured on the new product at 5.0° entrance and 0.2°observation angles, the reflective coefficient shall be greater than 330 cd/lx.m².
• 2) After exposure tests like abrasion, flexing, folding at cold temperatures, rainfall, etc. the retro reflection coefficient shall be greater than 100 cd/lx.m².
• 3) After at least 25 washes, the reflective coefficient shall be larger than 100 cd/lx.m².

If we want to change the base fabric of reflective tape, can Chinastars customize it for us?

Yes. We'll test the base fabric to see if it's suitable for coating. If the test results are ok. We can customize it for you.