Frequently Asked Questions on our Dyed Fabrics
1. Can the dyed fabric be used outdoors?
2. Can I wash the dyed fabric or the product made from it?
3. Can I make garments using your dyed fabrics?
4. I have a need for a specific color. Can you do custom dyeing and finishing?
5. Is color bleeding and crocking the same?
6. I don't want any color bleeding in my fabrics. Can you guarantee that?
7. I want the best color-fastness in the fabric. Any suggestions?
8. I have a product in my mind. But I am not familiar with the textile terms and specifications. Will you help me?
9. What is the difference between the Conventional Dyeing and Solution Dyeing?
It’s like as simple as comparing onions to carrots. No. We are not joking. Please see the pictures below.
Conventional Dyeing (e.g.,Vat Dyeing) is like an onion – reddish purple on the outside, but white on the inside.
The dye particles are dissolved in a solution (called dye bath) that contains water, fixing agents and other chemicals. The untreated fabric is soaked into this dye bath. By applying heat and pressure, the fabric is “cooked” in this dye bath. Then it is passed through hot drums which squeeze out the excess liquids. The colors in the dye bath get attached to the surface of the fabric. Sometimes, the dyeing is deep. Sometimes, it’s not. It all depends on the texture, weight, thickness, dye method, temperature, etc. When you cut the dyed fabric, you will see some “whiteness” inside. No matter what you do, the dye simply cannot penetrate all the way into the fabric. Cottons, poly-cottons and other natural fibers/fabrics are usually dyed using this method.
Solution Dyeing is like a carrot – the color remains the same when cut.
Solution Dyeing is a complex and a high end dyeing method. It’s mostly used for dyeing synthetic fibers like Acrylics, Polyesters etc. The dye particles are “dissolved” into a dye bath that also contains particles of esters, acids, fixing agents, etc. Under certain conditions, a chemical reaction called polymerization occurs inside this dye bath that produces a polyester fiber, which is spun right out of the dye bath. These fibers have the dye particles bonded to them at a micro-level almost inseparable – just like a carrot. These fibers are then woven into fabrics. Because of this complex procedure, solution dyed fabrics have excellent resistance to color fading. They also offer superior protection from the harmful Ultra-Violet rays. Outdoor fabrics that are solution dyed find great use in boat covers, awnings & casual furniture.