Term 2 in South Africa is officially under way, and if your child's belongings have a habit of disappearing into the lost property pile, you are not alone. With hundreds of learners sharing classrooms, sports fields, and dining halls, identical water bottles, navy jerseys, and black pencil cases all look the same — until yours goes missing.
The solution is simple: school labels. This Term 2 label checklist covers every item that needs labelling, which type of label works best for each one, and how to get your order in time before the school week gets away from you.
Why Term 2 Is Peak Lost-Property Season in SA
South African schools see a spike in lost items at the start of Term 2 — and it makes sense why. After the Easter holidays, children return with a full set of freshly laundered uniforms, replenished stationery, and new sports gear. Without clear name labels, school staff cannot return lost items to the right family, and the lost property box fills up fast.
This term also brings cooler weather as autumn sets in across most of South Africa. That means extra layers — jerseys, jackets, and tracksuits — landing on hooks in the corridors, in the change rooms, and on the sports field. A dark navy jersey with no name label looks exactly like every other dark navy jersey, and without school labels South Africa families lose hundreds of rands every single term in unlabelled clothing.
Getting on top of labelling before Week 1 saves you the cost of replacing lost items and the all-too-familiar 7 a.m. conversation: "I can't find my lunchbox."
The Ultimate School Label Checklist for Term 2
Work through this list for each child before the first day back. If it leaves the house, it needs a label.
Clothing and Uniform
- School jersey and jacket
- Long-sleeve undershirt
- Sports shirt and shorts
- Swimming costume and swim cap
- School tracksuit top and bottoms
Lunch and Drinks
- Lunchbox — label the lid and base separately, as they routinely get separated
- Water bottle
- Snack container or fruit box
Stationery and Books
- Pencil case
- Every textbook, workbook, and file
- Rulers, set squares, and protractors
- Calculator
- Art supplies and scissors
- Geometry set
Bags and Cases
- School bag (inside and outside)
- Sports bag
- Musical instrument case
Sports and Activity Gear
- Shin guards
- Mouth guard case
- Cricket, rugby, netball, or tennis equipment
- Sports shoes — label inside the tongue
Even items that seem unique are worth labelling. An expensive pair of soccer boots or a branded water bottle may feel distinctive at home — but on a sports day, every child seems to own the same thing.
Which Label Type Is Best for Each Item?
Not all labels are created equal. Here is a quick guide to matching the right school label SA solution to each item.
Clothing Stamp — Best for jerseys, jackets, and uniforms
The Lulu Labels Clothing and Back-to-School Stamp (R360) is a self-inking stamp that prints directly onto fabric — no separate ink pad required. It dries instantly and the ink is permanent, surviving both machine washing and tumble-drying. Personalised with your child's name and phone number (or school name), you can mark an entire wardrobe in minutes.
The stamp works best directly on the garment fabric on light or light-coloured materials. Simply press and stamp.
Best for: jerseys, jackets, tracksuits, PE shirts, sports shorts.
Iron-on Labels — Best for uniforms and soft clothing
Iron-on Labels (R200 for a 55-pack) attach with a standard household iron and bond permanently to most fabrics. Available in a wide range of fun designs, they give a neat, professional finish that lasts the full school year.
Best for: school shirts, trousers, skirts, swimming towels, sports kit.
School Label Packs — Best for lunchboxes, bottles, stationery, and bags
School Label Packs are the workhorse of any back to school labels 2026 order. Lulu Labels offers four pack sizes to suit every family and budget:
| Pack | Price | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Mini | R180 | One child, essentials only |
| Budget | R240 | One child, full kit |
| Regular | R485 | One to two children |
| Large | R1,030 | Large families or twins |
These personalised sticker labels are designed to stick to water bottles, lunchboxes, pencil cases, books, bags, and more. Available in designs from Dinosaurs and Unicorns to Space and Sports, children are more motivated to look after their things when the labels feel like theirs.
Best for: water bottles, lunchboxes, pencil cases, textbooks, bags.
Bag Tags — Best for school bags and sports bags
Bag Tags (from R35) attach directly to a school bag zip or handle. They are quick to spot in a pile of bags on the floor and provide an easy way for a teacher, parent, or classmate to identify whose bag is whose at a glance.
Best for: school bags, sports bags, instrument cases.
Quick Ordering Tips to Get School Labels in Time
1. Order as early as possible. Personalised labels are made to order. Allow a few days for production and delivery — especially at the start of a new term when orders are high.
2. Double-check the name spelling before you submit. Once your order goes into production, changes are not possible. Review every character carefully before you check out.
3. Consider a clothing stamp for large wardrobes. If you are labelling 10 or more uniform items, a self-inking clothing stamp is significantly faster than applying individual iron-on labels one by one.
4. Label the lid and base of the lunchbox separately. These two pieces part ways regularly — label both so each piece finds its way home.
5. Use a permanent marker as a stopgap. If you need a label in the next hour and your order is still on its way, a marker inside the collar will hold the line until your Lulu Labels order arrives.
Ready to Label? Shop School Labels South Africa
Don't let Term 2 be the term everything goes missing. Get your order in today and head back to school with every item clearly marked — from the jersey on the hook to the water bottle on the desk.
Shop School Label Packs at Lulu Labels — Get 10% off your first order
From self-inking clothing stamps to full school label packs, Lulu Labels ships across South Africa. Whether you need a quick solution for one child or a bulk order for twins starting a new term, there's a label pack that fits.