How to tell whether a garment has lost colour
Short answer: Compare a spot that has been covered with a spot that has been exposed. The inside of a seam or the area under a pocket shows the original colour, so you can see how much the garment has lost. Do it in daylight, where the difference is easiest to see.
Find a hidden spot
Seam allowances, the inside of a waistband and the area under a label have had no light and no wear. The colour there is as it was at the start. Pick a spot close to the area you want to judge, so you compare the same fabric and the same dye bath. That is fairer than comparing with another garment.
Compare in daylight
Lay the garment by a window and hold the hidden spot against the surface. The difference shows at once if there has been loss. Artificial light can mislead, especially warm bulbs, which make many colours look more alike than they are. Daylight shows the shade as it is. See all of it under bamboo clothing for men.
Telling fading from wear
If the colour is evenly lighter, it is fading. If the surface is matt and fuzzy, it is wear on the surface. The two look alike from a distance, but have different causes. Fading comes from light, washing and chemistry, wear from rubbing. Knowing the cause tells you better what can be done.
Look at the exposed places
Wear shows first where clothes rub against something, such as elbows, the crotch and along the side seams. Fading shows first where light hits, such as shoulders and back if the garment hung in the sun. Check both kinds of place before you decide what has happened.
Compare with a new garment
If you have a new garment in the same colour, lay the two side by side. The difference may be small, but side by side it is clear. If you have no new one, use a picture from the webshop, but remember that a screen can show colours slightly differently from real life.
What you can do about the loss
Colour loss cannot be undone, but you can re-dye the garment in a darker shade. This works best on plain, single-colour pieces and on fabrics that take dye well. If unsure, try a small hidden piece first. Also follow the instructions on the dye packaging.
When colour loss is a complaint
If it happens after few washes and is not caused by sun or wrong handling, it is worth contacting the shop. If you followed the care label and the colour still changed, photograph both the exposed area and the hidden spot. That makes the difference easy to show. See bamboo T-shirts for men.
Does turning it in the wardrobe help
Only against light. If clothes hang in a bright room or by a window, the sun can bleach them over time, and then dark storage helps. But most of the loss happens in washing and wearing, and there it helps most to wash inside out, cool, with a mild detergent.
Prevention in daily life
Wash inside out, choose a cooler temperature and a mild detergent, and skip the tumble dryer. Dry in the shade and do not hang clothes in the sun unless you must. These habits also extend the life of the clothes in other ways, so you benefit twice. See bamboo polos for men.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do anything about the loss
No, but you can re-dye the garment in a darker shade. It works best on plain pieces, and you should try a small hidden piece first.
When is colour loss a complaint
If it happens after few washes and is not caused by sun or wrong handling. Photograph the exposed area and the hidden spot, so the difference is easy to show.
Does turning it in the wardrobe help
Only against light. Most of the loss happens in washing and wearing, so that is where you can do most, with cooler washes inside out and mild detergent.
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