PANTONE DYE VS PIGMENT

Once fabric is milled (milling is when yarns are either knitted or woven into materials such as jersey or ), it is usually a white or ecru colour, meaning it is ready to be dyed or printed. The two most common processes we can do to the fabric is either Pantone or pigment dye. Below we explain the difference between the two.

Pantone Dye:

By dyeing a fabric using Pantone dye, we are able to exactly match a Pantone reference. This is a technical process which involves dying the fabric before it can be sewn into garments. Before bulk fabric is processed, small cuttings of fabrics will be dyed to the Pantone reference and sent for approval, these are called “lab dips”. Once approved, the fabric is then loaded into a vat to be dyed using reactive dyes, which are very intense and true to colour. Almost any colour can be achieved.

Minimum: 600 metres per colourway (approx 600 adult garments)

Pigment Dye:
Garment dye, also known as “overdye” is a simpler process to the above. It involves dyeing already-made garments using pigment dyes. Pigment dyes are not as vibrant or intense as reactive dyes, and give a more vintage effect. Pastel shades work very well, primary shades work well, but do have a washed-out end result. However dark colours like black and navy will never achieve full intensity (black pigment will end up as a charcoal colour). 

Just like lab dips for Pantone dye, we always create a sample for approval prior to bulk dye. Clients often supply Pantone refs for the pigment dye, but we cannot guarantee the intensity of the end result. Much of this is down to the fabric content of the garment: the higher the cotton content, the more vibrant the end result. Jersey or cotton rich loopbacks or brush backs are all suitable for pigment dye. 

Minimum: 100 units per colourway