How bamboo fabric holds its colour
Short answer: The colour sits in the fibre when the fabric is reactive dyed, so it does not fade from normal washing. What fades the colour is mainly heat and sunlight, which means drying is what you need to watch.
The colour is in the fibre
Reactive dyes bond chemically with the cellulose in the fibre. The colour does not sit as a layer on the outside of the yarn but is part of it. That is why a reactive dyed fabric can be washed many times without losing its colour. Read more about the process in how bamboo fabric is dyed.
Heat fades
The tumble dryer and high washing temperatures are the two main causes of faded colour. Heat strains both the dye and the fibres, and the surface turns dull over time. Wash at 40 degrees or lower and hang the clothes to dry.
Sun fades
A few hours in strong sun can do more to the colour than many washes. Sunlight slowly breaks down the dyes, and it shows first on shoulders and sleeves. Dry coloured clothes in the shade. Read more in drying in sun and shade and what it does to the colour.
The first washes
Excess dye is rinsed out at the start. This is dye that did not bond with the fibre during dyeing. It is normal and usually stops after two or three washes. Wash new clothes with similar colours the first few times so light items do not pick up colour.
Turn it inside out
Washing clothes inside out causes the least wear to the surface. The surface rubs against the drum and other clothes, and surface wear makes the colour look dull. Close zips and avoid washing with rough fabrics. More advice is in the washing guide.
The detergent
Choose a mild colour detergent without bleach. Bleaching agents in ordinary washing powder can take colour from dark items over time. Dose according to the instructions, because too much detergent is not rinsed out properly. Fabric softener is not needed and leaves a film on the fabric.
Dark colours
Black and navy contain the most dye and show fading most clearly. A black top that has been through the dryer many times turns greyish, while a light top barely changes. For dark items the advice counts double. See the range in bamboo t-shirt for women.
The range
Basics are worn and washed often, so this is where the colour is tested most. If you choose your regular colours with care, they are easier to wash together. See the basics in bamboo clothing for men, where you find both light and dark colours.
See also
Colour fastness is a subject with many terms, and it can be hard to know what is normal. If you want to know more about what to expect from the colour over time and what points to a fault, read does bamboo fabric hold its colour.
Care in short
Wash at 40 degrees inside out, use a mild detergent and dry in the shade without a tumble dryer. Wash dark colours separately the first few times. Follow these four points and the colour lasts a long time, and the clothes look good even after many washes.
Frequently asked questions
Does bamboo clothing fade quickly?
Not from washing at 40 degrees. It is mainly heat from the tumble dryer and sunlight during drying that fade the colour, so those are the two things to avoid.
Why does new clothing bleed colour?
Excess dye that has not bonded with the fibre is rinsed out in the first washes. This is normal and usually stops after two or three washes.
How do I keep a black top black?
Wash it inside out at 40 degrees with a mild detergent without bleach, and let it dry in the shade rather than in the tumble dryer or strong sun.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
