Preserving colour on textiles

On most natural textile fibers colours will slowly fade due to washing. This both can happen because the colour bleeds out of the fabric when it’s wet or because the laundry detergent builds up a layer on the textile which will dull the colour.

Both problems can be solved with the same product, vinegar.

To prevent colour from bleeding, you should soak the fabric in cold water mixed with vinegar for some time before your first wear and wash. The vinegar will help set the colour, so it’ll fade less quickly during washing. 

We do recommend testing the effect of the vinegar on a less visible part of the item first, as some fabrics or dyes can react differently to the vinegar. It is also not recommended for delicate fabrics like silks. 

On older items, which have been washed multiple times, you can use this same soaking method to remove residue from your laundry detergent. This will make the colour look brighter again. 

We, again, do recommend testing the effect of the vinegar on a less visible part of the item first, as some fabrics or dyes can react differently to the vinegar. It is also not recommended for delicate fabrics like silks. 

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