Vat dyes, including indigo, are a third class of dyes that are effective on cellulose fibers and silk. Acid dyes are also relatively safe (some are used as food dyes) and simple to use.
Acid dyes are effective at acidic (low) pH, where they form ionic bonds with the fiber. Protein-based fibers such as silk, wool, and feathers, as well as the synthetic polyamide fiber nylon, can be dyed with acid dyes. Fiber-reactives dyes are relatively safe and simple to use, and are the same dyes used commercially to color cellulosic fabrics. Soda ash ( sodium carbonate) is the most common agent used to raise the pH and initiate the reaction, and is either added directly to the dye or in a solution of water in which garments are soaked before dyeing. This class of dyes reacts with fibers at alkaline (high) pH, forming a wash-fast, permanent bond. Most tie-dyes are now dyed with fiber-reactive dyes, a class of dyes effective on cellulose fibers such as cotton, hemp, rayon, and linen. These dyes were designed for use on a number of different fibre types, and consisted of several different dyes, making them less effective and less colourfast than purely fiber-reactive dyes. Most early (1960s) tie-dyes were made with retail household dyes, particularly those made by Rit. In the 21st century, a revived interest in more 'sophisticated' tie-dye techniques emerged in the fashion and hobby industry, characterized by simple motifs, monochromatic color schemes, a focus on fashionable garments and fabrics other than cotton, and the pursuit of tie-dye as an art form, rather than a commodity.ĭyes, fabrics, and discharge agents Ī variety of dyes are used in tie-dyeing, including household, fiber reactive, acid, and vat dyes. The vast majority of tie-dye garments and objects produced for wholesale distribution use these designs, with many being mass-produced.
These patterns, including the spiral, mandala, and peace sign, and the use of multiple bold colors, have become clichéd since the peak popularity of tie-dye in the United States the 1960s and 1970s. Unlike regular resist-dyeing techniques, modern tie-dye is characterized by the use of bright, saturated primary colors and bold patterns.
More sophisticated tie-dye may involve additional steps, including an initial application of dye before the resist, multiple sequential dyeing and resist steps, and the use of other types of resists (stitching, stencils) and discharge. The manipulations of the fabric before the application of dye are called resists, as they partially or completely prevent ('resist') the applied dye from coloring the fabric. The process of tie-dye typically consists of folding, twisting, pleating, or crumpling fabric or a garment, before binding with string or rubber bands, followed by the application of dye or dyes. Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.Tie-dye is a term used to describe a number of resist dyeing techniques and the resulting dyed products of these processes.Britannica Beyond We’ve created a new place where questions are at the center of learning.100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.
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