Colour fastness measures how well a fabric keeps its colour. Poor fastness leads to fading, bleeding onto other garments and customer complaints.
Common fastness tests
- Wash fastness: colour change and staining after washing.
- Rubbing (crocking): colour transfer when rubbed dry or wet.
- Light fastness: fading under light exposure.
- Perspiration: colour change from sweat, important for activewear.
How results are graded
Most tests use a grey scale from 1 to 5, where 5 means no change. Brands usually set a minimum grade for each test.
Tips for buyers
- Share your brand's test standard before bulk
- Dark and bright shades need extra attention
- Sublimation prints on polyester generally show strong wash fastness
See our sublimation printing service or ask about your standard.