Colour Fastness

By The Real Towel Editorial Team ·

Quick answer

Resistance of dye to fading from washing, light, or friction. Higher fastness = longer-lasting colour.

Colour fastness measures how resistant a dyed fabric is to colour loss from washing, light exposure, friction, and other factors.

Types of Fastness

Wash fastness: Resistance to colour loss during laundering. The most important for towels.

Light fastness: Resistance to fading from sunlight/UV exposure.

Rub fastness: Resistance to colour transfer from friction (wet or dry).

Chlorine fastness: Resistance to bleaching agents.

Measurement

Colour fastness is measured on standardised scales (typically 1-5): - 5 = Excellent (no change) - 4 = Good (slight change) - 3 = Fair (noticeable change) - 2 = Poor (considerable change) - 1 = Very poor (severe change)

Factors Affecting Fastness

  • Dye type: Reactive and vat dyes have best fastness
  • Dye application: Proper processing matters
  • Fibre type: Some fibres hold dye better
  • Colour depth: Darker colours may show fading more

In Towels

Good colour fastness means: - Towels maintain colour through many washes - No bleeding onto other laundry - No fading from bathroom light

Related pages