Boorim Textile SolutionsColour fastness describes how well a fabric keeps its colour and resists transferring colour to other materials. It is one of the most important quality checks for dyed, printed, coated, and finished textiles.
Poor colour fastness can cause fading, staining, customer complaints, rejected garments, and damage to other products during washing or use.
Knowledge pill: Colour fastness is not one test. Washing, rubbing, light, perspiration, water, and other conditions can affect colour differently. A fabric may pass one fastness test and fail another.
Colour change and staining
Many colour fastness tests measure two things.
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Colour change | How much the original fabric colour changes |
| Staining | How much colour transfers to another fabric or material |
A fabric may keep its own colour but stain white fabric. Or it may fade without much staining. Both results matter.
Colour fastness to washing
Washing fastness measures how fabric colour behaves during laundering. It checks whether the colour fades or stains other fabrics in wash conditions.
Washing fastness is affected by:
- Dye type
- Fibre type
- Dyeing process
- Soaping and rinsing quality
- Finishing chemicals
- Water temperature
- Detergent
- Washing time
Dark colours, bright colours, and poorly rinsed fabrics often need careful checking.
Colour fastness to rubbing
Rubbing fastness, also called crocking, measures whether colour transfers from the fabric surface when rubbed.
It is usually tested in:
- Dry condition
- Wet condition
Wet rubbing is often harder to pass than dry rubbing. Indigo denim, dark cotton, pigment prints, coated surfaces, and heavily dyed fabrics may have rubbing fastness challenges.
Poor rubbing fastness can stain skin, bags, upholstery, shoes, or light-coloured garments.
Colour fastness to light
Light fastness measures resistance to fading under light exposure. It is important for products used outdoors, near windows, in vehicles, or under strong lighting.
Light fastness depends on:
- Dye or pigment chemistry
- Fibre type
- Colour depth
- UV exposure
- Finish or coating
- Product end use
Outdoor textiles, curtains, upholstery, automotive fabrics, and technical coverings often need stronger light fastness than basic indoor apparel.
Other colour fastness tests
Depending on the product, buyers may also require:
- Perspiration fastness
- Water fastness
- Sea water or chlorinated water fastness
- Dry cleaning fastness
- Heat pressing fastness
- Sublimation fastness
- Bleaching fastness
- Saliva fastness for baby products
The correct test depends on real use conditions.
How results are graded
Colour fastness is usually graded using standard scales. Higher numbers generally indicate better performance.
Results should always be read with the test method. A grade without method and condition is incomplete.
Ask:
- Which test standard was used?
- Was staining measured on multifibre fabric?
- Was rubbing tested dry, wet, or both?
- What washing temperature and detergent were used?
- What light exposure method was used?
- What grade is required for the product?
Why colour fastness fails
Failures can happen because of:
- Wrong dye choice
- Incomplete fixation
- Poor washing-off after dyeing
- Excess surface dye
- Incompatible finishing chemical
- Very deep shade
- Sensitive fibre blend
- Harsh care condition
Sometimes improving fastness changes hand feel, shade, cost, or lead time. This should be discussed during development.
Fast recall
Colour fastness measures how well fabric resists fading and colour transfer. Washing fastness checks laundering, rubbing fastness checks colour transfer by friction, and light fastness checks fading from light exposure. Always read results together with the test method and product end use.