Piece-Dyed

Fabric dyed after weaving (as a 'piece'). Most common for solid-colour towels. Alternative to yarn-dyed.

Piece-dyed means the fabric was dyed after weaving - as a complete "piece" of fabric rather than as individual yarns.

The Process

  1. Fabric is woven from undyed (greige) yarn
  2. Complete fabric is dyed in large batches
  3. Entire piece becomes one colour

Characteristics

Advantages:

  • Efficient for solid colours
  • Lower cost than yarn-dyeing
  • Flexible (same greige fabric can become any colour)
  • Consistent colour throughout

Limitations:

  • Single colour only (no woven patterns)
  • May show more colour variation in thick fabrics

Piece-Dyed vs Yarn-Dyed

Piece-Dyed Yarn-Dyed
Dyed after weaving Dyed before weaving
Solid colours Patterns possible
More economical More expensive
Faster production Slower production

In Towels

Most solid-colour towels are piece-dyed - the practical choice for single-colour products. Patterned towels (stripes, checks) are often yarn-dyed.